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Open Poetry #34
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Two Too True Tales
| Open Poetry #34 |
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Two Too True Tales |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533
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Gravy, Gravitas, Gravity, Graves December 2, 1932 Ivan Rhuele Gates, tagged “Ringling of the Air” from barnstorming days over grounds of the fairs when his “Airdevils” soared above an Earth where men had before only sent up their prayers Ivan was brawny and boastful and brash a scrawnier milquetoast who lacked his panache would never endeavor to fly (fear he’d crash) ‘tis the bold, the clever who rake in the cash Ivan rose far from a flimsy bi-plane to the toast of the bar and upraised champagne but as age is a bane to the woman that’s vain whatever goes up must come down again Ivan, the pioneer, novelty worn was to commercial flight just a unicorn, he tried to find ways to toot his own horn as Mercury’s wings clipped, Sampson’s locks shorn Ivan Gates’ tailspin to discontent tormented his health and his wealth soon spent, time found him barking for 15 cents tickets to peek in a Coney Isle tent Ivan Gates, this morning, rose from his seat ‘neath tattered posters that once flashed his feats “Spine Chilling! Nerve Tingling!” never discreet was the showman, now cognomen known as defeat Ivan Gates, entrepreneur on the skid, Abandon all hope as his pride did his id Said to a wife far too small to forbid “I think I’ll jump out of the window” and did . . . . . Biggest Shopping Day of the Year (villanelle) November 26, 2004 The Parisian saw “a shadow going down” wheeling toward the screams where the man had lept from the tallest building in the biggest town A Georgian who was standin’ on the groun’ said “He was on his back, just as though he slept,” The Parisian saw “a shadow going down” Atlantan; “eight to ten seconds and no soun’, then a big bang,” the 6th floor intercepts from the tallest building in the biggest town “I was mesmerized, absolutely” he’d expound while many high and low only stood and wept the Parisian saw “a shadow going down” Some years ago a man dressed as a clown had breeched the fence and in the air he stepped from the tallest building in the biggest town As fish are out of water these men drown, they see no light, in dark their secrets’ kept the Parisian saw “a shadow going down” from the tallest building in the biggest town . . . . . . . . . both stories true, 1st from December 1932 issue of Time Magazine 2nd http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/32228.htm |
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| © Copyright 2004 Richard S. Wells jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Ivan rose far from a flimsy bi-plane to the toast of the bar and upraised champagne but as age is a bane to the woman that’s vain whatever goes up must come down again rhythm and rhyming..both I love and you have yours down pat... sad stories... great writing M |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Dang, Richard, what you did with these is incredible I heard about that most recent jumper, but not the details or comments from observers. Your rhyme is sublime, and the unraveling of these stories expertly done.  I'm always stunned by such dramatic desperate methods of ending life, and know there is so much more to the individual's story than the last few seconds of life that get reported. Thank you, for caring about the individual human's life enough to give it more than a passing glance, dismissing it simply as 'a shadow going down.' |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
RSWells Excellent write. You paint very well. |
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ecrivan Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923my own state |
an entertaining combo of wit, fact and rhyme.. |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Wow! How interesting and so well presented! I like your style and subject matter. It's very different and creatively done! misc'e |
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