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Open Poetry #28
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People Watching [Serenity's Challenge] The old Don
| Open Poetry #28 |
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People Watching [Serenity's Challenge] The old Don |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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The old Don His natural curly gray hair, peppered still with black ore strands held status over squinting blue eyes that belied some Irish in the Germanic traits he held when he took me in well, willingly welcoming the newly wed in a hug of peppermint schnapps and flecks of tobacco flakes that dandruffed his lapels… but he smelled good his hug bearishly whole, some part of his life he could still give back like a flip to a younger day for he had only loved one woman, and, never coming up to his daughter’s standards, he dwindled into his schnapps, but loved life, still, and clung to that love of one woman, long gone holding his Rose as if fresh on the lapel that now held only dandruff of tobacco leaves Somehow, we bonded, the old Don and I, for he would not let his love of Rose be lost in memory, and I could not afford to fix more than spaghetti that dinner of his first visit, as apologies preceded, that he would only eat hers, and I had only mine to offer, not hers, that, and bread, and green salad, as mother-in-law said, “he’ll not forget his Rose, or her spaghetti – he won’t eat mine, either,” in a conspiratorial effort, small, though it be, to sooth what hurt feelings I might newly muster, if I were to muster them, in my wedded bliss but he had not been counted on as guest, having dropped in like a fly into the sauce, so, un-pre-disturbed, I lifted out the thought of displaced persons, and sat him in a chair, with a “this is all I have,” an ear toward the slight sound of weighted loss, “I could only eat hers,” and understood then, that memories sometime fill well not only the soul… hoping he would survive the night on salad, and home-baked bread. He thrived. Old Don went through half a loaf of bread and butter, commenting often on the good smells in the kitchen, while folk had first, then seconds of salad, bread and spaghetti, and then, when all was cooling down, rounded stomachs happy in fulfillment, diners going into another room to sit with coffee, to sit in front of televised miracles, to memorize 1971 moments, the old Don came to me as I scoured the evening without help of one hand, asking if he could lend his, and in nod, I acquiesced his lonesomeness as he regaled me of roses and petals, and children gone astray. Then he lifted the large pot to scoop out a small remainder of threads in red sauce, and took a bite. I think it was not to let the sister-in-law hear [for he never ate hers] that he whispered, “this is as good as Rose’s” and didn’t leave any left over to put away. The old Don frequented us, after that, staying with “the kids”, and if the pot of spaghetti ever yielded enough for the refrigerator, it was never there by morning as if by a touch of Rose, and magic. [This message has been edited by Sunshine (08-19-2003 08:50 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
... Sorry Karilea..I've read this several times and I am still speechless... This is an amazing portrait.. a wonderful story...and a challenge more than well met. ~Hugs~ ~The breeze that kissed you on the face, |
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Patricia Member Elite
since 2003-04-06
Posts 2160Missouri |
This is incredible, Karilea. I have read this several times just as Nancy...though not speechless...because I kept saying, "She is amazing" over and over again. Challenge so wonderfully met, Karilea. Hugs to you this evening, my friend. Patricia |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
You captured the knightly essence of a Don and the presence of a man. Thank you for sharing this. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
hey lady.  I'll be back for this one. I want to be able to give it the proper attention. Hugs, K. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Karilea This is so very touching, my friend...you lit him like a candle and made him just as endearing. Thank you. |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
getting a little verklempt in here... thought I could hear Louie Prima in the background... bravo K |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Wow! |
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Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
DAMN You met this challenge WELL! |
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Ringo
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
Karilea- This is amazing!! "in a hug of peppermint schnapps and flecks of tobacco flakes that dandruffed his lapels… but he smelled good" My favorite lines in the whole write. Great Job. We are all equal but we’re individually different |
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littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Oh my . . . retract what I said in the last one . . . no, no - add to it Karilea! You are brilliant. Not only is this the most beautiful story, but your wordplays are amazing like this: having dropped in like a fly into the sauce, and that is only one . . . Be proud of you, Lady . . . you are amazing xxoo |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
This is outstanding Kari... I read this a kzillion times, and why do I smell cognac and that sweet cherry tobacco? This made me want a cigar. OOOOOH... smile. (I just happen to have one stashed...) just a sec.  now life is perfect. |
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angelblueyes Member Elite
since 2003-07-19
Posts 2148Oklahoma |
This is absolutley amazing. Crystal |
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