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Open Poetry #11
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Martie
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California

0 posted 2000-12-07 08:48 PM



Always and Forever
(A tribute to a friend)

Skinny as a rail
and barefoot all the time,
with a lock of hair
that hung in his eyes.

Coveralls and a caradeem shirt
or nothing at all
in Smith Camp
tucked back in the woods of Oklahoma
six miles or so from nowhere.

Memory starts when he was four
and there were no cars and no stores
in that year of l946
but he had a horse.

In the sticks near the Arkansas River
were no houses just shacks
and each other
six brothers and sisters
and dad made an extra space
with canvas and linen
for the grown ups and baby.

No electricity or plumbing
but he didn’t think of life as hard
life was just life
and the woods and critters that lived there
were the world.

His mom was a Cherokee Indian
and proud of her Indian heritage,
but her husband’s family wasn’t,
her Indian name is lost to memory
and buried with her ancestors,
a white name marks her grave today.

His grandfather
a chief in the Cherokee Nation
and sheriff of Branson County, Missouri,
great grandfather fought in the confederate war,
strong men,
who would fight for what was right,  
he grew up a fighter.  

A spirit sense was also passed down
from his mother’s family in a prayer
he remembers it now in a prayer of passing
passed to him by his great grandfather

"Kiss her softly for me
and whisper my name to her in the wind.
Moisten it with Gods’ breath
and imprint it in the memory of time and space
so that it is never forgotten.
For I am the ‘Cloud Walker’
and have no place to plant a foot.
You cannot touch me,
but you can feel me.
I am here and there.
I reach where light goes
and am in the shadows of all things.
I am me, always and forever."

And this time he is the one
readying to pass
and these words echo through time
and are caught in the fabric of memory
always and forever in my heart.

© Copyright 2000 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved
Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

1 posted 2000-12-07 09:01 PM


A spirit sense was also passed down
from his mother’s family in a prayer
he remembers it now in a prayer of passing
passed to him by his great grandfather

"Kiss her softly for me
and whisper my name to her in the wind.
Moisten it with Gods’ breath
and imprint it in the memory of time and space
so that it is never forgotten.
For I am the ‘Cloud Walker’
and have no place to plant a foot.
You cannot touch me,
but you can feel me.
I am here and there.
I reach where light goes
and am in the shadows of all things.
I am me, always and forever."

And this time he is the one
readying to pass
and these words echo through time
and are caught in the fabric of memory
always and forever in my heart.
======================
oh Martie this is so cool and so lovely
wonderful tribute to a rare spirit ...
such an inspiring and serene poem...
another martie jewel for my treasure chest
love this..and the poet who wrote it  
jm

I looked into the sky for my anthem
The words and music came through
But words and music can never touch the beauty that I've seen
Looking into you

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

2 posted 2000-12-07 09:14 PM


This is very touching, Martie. Very well expressed!

Denise

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2000-12-07 09:32 PM


Oh, Martie~
Please know that this touches me so.

I have called upon the Great Cherokee Spirits to walk with him -
and they have sent the message -

AiSv Nv wa do hi ya do

O' my faithful brother -
You have come to the mountain
Be brave - you will find the ghost
of your grandfather's nation
You have come to walk upon your wind
The smoke of fathered spirits
wisp to form your staircase
Your spirit comes without shame
AiSv Nv wa do hi ya do
"Walk in peace"


~*White Feather*~





~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

Startime
Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918
Canada
4 posted 2000-12-07 09:38 PM


*sigh* this touches spirit and soul in such a wonderful way. I love it. Much love to you from me

Love I leave with you my friend whether it be in your life or of yet the essense of your dreams. http://path2riches.com


CocoBaci
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 3043

5 posted 2000-12-07 09:40 PM



Martie, this is inspiring, uplifting, spiritual and portrays such inner beauty...

With these jewels it makes your poem a precious read...

coco

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
6 posted 2000-12-07 10:44 PM


Janet--a rare spirit he is, and so are you my sweet friend, so are you!

Denise--I'm happy to see you...as always.

Marge--You know how much this means to me, and will to him..thank you my sister.

Startime--thank you so much for your love...it is a special gift.

Coco--Your reply inspires me..thank you, my friend for that.

Poertree
Senior Member
since 1999-11-05
Posts 1359
UK
7 posted 2000-12-08 07:44 AM


"Skinny as a rail
and barefoot all the time,
with a lock of hair
that hung in his eyes"

awwwwww Martie a poem about me .... sweet  

~~~~~~~

oops ...bit hasty there ...lol

a lovely tribute to a friend martie, and an interesting story as well. you have a great talent for making far away places and people come alive

thanks

P

Charisma
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Ascendant
since 2000-09-30
Posts 5906
lost in blue pages
8 posted 2000-12-08 07:54 AM


Martie,
this touched me....wonderful words from your heart, superb.

Charisma

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
9 posted 2000-12-08 11:16 AM


Philip-Put on your shoes before you catch cold!!  Thanks for being so sweet!

Charisma--Thank you so much for your heart and reply!

Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
10 posted 2000-12-08 12:56 PM


When you pen from the heart no-one can touch you in the feelings department just as no-one can touch you in the beauty of the words upon a pad.  Wonderfully penned as usual and yes as JM said, another jewel for the treasure chest.

A life with love will have some thorns, but a life without love will have no roses.
author unknown


Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
11 posted 2000-12-08 12:56 PM


Martie, I read this one over and over. I feel that I know him. This is a beautiful tribute
Liz

Wilfred Yeats
Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704
Wilmington, Delaware
12 posted 2000-12-08 01:18 PM


Don't know how you do it - but you do - and with such absolute beauty - it leaves me breathless - this tribute is fantasatic - and I'm sure he deserves every word
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
13 posted 2000-12-08 02:00 PM


Martie,
You write like a butterfly, so beautifully.

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
14 posted 2000-12-08 08:18 PM


Hi Mark--Yes, there was feeling in this..he is special to my heart...and so are you.

Liz--You do know him...thank you for that.

Bill--He does...thank you so much..you're a dear friend.

Oh Sy...to be a butterfly would be nice...I could sit on your shoulder.

artsygrl
Member
since 2000-11-17
Posts 55
Florida
15 posted 2000-12-08 10:12 PM


This was awesome thank  you for this read...

artsygrl

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...
16 posted 2000-12-08 10:42 PM



Martie-
   this is so beautiful...
   your heart shines through in this piece.
   wonderful tribute to your friend..

   hugs,
   ~vicky




"...until you have read the verse on his
heart, you have not truely met the poet."
-vlraynes



Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
17 posted 2000-12-09 08:31 PM


Artsygrl--thank you for the awesome...I appreciate your reading my poem.

Vicky--Thanks for the heart shine and for the hug...especially the hug!

maxtec1
Senior Member
since 2000-12-09
Posts 577
Garland, Tx
18 posted 2000-12-09 08:43 PM


Such a heart felt work here. I enjoyed the read. Thank you for sharing.
Richard

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