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Open Poetry #34
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Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2004-10-23 03:15 AM



Toerag's recent posts are oozing with the real man, the one I saw behind the veil of worldly remarks which have kept these forums alive with a spirit of a cheauvenistic approach embraced even by the feminists among us, for it was always wrapped in the virtual reality as seen through his loving eyes.
And so I would like to repost a poem from Forum#5. Wow! That was a long time ago
So here it goes! A man called Toerag.

A Man Called Toerag

He reveals himself in gesture
Though his hands I cannot see
He reveals facial expression
Though his face unknown to me
I can see into his spirit
What he cannot see himself
Though his treasure chest be empty
It is full of human wealth

I can feel the rhythm beating
Of inquiet solitude
Of a mind that knows no peace
Until injustice is unglued
I can feel the strong compassion
I can see the teardrops fall
I can feel the spirit moan
He sees the writing on the wall

He's a tough and weathered warrior
He's accustomed to the streets
He's been in and out and up and down
With characters he meets
He can speak the common language
He can plod the common ground
While inside there is an emptiness
A dream he hasn't found

There is laughter in the hallways
There is love within the heart
There's desire on his fingertips
And every living part
He rejoices in his playfullness
In making others laugh
He feels pride in standing up
In another one's behalf

There's a pain within his spirit
There's a wit upon his tongue
There's a restlessness about the past
And songs he hasn't sung
He is better than the best of them
And wiser than the most
And he fails to even recognize
What other men would boast

He hears rap within the strains of Bach
T. Leary was his muse
And he views Picasso canvases
In pornographic hues
He loves a short and swaying skirt
A button popping blouse
An inch above a tender knee
And beer around the house

He's self confronting, Self instructive
Self defacing, Self destructive
Self abusing, Self defaming
Introspective, and self blaming

But what I see and what I feel
Are love and beauty in his soul
A sensitive and tender heart
Beyond the simple common goal
A deep abiding sheer regard
For every soul upon the earth
A true and pure respect for
All the qualities of greatest worth

The hell-bent "bad boy" I have found
Will in the end be heaven bound
And I would hope some day to see
This face that has enraptured me

Love ya, Toe
Liz
From Open Poetry #5


© Copyright 2004 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved
passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
1 posted 2004-10-23 09:29 AM


yeah Liz, that was a long time ago....and I still don't think we've seen his face yet...

Love To Toe!

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 2004-10-23 09:32 AM


You captured him then, and his essence is even more replete now with all that he gives us, from his heart, and from his humor.  Thank you, Liz!
Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2004-10-23 07:07 PM




*Heart-Bump*

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

Email noles1@totcon.com

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
4 posted 2004-10-23 07:12 PM


Thanks for reposting this, Liz!  
Mysteria
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Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
5 posted 2004-10-23 09:45 PM


Liz, even way back then you indeed captured the very essence, sense, sensibility, silliness, and sometimes misunderstood integrity of a man that is indeed a tough and weathered warrior in more ways than one.  His personality sure is like that fine wine that was aged to perfection isn’t it, a real old bottle of wine too I might add!   I can’t help it, as sit here trying to be serious, all I can think of his nude toe around all those nurses.  Blame him as he has taught me anyway to laugh in the face of pain or fear and it seems it’s a specialty of his.

May God be with him, as are we all in his current life struggle and bring him back to us very soon.  

Tequilia_Sunrise
Senior Member
since 2003-02-19
Posts 612
Lochalsh, Ontario, Canada
6 posted 2004-10-23 09:50 PM


enjoyed very much

2dalimit
Member Elite
since 2000-02-08
Posts 2228
Mississippi coast
7 posted 2004-10-24 07:37 AM


Bravo! He, an inspiration - you, the translation. Thanks for a complete, whole, entire, 100% view of a honorable man.

Melton

LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

8 posted 2004-10-25 11:35 AM


what an insight on a man who is so near and dear to us...he has been a blessing...
Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
9 posted 2004-10-25 11:39 AM


Especially meaningful this day. I am sure that this was a poem that he has treasured!

You captured our lovable nut in a shell!

Hugs with much love for both of you,
Linda

muted
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2004-01-15
Posts 2949
Elapsing, Eclipsing, Evolving
10 posted 2004-10-25 11:55 AM


smiling here...and *nodding*

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
11 posted 2004-10-25 12:09 PM


Liz, thank you for bringing this one back.
He is never far from my thoughts especially today.
Heart Hugs~

~Autumn..the year's last, loveliest smile.~

suthern
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
12 posted 2004-10-25 12:44 PM


I remember how stunned he was when you first wrote this... for you'd looked right past the clown mask to appreciate the man. *S*

Thank you for this... it's always been one of my favorites...

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