»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #7
»
The Balladeer (a repost)
| Open Poetry #7 |
|
The Balladeer (a repost) |
|
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
He strolled into our small town that day a hat shading his face from the sun little did I guess, as a child of ten, through him, my life had just begun. He was a stranger, dusty from travel his boots were little more than soles he carried a bulging pack on his shoulder wore a gray shirt and jeans with holes He came to our little run down motel and rented a room for a week I passed him on the way to school he nodded, but didn’t speak. I saw him sitting under the walnut tree next to Jim, the mechanic’s, shop I stared at him as he wrote on a pad he looked up but didn’t stop My mom asked him to supper one night he wore clean clothes, was freshly shaved I watched his every movement wanting to see how he behaved. He said he spends his life on the road no job, no home, no family working at odd jobs just to exist living his life totally free. Later, I watched him as I did homework, an essay for English class, The stranger glanced at me once or twice over the rim of his drinking glass. He asked if he could read my work and I handed it to him with dread and when he finished, he smiled at me; told me he liked what he had read. He said he was a traveling poet roaming the country trying to find inspiration for his soul and stimulation for his mind. I asked to hear some of his work though I thought all poetry was dull but when he spoke I was lifted up as I listened to his chronicle. He recited to me, almost til dawn words creating a world that was real his intricate rhyming took me away my heart opened up, my head began to reel. Soldiers and knights, maidens fair and foul were paraded before me that night his voice soothed my childish heart his stories set my restless soul alight. Each night he stayed, we sat together he regaled me with poems of every kind fascinated, I sat transfixed at the words that came from his mind. One day I awoke to find he had gone a farewell note stuck under my door like any performer, the drifter knew to leave his audience wanting more. He told me to always remember him to find joy in the written word to be happy, and kind and always remember the stories that I heard. Since then I have a love for words for poetry with and without rhyme I hear them in the drifter’s voice remembered in that far off time. To this day, I treasure the gift of poetry as I write, I’ll always hold it dear and I often reread that wonderful note signed, poetically, the Balladeer. **Yes, inspired by our own Balladeer! |
||
| © Copyright 2000 Poet deVine - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Wow! What a wonderful tale...you have made the story so real and wonderful. Great, vivid writing and a joy to read! |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Wonderful tribute PoetDeVine! As I finished reading your poem, it brought back memories of "my Baladeer", who was my Grandfather ... such an incredible soul, whose love for the written word remains my inspiration always. Thank you for reminding me of this so vividly in such a lovely poem. Best wishes, /Kit |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
This is great, Sharon! I enjoyed this!  Denise |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
I remember when you first posted this, deVine one. It's a wonderful story, well told. I would love to be a traveler like that, spreading poetry and stories as in the days of the wandering minstrels. Love the poem! |
||
|
Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
I asked to hear some of his work though I thought all poetry was dull but when he spoke I was lifted up as I listened to his chronicle. He recited to me, almost til dawn words creating a world that was real his intricate rhyming took me away my heart opened up, my head began to reel. Soldiers and knights, maidens fair and foul were paraded before me that night his voice soothed my childish heart his stories set my restless soul alight --------------------- Since then I have a love for words for poetry with and without rhyme I hear them in the drifter’s voice remembered in that far off time. To this day, I treasure the gift of poetry as I write, I’ll always hold it dear and I often reread that wonderful note signed, poetically, the Balladeer. ------------- Sharon, I ADORE this poem...and the emotions of it wonderful story telling.excellent writing!! we will always remember and treasure the person who helped us discover the love of the written word and the ones who helped inspire us and discover the poet living in our hearts. tkae care, jm Some things cannot be explained by verses that rhyme, They are not measured by the commitment of time. Some emotions run too deep to be described by words, Forgiveness and understanding-remain the most beautiful words ever heard. ~Janet Marie~ "What the caterpillar calls the end ... The world calls a butterfly" ~Lao Tze Tao~ ~Butterflies are meant to be free~ |
||
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Thank you all for your kind words. Actually, this was written because I love Balladeer's name! I always picture him writing and reciting his poetry to other people. His poetry has often inspired me to write so I wanted to 'honor' him in some way. So, Balladeer, this one's for you!  |
||
|
RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
Wonderful story Sharon and you tell them so very well.. HUSG |
||
|
Ethan Halo Senior Member
since 2000-04-28
Posts 793on the roof again |
deVine- this was fantastic. and all inspired by a name? you have a true gift. it's hard for me to sit and make up a poem if i don't feel it. but you are wonderfully talented. i'm green with envy. and i dig it. We all got somethin' we need to atone for. |
||
|
LngJhnAg Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion |
Dear Ms deVine - this was a wonderful story - and it is easy to see that it is true - your have gotta be AT LEAST 20 years younger than that no-account drifter - lol. |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
