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Open Poetry #35
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LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296


0 posted 2005-07-01 07:49 AM


An african sun, resting in a rug sac of the sky
painting rippling waves of fever
bouncing off blackened concrete
like polished metal
burning end-of-summer blue grass
like a torch…
flexing it’s breath with sweat & oppression
during this 4th of july celebration….
as old men rise, to speak,
each taking his turn, suppressing tears…

i wondered about the attic rooms of heaven
were they cool and
did they shake to, when shedding tears?
perhaps mine, puny in comparison
immediate satisfaction bedazzled my ears
hearing mementos of sweethearts
staring at the unknown
listening to the course silence overcoming
the crowd…in a faint, late afternoon voice
of the battle hymn of the republic

parting ways from this heat
with cranky voiced fixation
betraying inner feelings…and
pondering the anti-aircraft guns
shifting my weight from my left foot…
i saw soldiers flanking over shorelines
everything became real
and i knew….they shook when they cried
while peering into dark corners of trembling minds
within the chaos of battle
shrapnel promises rows of final farewell
habitual out-of-pocket assailants,
reloading weapons
in a place where killing
gets you lifetime probation to hell…

ongoing explosions of battle
sounded in the distance
men sipping on their last cigarette
crying & screams, fill the air
for medics to repair endless chains of flesh
while gunfire scowls a deafening sarcasm
one you never forget

wide eyed stares turn into desperation
and malevolence
trembling hands, now feeling insane
certified, incarceration with death
their minds violently raped
shattering any illusion of freedom
for them….
battered and bruised corpses lay in multiple
tears…lifeless, evening shadows crawling across
blood pooled trenches of sorrow…fear

here was knowing the strangeness of everything
around you, here was a framed heinous photo
thick red splashing in the shadows
dusting earth with mere crumbs of history
swallowing bodies, carefully, bitterly

as biting words, of the last veteran sounded
there came a hard crusted drum roll
then, the first hiss of fireworks ascending toward
heaven
BANG…BANG…BANG, BANG, and BANG
the entire crowd silently shuttered
while streams of color flailed the air
meaning the precise moment of reality
fizzing the word SAFE

i looked up…and the last thing i remember
was the white hot heat of the sun
blotting this moment in time, became my
religion, even though it was balmy,
fermenting like malt liquor
smells of sweat in the air
then….
upon looking on the arcades of names
sprawled across this wall…there, appeared
a soldier’s relection on the glass stone
laying one hand, hard against its heart
as if through the wall, he could touch his cohorts

tears streamed down his dirt stained cheeks
mud lined his boots, like a swelling produced
by a blow….
he was alien to the crowd, archaic

suddenly, there was no definition or state of affairs
that chilled the air as this moment…
suddenly, there was no African sun beating
down on this moment…

i was relieved to be drowning in this heat
rather then hearing that shrill whistle
blowing across the wind…
calling men everywhere to arms
this place, right here, right now
was a better place...
Because of that soldier and
because of his cohorts
now surrounding me
like sturdy sycamore limbs…
lest I be snatched from they’re grasp
by the heavy breathing of war…

Suddenly…the 4th of July, had a whole new meaning

Now chills crawled up my spine


to all the boys, who became men in an instant
to all the men who became better because of them
To families everywhere who indeed know what loss is


© Copyright 2005 Lee J. - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 2005-07-01 08:14 AM



I heard
the wind,
it shifted
and it cried.

God bless you
for sharing this.

MARK V SHELDON
Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015
In a corporeal internship...
2 posted 2005-07-01 08:21 AM


WOW.  What imagery...  sentiment...  revelation...   LeeJ, that was a mind-full to contemplate and digest.  You really captured a deep and penetrating concept vividly and starkly.  But it still makes me wonder if there isn't a better way to come to the same conclusion -- without the bloodshed and wasted humanity, or is it simply the fate of man on this plane of existance...?  Excellent work.

-MVS

You CAN make a difference, but first you should learn how: http://educate-yourself.org/intro.shtml

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
3 posted 2005-07-01 08:27 AM


LeeJ,
The 4th of july is the sadest day of the year. Thank you, thank you.

garysgirl
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237
Florida, USA
4 posted 2005-07-01 01:11 PM


Lee, this touched my heart.
Very, very good writing, Sweetie.
Thanks for sharing your heart in your poetry.
Hugs,

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
5 posted 2005-07-01 03:53 PM


I was speechless after reading this earlier but I'm back now to tell you that ... I'm still speechless.  You are amazing, you know!
Dark Angel
Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095

6 posted 2005-07-01 06:40 PM


omg you have me in tears

oh my heart aches

just beautiful LeeJ

a

Mxx

drove me like a magnet
to the sea

~stevie nicks~

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
7 posted 2005-07-01 06:49 PM


LeeJ

"i was relieved to be drowning in this heat
rather then hearing that shrill whistle
blowing across the wind…
calling men everywhere to arms
this place, right here, right now
was a better place...
Because of that soldier and
because of his cohorts
now surrounding me
like sturdy sycamore limbs…
lest I be snatched from they’re grasp
by the heavy breathing of war…

Suddenly…the 4th of July, had a whole new meaning"

I am touched to the core by the color of this poem.  Yes, you are an amazing poet!  I would like to hear you read this in a quiet stadium with your hand over your heart.  


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