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Open Poetry #43
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Atoll
| Open Poetry #43 |
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Atoll |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass 
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Atoll My hands are turning into coral. It is a slow and tedious process, the small deposits forming here and there grow bulbous, bonding my native rocks in mounded ligatures, until the hands, now buried under colorful deposits, will some day encircle me whole, a reef. While the coral builds, the rest of me erodes though things don't tumble anymore, and storms don't break through as they did. My coral fends the waves and holds the sand; I could grow sugar cane along these valleys, where the glaring lava flows once ran. There is a price, oh yes, paid out in rings that I can't wear now, the foreknowledge of rain, the mounting strain of opening a jar of peaches, but see how the fish play in between my metacarpals; never mind the eels parked sinuous in my undulating crevices. Oh, I would need a glass-bottom boat to see what I have built in comfort, a snorkel mask and fins to sketch along the full extent of it, but this is enough; they're turning into coral and in the end, barring hell and tidal waves I will mellow, hands first of course, to an atoll. |
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| © Copyright 2008 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
. Hey Ed, Long time . . . John . |
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Oklahoma Rose Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586Oklahoma USA |
It's good to see you, again. Enjyed you poem here. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Smiling... Hugging...  |
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Pantheress Member
since 2008-11-02
Posts 215Queensland, Australia |
I like reading this poem, But I kept thinking you where talking of arthritis,smiles.. Forgive me.. Thanks for sharing.. |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Yep, that's it exactly.......I'm at the age where my old "athletic injuries" are starting to come back to visit me, and being a guy, a lot of those were on the hands. This one's me trying to be good-natured about that situation! Howdy folks.......I've been gone a while, and I'm not sure whether I'm back for keeps or not. A lot of that will depend on how I'm treated this time around, but I've missed the place and it feels good to be back to post, not just lurk and read my friends' words, as I've been doing for a year now. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> ______________Ratleader______________ |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
. Ed, Stick around You're needed More than needy John . |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
There is a price, oh yes, paid out in rings that I can't wear now, the foreknowledge of rain, the mounting strain of opening a jar of peaches, As long as you can hold a pen... Which is not to make light of the pain... I don't even have an athletic past to blame my aches and weather forecasting abilities on, but I understand all too well. *S* But please... let your pen keep gifting us. *S* |
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Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
Naughty eels. Nan (Pilgrim variety) |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Hey there, Ratleader, This is the first time I've been on for a time, and to find your name is a treat. Your poetry is unique as always. I've always loved your analogies and layers of thought. Hope you feel better. I'm glad to have had a chance to read your work again. Welcome back. miscellanea |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
 Ed, arthritic or not, those hands have words to write, things to type, thoughts to share across the miles. Enjoyed the coral metaphor. |
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ThisDiamond Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353Michigan, USA |
Welcome back Ed. It sure is good to read your works again. Great write. |
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Juju Member Elite
since 2003-12-29
Posts 3429In your dreams |
I like this one -Juju |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
I can relate to this more than I wish. Mine is mainly in my knees and sometimes it feels as if I am trying to warm up the engine in my car before moving on, but as long as I can find the gas pedal, then I try to not let it get to me. Enjoyed and nice to see you back in the blue pages. |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Ed!!! The leader of the rat pack is back! ~ and with a stunning piece of metaphorical writing! ~ along with doses of reality regarding the calcification of arthritic hands. You have an admirable positive attitude and a very fine pen!!! It's good to see you sailing these blue seas again! Sending a warm, healing, welcome-back-home hug, Linda |
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Oklahoma Rose Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586Oklahoma USA |
Welcome back! It is really good to see you back, and good to see you posting. |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
and a big welcome from down under Ed!  I have missed reading your beautiful work... I do hope you stay around a little longer to share more of your wonderful talent with us here on the pages blue... I enjoyed this very much.. love and a welcome hug RDB Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
an interesting look at one of life's all too common problems...seen specially through your eyes is indeed a treat...thank you for sharing |
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1slick_lady Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088standing on a shadow's lace |
welcome home |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Ratleader - remember you from a while back.. I just returned a few weeks ago. Hope to see more of your writings... BC |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
This reminds me of my friend's fingers. He was showing them to me the other day .. all bent and gnarled -- and corally. Welcome back - it's good to read you again. Alison |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
ED, You reminded me of my son. As a boy he never missed school. As worker he quickly rose to manager. Finally in his late forties he had back problems. He would not stay home over Holidays, had to be on the job. His superior told him, "Marten, we are not paying you for your body,it is your mind we want. Stay home and call it in". Ed, as long as your mind is still with you, you will find a way to write it down and we all stand ready to read. Please do not stay away again. You were missed more than you may realize. Sincerely,"late" |
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