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Open Poetry #24
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Magnus
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Member Laureate
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

0 posted 2003-01-13 09:23 PM


My hands rest softly upon the gate,
hinges oiled heavily by sweat, by tears.
Rust flaking and falling into small brown
crusty piles at my feet.

Swirling winds bring a torrent of leaves,
a briskness that brings a chill, a whistling
sound calls from barren limbs of oaken hue.
Winter lies beyond the door of a lighted
house, a cottage beyond the gate.

Shall I open this gate, perhaps knock on
the wooden door, where light creeps through
a small wisp of a crack...Enough for a wish to
come into and fall upon a page...

Inside, barely discernable against the darkness
beyond a fireplace...flickering lights dancing on
walls, walls covered with countless framed pictures,
memorabilia, nostalgia....the blood, sweat and years
of a man’s energies..

The form of an elderly man, tall yet stooped in posture,
balding, wisps of gray hair casually astray.   Writing
on a single page...Enwrapped in the moment, staring
into the distance as though in a trance..

Wanting to see, I walk a long and creaking porch,
past a swing of yesteryear.  One where many dreams
must have been dreamt, eventually lived.  Looking
through a weathered pane, I notice a familiar smile,
one of another year.

Behind him, within the glow of a fire crackling,
a single framed picture of a woman whose face,
though distant, captivated me, my stare would
not release from the picture.

Suddenly, as a chill swept over me, I knew...
For this was his wife...and that man...that
stooped man, writing diligently his soul..
Could only be...and was...
Me!  


© Copyright 2003 Barry J. Tackett - All Rights Reserved
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
1 posted 2003-01-13 09:28 PM


With many grand miles more to go before you settle into that swing... This is wonderful, P.I.... Congrats on your last 8 grand...
ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353
Michigan, USA
2 posted 2003-01-13 09:30 PM


Sensational!!
Speechless my friend...doesn't happen often.
Smiles from ThisDiamond

garysgirl
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Member Laureate
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237
Florida, USA
3 posted 2003-01-13 09:31 PM


Barry, this is breathtaking. I'm not being dramatic, but I was actually holding my breath at the end of this. I'm serious, I thought it was going to be you and then, it was....... Goodness, you're a good writer.


Congratulations on your 8000th post, too. I feel honored to be the one of the first ones to congratulate such a talented poet. Thank you for the joy your poetry has brought to me.

Thank you...........  

"Love makes the world go around"
~~with love and hugs from Ethel~~  
                  

[This message has been edited by garysgirl (01-13-2003 09:33 PM).]

Nightshade
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Member Patricius
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962
just out of reach
4 posted 2003-01-13 09:36 PM


Magnus, dear poet-friend, congratulations on your 8000th post!! Might I add that this one is a
Wonderful.  hugs, Chris

"Hope" is the thing with feathers-
that perches in the soul....
                  
                       -Emily Dickinson

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
5 posted 2003-01-13 09:58 PM


Okay P.I., you've done it with this one!!!!!
Sensational, and congratulations on the 8000 posts!
~Hugs & Smiles, Nancy~

~Time has cast a spell on you,
  So you won't ever forget me~

scorpio
Member Ascendant
since 2002-10-02
Posts 5178
right...there
6 posted 2003-01-13 10:12 PM


Congrats on 8000 posts Barry..well done...I hope to read many more!!!
            

believe in what your heart feels...

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
7 posted 2003-01-13 10:29 PM



To see yourself, so clearly...
means your muse is pleased...

Well done, Magnum, er, Magnus...
Well done.

Congrats!

angelfriend
Member
since 2003-01-11
Posts 52
Michigan USA
8 posted 2003-01-13 10:45 PM


Congratulations and great poem to mark the occasion. As I read it again it reminded me a bit of "A Christmas Carol" where Scrooge sees himself in past, present and future. Looking through the windows at himself through new eyes. May you always have a clear vision of who you were, who you are and who you are to become.

"The only gift is a portion of thyself" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Magnus
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Member Laureate
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA
9 posted 2003-01-13 10:47 PM


Thanx to each of you,  all of you are my
inspiration...and without it,  I would just
be someone without a lot of personal
satisfaction from something that I totally
and thoroughly enjoy...

Magnum/Magnus..P.I.

Elan
Member
since 2002-05-03
Posts 382
State of Wide Eye
10 posted 2003-01-13 10:58 PM



Magnus...
I'm so proud
of your accomplishments!

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549
By the Seaside
11 posted 2003-01-13 11:13 PM


Beautiful beautiful writing!
I'm so glad you opened the gate and
knocked upon the door...

Thank you for coloring these blue pages
with your poetry and sharing a part of your story.  

Congratulations to you Barry~


regards2you
Member Elite
since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940
California
12 posted 2003-01-13 11:19 PM



Barry,

Congrats!  I love this poem. It is special.  And, I thank you for among all the replies and poems you've written some of the replies were to me, ever encouraging, kindly, compassionate, ever a perfect, gentle man.

Thank you for being who you are and sharing your wonderful talent with all of us.

Hugs, Pat


..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons..
        "Desiderata"

Paul Wilson
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Member Elite
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711
United States
13 posted 2003-01-14 12:31 PM


Barry...A wonderful poem to celebrate your 8,000 post, Congratulations my friend.
This was a pleasure to read...Paul

Shall I open this gate, perhaps knock on
the wooden door, where light creeps through
a small wisp of a crack...Enough for a wish to
come into and fall upon a page...

A look into your furure, longing to know, but afraid to look.

"To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you"

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
14 posted 2003-01-14 12:55 PM


Congrats on your 8000th! I'll never get there...not for a few years anyhow.
Love the write! Absolutely grand!

CSKpoet
Senior Member
since 2002-07-12
Posts 845
Island in Paradise
15 posted 2003-01-15 01:14 PM


congrats on an amazing 8000 posts
This was superb and reminded me of a Christmas tale in taking a look outside yourself...Wonderfully penned, my friend!
Can you rub some of that magic onto my muse?
aloha, Cher

Poetry is:
Passion, imagination and intellect running together.

Aloha with warmest regards, Cheryl Stewart Koomoa

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
16 posted 2003-01-15 01:20 PM


Magnus
Congrats you old reprobate, enjoyed.

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space
17 posted 2003-01-15 07:55 PM


Congrats on 8000 and with posts like these I'm not the first to say but I hope there indeed will be another 8000 and hopefully more
Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
18 posted 2003-01-15 08:15 PM


Barry - congratulations on the 8,000. You do write well my friend...

BC

NewEnglandlazurlu
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470
A Mountain Paradise
19 posted 2003-01-15 08:23 PM




Barry, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 8,000 POSTS

It is always a pleasure to read your poems. What I love about you as a writer is your diversity. You never seem 'stuck' with the same theme.

Blessings and hugs to you my friend,
Marti

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

20 posted 2003-01-15 09:36 PM


This is an exquisite piece of writing, Magnus, breathtaking, indeed!

Congratulations on 8,000!

Mistletoe Angel
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Empyrean
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon
21 posted 2003-01-16 12:01 PM




(big hugggsssssssss) Oh my gosh, now I am flooding in tears, this is marvelous and I only long ever so much for such a picture to be on my mantelpiece which I can gaze at every long winter day and feel the flame of eternity inside me where now there are cobwebs and curfews and eight-legged rats! (sigh) Congratulations on 8000, sweet friend, I LOVE IT, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Barry, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Sandpiper
Senior Member
since 2002-06-15
Posts 738
land of flora and fauna
22 posted 2003-01-16 05:21 AM


a "soul write"--and quite beautiful!!

"And it was at that age...Poetry arrived in search of me...And something started in my soul."
Pablo Neruda

kaile
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Ascendant
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146
singapore
23 posted 2003-01-16 06:36 AM


Magnus,
hmm, your ending caught me by surprise....very good twist (at least to me) that ties up the earlier stanzas rather nicely

congrats on your 8000th post!

Dark Angel
Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095

24 posted 2003-01-16 03:00 PM


An outstanding write Magnus. I loved the twist at the end.

Congrats on 8000.

Maree

christian
Member
since 2002-12-18
Posts 331

25 posted 2003-01-16 03:06 PM



honestly, it took a lot out of me to
read to the end. a tad bit long for
my taste, but i'm glad i read to the finish
because, like everyone else, the end
stirred it up for me.

congrats.

ShadowRider
Senior Member
since 2001-07-14
Posts 1038
USA
26 posted 2003-01-16 09:22 PM


Barry, a warm congratulations on your 8K!
You have me thinking with your poem about how we know so little of ourselves, until we are shown the value to the world by those closest to us.  You said that soooo well, amigo, and it was truly a memorable post on a special occas.

Many more, Barry...
jkf

Salty
Senior Member
since 2002-11-23
Posts 669
Texas
27 posted 2003-01-17 02:52 AM


most intriguing....this story keeps you captivated to the very last word.


An excellent 8--- marker you just left here.

~Salty

Suetang
Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187
Melbourne, Australia
28 posted 2003-01-17 04:32 PM


Hello Barry

Your words have always inspired me and so often leave me in awe.  Your talent is second to none and this piece of writing is an absolute masterpiece.  May you continue to grace each of us with your wonderful words and congratulations on your 8000th post, a marvellous achievement.

Take care.....Sue

I am in motion
I am blue
Love is an ocean
I'm anchored in you
- Shawn Mullins

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