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Open Poetry #24
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Kangaroo Court (for my 12,000th post)
| Open Poetry #24 |
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Kangaroo Court (for my 12,000th post) |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada 
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Kangaroo Court One moment, I was living out my same old tired routine, When suddenly ... an unknown force took hold, to intervene! One second, I was there at work, the next thing that I knew, I traveled through some twilight zone ... I’m serious ... it’s true! My sight grew dim, a blackness came, I floated through the air, An eerie fog enveloped me - I kid you not, I swear! I felt the air rush past my face, I swirled and twirled about, Careening down a tunnel, till I thought I might black out! I reached to grab most anything, but nothing stopped my fall ... I somersaulted back and forth for ages, in this sprawl; “Oh, this is it! I must be dead!” I screamed to no one there, Then all at once, I landed roughly ... on a hardwood chair?! I tried to catch my breath and felt a mounting sense of doom, The atmosphere was hazy in this dark and gloomy room; The fog began to clear a bit, and then it dawned on me ... I’d landed in COURTROOM! “Oh, this simply could not be!” Alone at the defendant’s table, rooted in my place, I pondered my predicament, unsure about the case; I heard a latch ... I jumped and turned ... a doorknob give a twist, A ten foot bailiff entered through the cold and clammy mist. He took his place toward the front and in a booming voice, He bellowed out “All rise!” and I stood up without a choice. I heard some mumbling from the back, and turned about to see, Ten rows of angry faces staring blindly back at me. In front of them, and to my right, the prosecutor stood, In flowing garb and frightening stance ... “Oh boy, this wasn’t good!” The plaintiff was beside him, though my line of sight was lost, The menacing attorney blocked my view from whom I’d crossed. I squinted, tried to catch a glimpse, but as I tried to stare, The bailiff boomed, “Here come da judge!” and silence filled the air. The woman wore a jet black robe and donned a wig of white, But when I focused on her face, I really got a fright. No question, “she” was “me”, or rather, maybe, “I” was “her”? And yet upon her face, I saw no recognition stir; The judge looked at me blankly, I could see no sympathy, But how could that be possible, if “she” was really “me”? “Be seated!” yelled the bailiff, as I felt my knees go weak, I could not say a single word – I could not even speak! The judge turned to the bailiff, “Bring the jury in.” she said, And in walked twelve familiar faces ... each with “my” own head! I laughed at this outlandish scene, but to my own surprise ... There was no recognition from their cold, accusing eyes; They stared at me across the room – I thought I might go mad, “Just what’s this all about?!?!” I yelled, (Oh, this was looking bad!) The jury gasped ... “Such insolence!” the judge spat back at me, Then grabbed her gavel, slammed it down, and glared triumphantly; “You stand accused before this court. Let’s get this under way!” The prosecutor rose and grinned, he had a LOT to say. I only heard a portion of his argument it seemed, For when he stood, I saw the plaintiff’s face and nearly screamed! Beside him, sat ANOTHER “me” ... “she” wasn’t looking good, A little haggard, worse for wear, not looking like “I” should. The prosecutor’s voice droned on, accusing me of crimes, Laid out my life in black and white, right back to happy times; The essence of his case, it seemed, was “murder in the first”, “She killed “her” dreams and buried them!” the prosecutor cursed. He brought in several witnesses to fortify their case, And every one that testified was wearing “my” own face! “They” spoke the dreams of little girls, “they” reminisced and cried, “They” spoke of broken promises, of too much work and pride. “I” watched “me” point to “me” and heard “me” speak of “my” neglect, “She" killed our hopes and dreams!” They cried, till I yelled “I object!!!” “Well, so do I!!!” the judge admonished, looking rather tense, “I’d like to hear your side of this. Let’s hear a good defense?” “Your Honor”, I began, “You know I have so little time.” “I didn’t kill my dreams, they’re tucked away ... that’s not a crime.” “I promise that I’ll get to them - some day, I’m sure they’ll wait.” “I can’t control the pressures I’ve been dealt, it’s merely fate.” “I have to pay the bills, I have responsibilities.” “To think that I have time for “me”, would only be a tease!” “I have a lot of people who rely on what I do,” “All else will have to wait, perhaps another year or two.” The judge looked at me sternly, shook her head, “This court’s adjourned!” She sent the jury off ... but in 2 minutes, they returned; The judge asked, “Have you reached a verdict?” ... “Yes, we have.” They said, I rose and looked the foreman in the eye, with utter dread. “We find this person, GUILTY! It is Murder – First Degree!” “We recommend you throw the book at her ... no leniency!” The judge looked back at me and said, “I pity you, my dear.” “For lying to “yourself” that you’ll make time for “us” next year.” “You have no choice, I sentence you to dig up all those dreams,” “By sheer neglect, they’ve withered six feet under, so it seems.” “Today, you start believing in “yourself” and make the time.” “All ELSE can wait ... it’s time to pay your penance for this crime.” I tried to speak on my behalf, but suddenly, I knew ... That “they” were right, and “I” was wrong – then off away, I flew; I somersaulted back and forth, and twirled within the air, Till, BOOM! I landed right back in my rigid, office chair! I looked about the place, the phones were ringing off their hooks, I saw the people running all about, with frantic looks; I felt a knot begin to build within the pit of me, That anxious, daily ache I got, that wouldn’t let me be. I thought about my sentence, all the “me’s” that I had heard, Then looked at all in front of me ... it really was absurd! “It ALL could wait, it really could!” I heard “me” somehow say ... And with that revelation - felt a calmness come my way. “I’m taking a vacation!” I announced with sudden pride, Then walked right out the door ... to dig up dreams I’d long denied! /Kit McCallum (who has the next 5 days off, lol) Whhheeee!  |
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| © Copyright 2003 Kit McCallum - All Rights Reserved | |||
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
whew! this is long, but I'll be back to read when I have time...just wanted to say Congrats on your 12,000th!  [This message has been edited by passing shadows (01-01-2003 12:54 PM).] |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
My dear Kit, Here you have an epopee. As plain as it can be. Have no fear the sentence dear It was the passing year.  |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
I'm smiling a GREAT BIG KIT SMILIE...  This is astounding - I'm SO glad you wrote it - and you DO deserve every moment of this sentence - Congrats on 12 grand, btw... |
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regards2you Member Elite
since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940California |
Kit, Congrats on the 12,000.... Love the creative, so true for many of us, poem. Enjoyed greatly. Glad for your time off. Happy New Year. Warm regards, Pat  ..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.. |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
WOW!! Fantastic write to mark this milestone Kit! AND you do deserve the break! For all that you are and all that you do here at Passions... I thank you! ~Hugs & Smiles for the New Year, Nancy~ ~Time has cast a spell on you, |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Kit this is wonderful! I'm so glad you are taking some time off and what a grat poem to start of the new year. Congratulations and big  |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
when ya do it..ya do it up grand!! Congrats on your milestone Kit..quite the inspire to mark it with groovy girl..my goodness..very cool...a poetic, cadenced twist on My So Called Life and Scrooge. Enjoy your respite..you deserve a break... wanna meet me at the beach?   Will the wind remember the names it has blown in the past? |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Congrats on the 12,000 and for finally realizing we all need to take some time off for ourselves once in a while. I took a few days before Christmas and a few days after Christmas off and even had the courage to say "NO!" when they called me to come in on two of the days I'd scheduled off. Ah friend, there's definately more to life than work! |
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Krawdad Member Elite
since 2001-01-03
Posts 2597 |
Kit, WONDERFUL !!! I LOVE your story telling. Marvelous ! I wish I could do as well. Hope you have a great NEW YEAR and CONGRATULAIONS on the 12,000! e |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Kit, Ya certainly deserve the time off....and I hope you do what the judge decreed. Or else you will be right back in that chair again. Congrats on the 12K, an awesome goal, achieved with grace and grandeur... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Kit I thought the sentence was going to be a holiday out here  but that's okay a week with the person you love probably works better for you You deserve it, and the "COURTROOM" was right, as I walked out on it all and never looked back once. A few lifestyle adjustments and presto, a "real life" where the only worry is waking up "sometime". CONGRATULATONS ON JUST BEING YOU AND ALSO THIS ASTOUNDING WRITE (I could actually hear you reading it Kit) ~ The soul lies buried in the ink that does not flow ~  Thanks for my smilie too.[This message has been edited by Mysteria (01-01-2003 03:58 PM).] |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Five days off? Did I hear right? Morning, noon and even night? I sentence you to write more poems! For this one clearly struck a bone! Perhaps you watched the Twilight Zone? Or read Stephen King's newest tome!? For surely this could not be YOU... For I have seen your list "To Do!" 12,000 posts seems like a lot... add to that the juggling of pots of home, and work, and love, and more... It seems you have energy galore... But if you think you owe yourself, then I say take box from shelf and open up the dreams contained... as Kit Supreme, you shall remain! |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
That's a great way to start the new year off! Being OFF!KABOOM, says the judge. I rest my case. |
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garysgirl
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Kit, I love the story and the way you wrote it. I really enjoy reading your poetry. I'll just be glad when I can figure out how to use all your graphics, too. I love them...  (I can do those..HeeHee!!)  CONGRATULATIONS ON 12,000 "Love makes the world go around" |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Yay!!! Oh my gosh, this is marvelous, I LOVE IT!!! Yay, you have nearly a whole week of free time on your hands, yippee! (kiss on cheek) I always love reading your wonderful poetry, sweet friend, you are such a delight to us all, yay, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Kit, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
Have a fun I'm dreading the thought of going back to work Monday.... |
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visitvenus Member
since 2002-12-30
Posts 101PA, USA |
This is great!!!! We're always hardest on ourselves, so great pick for the jurors (heehee) and we never seem to make time for ourselves! Glad I'm off til Monday too! (And I love Sunshine's poetic reply!) -Venus |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
passing shadows: It’s pretty long, all right, lol … thanks for the congratulations Passing Shadows! Seymour Tabin: Smiling here … thank you for the sweet poetic response, Seymour … very much appreciated. Nan: Awww … thank you Nan. That means a lot to me … hugs to you, and thank you, my friend. How’s your new addition doing? regards2you: Thanks for letting me know you could relate to this one Pat … it’s good to know I’m not the only one who has visited the Twilight Zone, lol. Many thanks! Enchantress: Thank you so much for this lovely response Nancy … I truly appreciate it. Martie: Hopefully it will start the new year off with a fresh, relaxed mind Martie. A little vacation was long overdue. Thanks for your congratulations as well. Janet Marie: LOL @ “My So Called Life” and “Scrooge” I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I’m glad you did. Thanks for the wonderful reply JM … and I’d love to meet you at the beach! hoot_owl_rn: I think it’s my first “real time off” since we met up in Cape Cod, Ruth … so I’m enjoying it tremendously! Thanks for the encouragement, my friend. Krawdad: Thank you so much for the kind words, Krawdad … and I very much enjoy your work as well! Many thanks. Magnus: I definitely want some time off from that chair Barry, so I’ll abide … I promise, lol. Thanks for the lovely comment. Mysteria: Five days is not enough time to visit with you Sharon … we’ll need at least 14 days if we’re going to make that visit happen, lol. Seriously though … I thought a fair bit about you as I wrote this one … thanks for your encouragement always, my friend. Sunshine: Your beautiful poetic response made my day sunshiney lady! I will take your sentence willingly … “community service” it shall be, and there’s no better way to spend it than writing. Many thanks for these wonderful words Karilea, and for helping me find some time these last two months! Midnitesun: LOL @ starting the new year off by being “off”. Love it … thanks Midnitesun, much appreciated. Mistletoe Angel: Ah Noah … you’ve brightened my day again, sweet friend. Many thanks to you for this lovely comment. Aenimal: Thanks for the kind words, Aenimal … enjoy your time off as well! Visitvenus: Thanks so much Visitvenus … what a great name. Many thanks for the lovely comment, and Welcome to Passions! Garysgirl: Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed, Ethel … I really appreciate it. I’d like to play with more smilies on my time off too – I have a “flying” one I’m trying to work out. If you’re still having problems getting them to work though, go back to my smilie post here: /pip/Forum3/HTML/001606.html In the opening note, I mentioned that you'll notice each time I post a new smilie, that I give you the code, but I have a space between the first "<" and "img". You'll need to remove that space when you place the text into your post. Feel free to give me a shout via e-mail, and I can send you a listing in Word, of the different codes if that will help, OK? *~* Thanks so much for putting up with my really long poems, everyone ... it means a lot to me, to know that you made it through the length! Much appreciation and big hugs to all, /Kit |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Kit, The really cool part is that you only do keepers! So many truths in this poem that apply to us all. Happy New Year and peace to you. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
My dear amazing Kit!! You always seem to surpass what I feel you are capable of achieving....this is really great!  Yes, by all means, enjoy that vacation. They say Florida is a great vacation spot. Two million wrinkled old fogies who can't remember where they "pak their ca" can't be wrong!! It's an excellent choice to use to mark such an outstanding achievement. Big congrats to you, sweet Kit |
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DawnG
since 2000-06-23
Posts 1494United States |
Kit, I really enjoyed this poem. It was really cute. I hope you are enjoying your time off from work. Glad to have you back around once in a while. Dawn |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Enjoyed...is this really true...if it is you better loosen up and enjoy that time off...congrats on 12,000 posts...James |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Larry: Thanks so much for the kind words Larry … I think you’re a  too. Balladeer: Ah Michael … you always know how to put a smile on this face of mine sweet poet. Thank you for being “you”. DawnG: I’m glad to be back too Dawn. I’m hoping to make the time to do some good reading soon. I’ve missed that. JamesMichael: It’s true in a sense James, lol. I agree, it’s time to loosen up and enjoy a few things in life. Thanks for the kind words. With much appreciation to all, /Kit |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Kit~ I really thought I replied to this...really, really I did..lol. Oh well...I'm replying now and I'm smiling for you again. Hey...if I bump it up, does that mean you get another five days off? It's worth a shot.  Big hugs to you, friend. ~Vicky "...until you have read the verse on his heart, |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
WOW!!! WHAT A MAGNIFICENT TALE!!! I just loved this!! Couldn't take my eyes off the screen. You've outdone yourself with this one Congratulations on this wonderful poem Congratulations on your 12,00th post Congratulations on your 5 day vacation! Lots of hugs, Liz |
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