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Open Poetry #19
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Balladeer
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0 posted 2002-03-22 08:20 PM




At times my muse turns vagabond and wanders through my past
With me not being sure what it will settle on at last.
Today it set me smiling with some backward glance reflections
Of how my life has been enriched by gathering collections.

The first collection that I had that I can still recall?
Toy soldiers by the hundreds....Gee! I must have had them all.
The infantry and tanks and jeeps, the calvary and more...
I learned to aim and shoot and kill when I was only four.

Then marbles came into my life...I had terrific aim!
I always carried some around in case there was a game.
Butterflies and aggies, steelies, peewee marbles, too...
I played them day and night until my thumbnail turned dark blue.

Then insects caught my fancy, everything that creeped and crawled.
Watching them in jars would keep me constantly enthralled.
I'd watch them till they kicked the bucket, which they always did
Then pinned them to my bedroom wall.....hey, I was just a kid!

I didn't realize that body juices seeping out
Would leave big stains upon the wall my wall could do without.
The thought of belt on backside by my father makes me wince
And I have hated every kind of insect ever since!!

So I began the one collection I would not forget.
I'd hunt and track down baseball cards with every chance I'd get.
You couldn't buy sets or collections like you can today.
To build your cache of baseball cards, you only had one way...

You had to buy that evil gum and chewing it was hard!
But that's the only way you had to get a baseball card
And then you'd trade or barter or finagle in some way
Until you gathered every team and player of your day.

What else? Oh, yes - my comic books! Can't be forgetting those!
From Supermans to Archies, Sergeant Rocks to G.I. Joes.
If there's one thing I can attribute to a wit that's keen
It's reading every monthly issue of MAD magazine!

I collected model airplanes but I only made a few.
I got too woozy every time from sniffin' all that glue.
I collected movie ads from Sunday papers, just for fun
And then collected 45's - the records, not the gun.

As I got older, motivated by a different force,
Began collecting Playboys.....for the articles, of course.
Stuffed animals from circus games of chance were lots of fun..
I had a large collection of the teddy bears I'd won.

So that's a small list of some things I gathered in my youth.
Each one of them brought countless hours of pleasure - that's the truth
But there is one collection that, by far, outshines the rest....
The friends that I collected are, without a doubt, the best.

My baseball card collection was lost many years ago.
The comic books have gone wherever super-heroes go.
The 45's are worn and scratchy - teddy bears got free
And folks say that I lost my marbles back in '83.

But friends that I have made throughout the years still rise in worth.
As long as I have them, I am the richest man on Earth.
Reflections of collections make me smile with their recall
But I give thanks to God for friends, the greatest one of all.
© Copyright 2002 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved
Madame Chipmunk
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since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
1 posted 2002-03-22 08:26 PM


But friends that I have made throughout the years still rise in worth.
As long as I have them, I am the richest man on Earth.
Reflections of collections make me smile with their recall
But I give thanks to God for friends, the greatest one of all.

Yes!!!!!!!!!


One fantastic job!!!
I absolutely LOVE it

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Mistletoe Angel
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2 posted 2002-03-22 08:27 PM




BRAVO!!! I LOVE IT!!! YES, and you will always be a mint-condition friend to my heart too, for you always touch me so greatly with your words you write! (smiles) I love so many here at Passions and they are all to me a collection of love and friendship to me too! This is a wonderful view of collectios in yor life, sweet friend, I too agree that that chewing gum is wicked with those baseball cards, I used to collect those and now I have been collecting anything that Shakira is on! (smiles) We all love you so much, sweet friend, this is delightful! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Michael, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
3 posted 2002-03-22 08:29 PM



What Madame Chipmunk said, times ten!  You ARE the 'Deer!

Honeybee
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since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372
Ontario, CANADA
4 posted 2002-03-22 08:48 PM



An excellent poem mixed with your perfect wit and moving ending...I love it 'Deer!

"began collecting Playboys...for the articles, of course"
_________
and just like I attend a baseball game with all those hot men in tight pants for the game

Melissa~

"Poetry is not an opinion expressed...
it is a song that rises from a bleeding
wound...or a smiling mouth"

~Kahlil Gibran~

Martie
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California
5 posted 2002-03-22 08:54 PM


Michael

This took me into the special person I have always known you are...you can tell alot about a guy by what he collects...and the bug thing...LOL.  


Marsha
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Maidstone Kent England
6 posted 2002-03-22 09:15 PM


’Deer dearest heart, THIS IS SUPERB, truly awesome, okay yes I say that about them all, but this particular one is mega special. I know you’re unaware of the effect your writing has on the reader. Maybe not but I don’t believe you know how special it is

Anyway back to the subject matter and this poem, again, reading your work is a journey, and a trip that actually starts at one point and ends at another. It doesn’t ramble all over the place, having no direction and no idea of what it should be saying. That’s not to say all poems need to end up in a different place than they began because they don’t, you can have a circle poem, but it does have to move progressively. Or so I learnt when we studied creative writing YOURS ALWAYS DO which is what makes them great pieces of poetic art. Now I’ll shut up, except to say this is utterly utterly divine.

And you are so right dearest ‘Deer Friends are very very special, and I’m proud to call you one of mine.

Krissy will love this, soooooooooo much

Love and warm stuff
As always
Mushy



To give light to them that sit in darkness..... to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 2:79


ThisDiamond
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since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353
Michigan, USA
7 posted 2002-03-22 09:20 PM


Hey ya know, you give us packrats a real good name... Always enjoy your wit and your work. ThisDiamond... articles my aunt fanny!
rosepetals25
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8 posted 2002-03-22 11:03 PM


Michael,

    What a wonderful poem I've never really collected anything, only started to before moving on. Yeppers, I'm a pack rat, with tons of stuff people would call junk. They all have their own special memory though.  I really enjoyed

Hugs,
Tara

"My heart is like an open book, for the whole world to read"
     - Motley Crue, Home Sweet Home

Magnus
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9 posted 2002-03-22 11:16 PM


Michael,  about the only thing you did that
I didn't was those baseball cards...I always
bought the gum seperately....

Superbly awesome poem my Friend!!!...

Like this a lot..

doreen peri
Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812
Virginia
10 posted 2002-03-22 11:37 PM


some people collect bottle caps.
some people collect ducks*
some people collect baseball greats
in piles of cards in pick-up trucks.
some people collect wisdom
like it's almost valuable.
some people collect dust on corners
of a life that's full.
some people collect butterflies
and pin them to a page
some people collect anything
and everything the rage.
i'm glad to hear that you've collected
all those things you love,
especially the friendships
which shine out like stars above
the sky. and i am also glad
that i have read your pome....
it's wonderful!! terrific!!
i'll collect it with my own
and put it in my library
to keep and read once more
when nights are dark
and days embark,
your words i'll love,
for sure!!

----------------------

*(duck reference....LOL!! i collect them.. decoys... *grin)

........ whoops!! writing silly lines again, moi!! i hope they made sense!! LOL!!!

loved your pome, michael, you collector you!!!

Midnitesun
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Gaia
11 posted 2002-03-22 11:51 PM


And this one goes into my collection. Including Dor's great relpy. that's the benefit of having a very large hard drive and lots of burnable CD's. I can save it and read it again some day, after all my other collectables have disappeared, I'll have my Deer friend to hold close and read again.I absolutely love this poem. You are truly "Tom" terrific.
Tracey
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since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808
where insanity meets breeding
12 posted 2002-03-23 01:21 AM


I’ve collected lots of things through time
From dolls to books and cars
The dolls I have are long since gone
The books aren’t very far
I tried collectng husbands
Like my good old mum
But I got rid of the first one
And decided I was done
Car collecting’s pricey
But the joy they give is large
I had to find a place for them
Small house, but big garage
But ‘Deer I will agree with you
That friend collecting’s best
Nothing is more precious
Than a friend with whom to jest


If she who dies with the most toys wins, then can I have some toy boys please?

[This message has been edited by Tracey (03-23-2002 01:22 AM).]

Kit McCallum
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13 posted 2002-03-23 07:13 AM


"The 45's are worn and scratchy - teddy bears got free
And folks say that I lost my marbles back in '83."

Beautiful Michael ... absolutely wonderful rhythm throughout ... such a beautiful flow. I loved how you brought it around to your favorite collection ... what a perfect twist, just excellent.

I loved the memories this brought back for me. Now, if you ever have a longing for comic books or 45's ... I've "still" got my collection.

Best wishes,
/Kit

Balladeer
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
14 posted 2002-03-23 07:31 AM


Madame...thank you for the bold yes!!

Noah..enjoy your shakiras! Thank you, my friend..

Sunshine..I thank you for the yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes!

Melissa...LOL! You little vixen!They'll have to change their name to the Montreal Expose!!

Martie..thanks for taking a peek inside and yep - thus my career in life was launched!!!

mushy...it's always a pleasure to have you along for the journey, wherever it leads!!

Diamond...packratting is a good thing! and, yes, those articles were very stimulating!

Tara...one man's junk is another man's treasure. Nothing is junk that holds special memories for the owner...but you know that. Thanks for reading, sweet person.

Magnus...I hated that gum! Little pink squares of cardboard they were, although they did make the cards smell good. LOL! Glad you enjoyed...

Doreen..what a neat poetic response! Wisdom was about the only thing I didn't get around to collecting! Thanks for your response and have fun with those decoys!!

midnitesun...what a special thing for you to say! Some day in the future without my even knowing, you will be sitting there reading my words and reminiscing...that is indeed special. Thank you, Kacy!!

Tracey...LOL! Collections of husbands and fancy cars put my little Mickey Mantles to shame! But we're one the same page with friends that make us smile....and you will always be part of that collection for me 'cause you're funny...and nice!

Balladeer
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15 posted 2002-03-23 07:34 AM


Kit...now that you mention it, I DO suddenly have a longing for 45's and comics!!! Can I come see yours.....PLEASE???

Your words are always special, Kit...thank you!

strbbux
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since 2001-12-19
Posts 3859

16 posted 2002-03-23 09:17 AM


HAHAHA THIS IS GREAT.

"Then insects caught my fancy, everything that creeped and crawled.
Watching them in jars would keep me constantly enthralled.
I'd watch them till they kicked the bucket, which they always did
Then pinned them to my bedroom wall.....hey, I was just a kid!"

Oh my this is terrific, and my grandson and I we play with marbles now, he is learning, and its fun.. Now about those playboy magazines...You mean there are actually words in there? LOL . great one Baladeer, floria

Floria

"Alas for those that never sing,
But die with all their music in them"
(Oliver Wendell Holmes)

Krissy
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since 2002-02-22
Posts 556
kent England
17 posted 2002-03-23 03:11 PM


’Deer Hi there is there anything I can say about this poem that hasn’t been said? I doubt it, it’s all been said before. You have to know I love this piece of yours, as mum has pointed out your stories lead somewhere and I’m delighted I took the ride. I loved the collections each and every one seemed to mark a stage in your journey through life. And finally topped off with your collection of friends, I’m sure YOU have plenty, I know I think of you as one of mine.

Wonderful writing, and as I’m learning that is something you always do extremely well.


Love and warm stuff
As always
Krissy


And while thy willing soul transpiers
at every pore with instant fires
Andrew Marvell 1621-1678

Dulcinea
Senior Member
since 2001-07-22
Posts 774
IN
18 posted 2002-03-23 04:07 PM


Those are some wonderful recollections, but I couldn't help notice that you kept the Playboys? Need to brush up on those article now and then?? ~~just teasing~~ tsk, tsk, tsk!

Beautiful sentiments Balladeer, an enjoyable read!

Corinne
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since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion
19 posted 2002-03-23 04:42 PM


Always great fun to read your upbeat work, Deer.

Cor

Denise
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20 posted 2002-03-23 10:45 PM


Delightful recollections, Michael! I enjoyed this immensely, as I do all of your poems!
Victoria
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21 posted 2002-03-24 10:17 AM


Archie was by favorite magazine..loved the whole gang..betty veronica moose and jughead..and i had some 78's..not 45's ha..
makes me think of playing ball and jacks too ha..loved it Deery..hugs..im sure you knew i wasnt 21 ha

             ~Victoria

Seymour Tabin
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since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
22 posted 2002-03-24 10:32 AM


Balladeer,
With that photograpic memory of yours, how could you forget. Excellent write. You brought some memories back but my mind is full of dreams and some times I can't remember those. LOL

passing shadows
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since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
23 posted 2002-03-24 03:58 PM


"My baseball card collection was lost many years ago.
The comic books have gone wherever super-heroes go.
The 45's are worn and scratchy - teddy bears got free
And folks say that I lost my marbles back in '83."

Yet another one that got me all emotional...you have such a knack for that! Friends are the very best of all collections, and can't be sold on e-Bay for any amount of money

suthern
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Louisiana
24 posted 2002-03-24 05:26 PM


This flows so flawlessly, Deer One... and I'll bet you can imagine the smiles (and grimaces *G*) that flitted across my face. *S* Excellent work... and a wonderful trip down memory lane. *S*

And I may be assuming a lot here... but...

I've never been a collectable before. (suthern's preening *G*)

SmartChick
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081
On A Journey To The Unknown
25 posted 2002-03-24 05:40 PM


Sir Balladeer, I really enjoyed reading this. Your writing is always such a delight to read. Thank you!
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