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Open Poetry #36
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of guns of 21 absurd
| Open Poetry #36 |
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of guns of 21 absurd |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738
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soldiers they are laughing girls living in a scary world of things that are upside and right as giggles are insane at night into pillows unconstrained as tears roll down their face and pain has them doubled up again fetal in release. soldiers they are boys too tough armies of testosterough smoking turkish cigarettes developing the nighthawk eye for shadows moving out of sync arms too slim for M-16 and cussing camouflage of green against the desert storms of beige and tanks that rhythm lives away-- tacked with remnants of what they blew away just yesterday-- boxcar training on display as dawn is dreaming finger's spawn "Damn I wish the sun was Mom" folded arms demanding light "Where were you last night?" she'd frown. (Oh Mama you don't wanna know...) Soldiers are the dads that don't know the feel of sand in choke soldiers are the daddy dwarfed by this different taste of war but sensing something of the same grab a beer and say "man" things to veterans who stand too stiff in their uniforms on leave Dads will try to hide their fears: emotions on the table scrapped, laughing much too loud, "Good Meal!" and "let the boy go get him some..." Dads slap too hard upon the back not even knowing they want hugs. Soldiers are mom's nervous hands that smooth the sleeve of uniform creased to such perfection they wonder how they got that way without the stiff of their backbone-- Mothers marvel at the sun brass without the sass they're stunned at this tower of a man-- He suckled sweetly at her breast as she smiles her tears of glad: "I'm just so happy that you're home." (and eyes can't help but plead they stay) Soldiers are a flash of dark in the eyes and smiles are strained and miles of life and love are drained as people want to know too much of what it's like to kill. Circles sag the bags of bleed of much too much to count and these are the seeds of soldiering, tallying the cost of grief of everything is different and oh they need to be alone-- until they dare to let us close knowing this might be the day we place cheap pennies on their eyes and once again, we grieve and 'they' fold the flags perfunctorly with gloves spotless of the blood that liberty demands...but love is what we're all remembering seeking such simplicity of guns of 21 absurd and taps becomes our curse I heard that song was meant to be "at ease" and yes, I guess it had to be-- It's hard to blow a horn and weep. |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
 Karen, you are so right, not to mention brilliant. What a poem! hugs, you........jojo......yes, I will be in touch soon....just too moody to talk at the moment, please forgive my selfishness. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Don't go talkin' bad about my buddy jo. (If you need an ear, my phone is open. Or um it will be, if you tell me to get offline.) Selfish mah ass.  love you lady and I'm serious, if you need to call, I'm up, I'm here...  |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
Whew! I think "brilliant" fits this write of yours to perfection, sb. Gifted! No doubt about it - you are a gifted poet. But sadly the "war karma" goes on and on. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Both of you. and oh mah jo jo....grin thank you lovely |
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Nightshade 
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
Okay... I'm mush for the rest of the day. Karen.... teach me this .... or must we be born with such gifts? hugs & luv. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Chris... some are born with it. Some are born into it. Some osmosis might occur, too through reading. But serenity remains an original. Serenity?  The Dads not knowing they need a hug was the line. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Serenity, My fav. "It's hard to blow a horn and weep." |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
... Oh Gawd! ~Time has cast a spell on you, |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Karen...This has got too be one of the most tender heart touching poems I have read in a long time from you. The saddness and reality of war and those that must suffer the circumstances is a hard story to tell but you do it very well in this poem...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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StevenS Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945L. A. (Lower Alabama) |
Awesome! |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
A big sigh here for the reality of what you see with your poet's eye.  |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
with tears streaming here 'bout all I can muster is...a quiverin sigh, a whispered ~damn, if you aren't the golden nail~ wishin this could be read by anyone sending/going/even pondering what war does to humans...screw what it does to the economy....it's the heartbeat that's important to FEEL from each drop of blood K, I'm keepin this one to reread often, even if it distorts my wet face in anguish |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
OMG... what you do, what you do, sighhh this, you..collapsed me. Just brilliant! You are incredible M'lady m xx ~i want for myself your trembling~ |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
"gloves spotless of the blood that liberty demands.." How in the world do you come up with lines like that? You're an awesome lady... |
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Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
Oh yes, she certainly is Balladeer. I am punishing myself by coming back and reading this jewel again...then hitting the library button that I forgot first read around.  |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Gosh Ser. You have penned the emotions of war...of home...of the fears and worries...of it all...makes one somewhat speechless. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I had this big debate with myself about coming back to thank you all so late. First, I said, "Karen, it's gonna look like yer bumping yer own poem!" I replied to me:"Since when did you start caring about what other people think?" And then: "Well if you don't care what others think then why are you worried about thanking them?" "Will you shut the hell up?" "I had a point, huh? (neener neener neener) If you're so ballsy tell 'em all why you didn't thank them all properly yesterday?" "Okay--I will."  Thank you all very much for reading. I DRANK TOO MUCH THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY AND WASN'T FEELING VERY WELL. *serenity glares at karen* "There. I hope yer happy." nuah  It ain't easy bein' us, folks, thanks for reading.  |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Smilin' at you... BOTH of you... *smile* and?... there are no words for this... It speaks for itself... as do you... Love ya, YOU... "When the power of love overcomes the love |
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littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Such napkin of tears wept for millions lies draped upon an ancient cane seated rocking chair I bought at an antique store and carried home and it sits there not perfectly folded as it was when it was handed to my mother, yet open and breathing unlike the soul whom it belongs to. ~ ~ ~ What you have written is beyond grasping, it just had to be felt and it was. It is good to see you are feeling better. *smile* And aggreeing with everyone here, I have no idea how you do come up with these lines, Lady. Just grateful that you DO. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
I'm back to click the library button....still amazed! |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Been awhile since I read something that brought a tear to my eye -- you hit home with this one. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
a warm smile on a chilly night (for us) and a semi-sober thank you |
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Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
Wow..another punch in the gut, and a second at the end. Amazing work. |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
"we place cheap pennies on their eyes" cheap pennies amazing. Ten years of my life and if it were my boys turn...I would not be able to do it. It's different now. everything is different now love you lady."too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
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Constance Member
since 2001-07-28
Posts 393Ohio |
OMG! Reading this poem was like looking into the sun. I am fire-blind. This kind of work makes me wonder what I'm doing here----truly. smiles and applause, Constance |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
a humble curtsey and thanks... This was one of those I just saw in my head. |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Soldiers are a flash of dark in the eyes and smiles are strained and miles of life and love are drained as people want to know too much of what it's like to kill. Circles sag the bags of bleed of much too much to count and these are the seeds of soldiering, tallying the cost of grief of everything is different and oh they need to be alone-- until they dare to let us close knowing this might be the day we place cheap pennies on their eyes and once again, we grieve and 'they' fold the flags perfunctorly with gloves spotless of the blood that liberty demands...but love is what we're all remembering seeking such simplicity of guns of 21 absurd and taps becomes our curse I heard that song was meant to be "at ease" and yes, I guess it had to be-- It's hard to blow a horn and weep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and its hard to read you and not be awestruck... and I yam....I yam brilliant baby...poetically brilliant... you yam.. you yam.  |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
silly moth...you forgot to check the library button. "click" |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
This is just so worthy of being submitted to some "military site" or somewhere Serenity for our men and service women to read. Sorry I missed it first go around, but glad Mother Moth dusted it off for us late arrivals. This was simply a brilliant write - truly! |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
To the top...James |
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jellybeans Member Elite
since 2000-10-13
Posts 2298 |
ok I claim ditto rights on every compliment on this poem......it is incredible and so are you.... they played taps at my father's funeral and ...well... sigh...you know |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
just want you to know this is my fifth read ~still shakin my head, blood surging in my brain at warp speed, from the sheer power of this~ |
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Thomas119gold Senior Member
since 2002-06-03
Posts 708Biloxi, MS (city by the sea) |
"brilliant"  |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Karen...I was browsing around and came upon this gem and just had to read it again. I also wanted to know how you can see into your head as stated in you last reply to this poem. My eyes just won't turn inside out allowing me to see inside my head, but then i'm not the high priestess of New Orleans like you. Please don't stick any pins into voodoo dolls that look like me Please, I have enough pain...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Pssst, don't forget to show your nephew this one will ya? Unreal you are unreal! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
May I add my little voice of admiration? Wonderful poem! What a pity the human race hasn't reached the levels of civilisation of animals. They don't fight wars. - Owl |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
speechless K... I'm just plain damned speechless... you...c'mere..... incredible... oh and? forgive me for not getting back to that e yet....sigh.. I will...soon, when time feels a bit better to me.... live for today, dream of the future, and learn eternal truths from the past.. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
There aren't many times I find I'm glad I missed a poem when it was posted... but I'm glad I missed this one then... for it means more now, having heard Taps a couple of weeks ago. There are so many lines I could focus on for their hard-hitting truths... but I'll simply applaud the whole... and be glad it was here for me to read today. |
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Misty Lilacs Senior Member
since 2005-11-15
Posts 1060White Birch Forest |
Yikes, I'm speechless as tears run into my keyboard! This is amazing, just amazing. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Serenity, May I hang this on the wall at work along side of Balladeer's Small Hole In my Heart?. We send packages off to the troops every quarter and the letters and photos sent back are all hanging there. I just finished packing two, my son and his kids two, Jackie and her son one, and one from the three great grands. It has been so much fun trying to pack small needy things into the small boxes. Love your work,martyjo |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Serenity, May I hang this on the wall at work along side of Balladeer's Small Pain In my Chest?. We send packages off to the troops every quarter and the letters and photos sent back are all hanging there. I just finished packing two, my son and his kids two, Jackie and her son one, and one from the three great grands. It has been so much fun trying to pack small needy things into the small boxes. Love your work,martyjo |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
marty jo? I'd be honored. thank you |
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wranx Member Elite
since 2002-06-07
Posts 3689Moved from a shack to a barn |
This, m'witch, is...well Its damned good! I stand, an awed yeti |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Karen, ================================= It's hard to blow a horn and weep ================================= You do know how to boil it down. That's an awesome line. Peace. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Thank you Serenity, mission acomplished.. martyjo |
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