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Open Poetry #26
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Ratleader
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0 posted 2003-05-27 03:28 PM



Cement, I Want!    (duet with....myself)

Cement. Yes, that’s it.
Stolid, dependable cement.
Mix it, pour it, form it like you like.
It stays that way unless you blast....

No more of this uneasy softening,
melting hearts in over-warm romances
pining over some romantic evening
or teasing love by taking little chances.

Concrete you can hammer,
tough enough to drive on,
that meteors bounce off of
and termites never thrive on....

I’ll never feel a heart that starts to break,
Won’t have regrets or fall in love too soon,
I’ll never have apologies to make
Or see a lover’s face, there in the moon.

Cement hearts aren’t weary,
Won’t give me fits of sorrow;
But mine’s still warm and cheery;
Think I’ll give it up....tomorrow....

© Copyright 2003 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
1 posted 2003-05-27 03:38 PM



http://www.garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com/
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/KSLUCeden.html

Here was someone who couldn't and wouldn't give up his love of cement....

thought you'd enjoy!

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (05-27-2003 03:40 PM).]

Ratleader
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2 posted 2003-05-27 03:41 PM


Hah! Think I like that guy!

....not literally about the cement, but having the huevos grandes to do something he darn well wanted to do.....

Oh yeah, and I did try to work out a rhyme scheme that Nan would like....but we'll see about that...

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

[This message has been edited by Ratleader (05-27-2003 03:43 PM).]

Sunshine
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3 posted 2003-05-27 03:43 PM


Interestingly enough, as you read through some of that, Ed, you will see that his son by his second [very very young wife] served in VietNam...

Talk about spanning a generation GAP....


WhiteRose
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somebody's dungeon
4 posted 2003-05-27 03:45 PM


But there is always that someone who can break through. I know, I've tried this, and it just didn't work. It starts out small, just a little crack, then it starts to crumble, and before long, the whole darn thing is compromised, and the hurt quickly pushes in.

I can soooooooooo relate.

Ratleader
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5 posted 2003-05-27 03:47 PM


LOL -- So have I, so have I.....

...and it ain't so bad -- you get used to it, eh? Besides, cement's so heavy, and you don't get used to THAT....

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

Patricia
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since 2003-04-06
Posts 2160
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6 posted 2003-05-27 03:54 PM


Dear Ed,
Who better to duet with than the Ratman, himself?  I am glad you are not cemented and are not contemplating "cementation" for the implied the future...at least not today!  I like that emotional side of you...gee, last night you had me on one of those roller coasters.  
Wonderful,  Don't want to see a cement mix in your garage now!

-Patricia

Ratleader
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7 posted 2003-05-27 03:58 PM


...not likely! I've discovered that side of my writing, thanks to PIP.... this poem came from a comment I once made, that before I joined PIP I was more likely to write about cement than love....it's been stewing ever since, sort-of mocking myself as I was before.

....now that I think of it, these are the first two poems I ever posted here.....  
/pip/Forum76/HTML/002247.html
/pip/Forum76/HTML/002282.html

They do have a little something in common.....



~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

[This message has been edited by Ratleader (05-27-2003 04:03 PM).]

Martie
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8 posted 2003-05-27 05:11 PM


Ed...The cement in my patio sings when it is wet...and it is very sad song...maybe because cement has no heart, but can be broken, no love, but it can be warm....it sings, but not a love song.  I would choose the ache of being human, over being cement, any day.  I hope all is well with you, my friend.  
Ratleader
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9 posted 2003-05-27 07:15 PM


Amen, Martie, like you I'd pick that in a heartbeat...which is good, since that part of me has been unlocked by the good people of this group and couldn't be cemented over again if I wanted to....I thank 'em every single day for that, and for the friendship that's been more than I dreamed I'd find here. Most of the stuff I've written in the last three months wouldn't have existed without PIP and its people....

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

passing shadows
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displaced
10 posted 2003-05-28 03:34 AM


very good piece
nakdthoughts
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since 2000-10-29
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Between the Lines
11 posted 2003-05-28 10:46 AM


But cement cracks and eventually crumbles, and wears, take it from me, I married into a concrete footing business...and as you can see even we couldn't make it past 30 years...


M

[This message has been edited by nakdthoughts (05-28-2003 10:47 AM).]

Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
12 posted 2003-05-28 12:33 PM


"I’ll never feel a heart that starts to break,
Won’t have regrets or fall in love too soon,
I’ll never have apologies to make
Or see a lover’s face, there in the moon."


Gawd..I love this!
~Smiles & Hugs, Nancy~

~Somewhere in my heart I'm always
dancing with you in the summer rain~

suthern
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Louisiana
13 posted 2003-05-28 03:05 PM


Yanno, when I talk to/with myself, people look at me with strange expressions... some even sidle away as quickly as possible. *G* They obviously don't know what magic such conversations can create when held by the right person. *S*

First, to comment on the comments. *S* If most of the stuff you've written in the past few months wouldn't exist without PIP, we have even more reason to be grateful to Ron... for going back and reading those first postings of yours just emphasizes how much you've given us... and how greedily I anticipate more. *S*

And now... to the poem. *S* Since I first peeked at it yesterday, I've read it as a whole... but also separated the voices in this melody to enjoy two different but entirely complementary moods... and I now know that any prayers I might have uttered for my heart to be at least encased in cement were in vain... Mine's encountered worse than termites... but still is grateful it's able to feel... and melt when it reads beauty. *S*

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