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JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2011-08-25 06:36 PM

Old James lay down and died today;
He died the way he lived his life,
Without fanfare, trouble or strife,
Just closed his eyes, went on his way.

Old James was a different man;
In school he was known as a fool,
As hardheaded as an old mule,
Did not care for lessons and plans.

Old James walked a separate path;
His thoughts were not of normal stuff,
He did not play games that were rough,
A gentle soul, he showed no wrath.

When we went to college to learn;
He fished on the bank of a creek,
Hours passed and he did not speak,
Life went on with little concern.

Women were not on James' list;
Was not enamored of their charms,
There would be no girl on his arm,
He did not pine for what he missed.

The world left Old James quite alone;
We pursued life's goals with delight,
Laughed at Old James, what a sad sight,
He was dull; look how we had grown.

Old James went through life quite content;
He smiled a lot, life was his toy,
We never knew, he read Tolstoi,
His world, not rigid like cement.

Old James grew old as did we all;
Eyes were dim but he had that smile,
No pals he had, that was his style,
Why, then did he make us feel small?

We were winners, people of worth;
Married and divorced more than twice,
Modern were we, had paid the price,
He was no different since his birth.

I looked him up before his end;
Something told me to speak to him,
What he told me made my eyes brim,
I lived life as it was, my good friend.

~ Man who stands on toilet is high on pot. ~

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

1 posted 2011-08-25 06:47 PM

I love this one.

(hope you're feeling better today)

love,

k

ebonygirl
Member Elite

since 2011-07-14

Posts 2000
California U.S.A

2 posted 2011-08-25 06:53 PM

Jerry, I could see you and Old James clearly,
Well done James,
Ms. E

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

3 posted 2011-08-25 07:11 PM

Thanks, Karen, actually from yesterday to today I'm feeling 80% better, not much pain today, just itching. Thanks.

Ms. E, if I made James visiable to you, that makes my day. Thank you.

~ Man who stands on toilet is high on pot. ~

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

4 posted 2011-08-25 07:29 PM

Jerry, I am glad you reposted this because I didn't get to reply to it the first time round - I thought I had, but time must have got in the way.

It is always a momentous occasion, when any person leaves this mortal coil, but it aches my heart particularly much when that person was mostly a loner, even if by choice. You expressed James' passing beautifully - exactly the way James would have wanted you to. Thank you on his behalf.

Owl

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

5 posted 2011-08-25 07:38 PM

I didn't think I had posted this, and I ran a "search" to make sure. I suppose I posted it when I was JerryPat instead of JerryPat2. Hah!

You are so right, Owl, lonely people, for the most part just don't have the grit to face the world and the people in it. Thanks for your nice comments . . .

~ Man who stands on toilet is high on pot. ~

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

6 posted 2011-08-25 08:16 PM

it seems ironic that James, in death, memorialized in your poem is now larger than life. Excellent write my friend
Lori

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

7 posted 2011-08-25 08:19 PM

He was actually larger in life when he was alive, Lori, it was just that no one knew it. Thank you for being here.

~ Man who stands on toilet is high on pot. ~

Spiros Zafiris
Senior Member

since 2002-10-20

Posts 982
Canada

8 posted 2011-08-25 11:30 PM

..nice one Jerry; real nice..!

faithmairee
Senior Member

since 2011-01-05

Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA

9 posted 2011-08-25 11:31 PM

Hi, there,JerryPat-I just stopped by to say hi. I loved your poem. I see you are still writing wonderful stuff.

Love,

faith

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

10 posted 2011-08-25 11:53 PM

Spiros, thank you very much.

faith, hello stranger. Thank you for being here. Again

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

11 posted 2011-08-26 02:54 AM

quote:
Old James went through life quite content;
He smiled a lot, life was his toy,
We never knew, he read Tolstoi,
His world, not rigid like cement.

I think old James is smiling to you from up there as you deemed his life worth to be celebrated with such a beautiful poem.

Imagine how many people have been positively affected by his smile? It was his way to share his heart.

Great work, I really enjoyed meeting James through your skillful pen.

Love,
Margherita

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

12 posted 2011-08-26 09:30 AM

Thanks so much, Margherita. I can only hope James knows and understands what I have attempted to do here. Now, if I could just get that old man walking that mangy dog with a rope tied loosely around his neck out of my mind. I guess I'll have to write about him. He used to walk by where I lived in Texarkana every single day, one way, never came back from the other way.

~ I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. ~

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

13 posted 2011-08-26 10:40 AM

"I looked him up before his end;
Something told me to speak to him,
What he told me made my eyes brim,
I lived life as it was, my good friend."

Excellent.
The whole thing tugs the heart strings.

JL

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

14 posted 2011-08-26 10:57 AM

Appreciate the nice comments, JL. Thanks a bunch.

~ I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. ~

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

15 posted 2011-08-29 12:46 PM

Fine writing...James

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

16 posted 2011-08-29 07:30 AM

Thanks, James . . .

~ I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. ~

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

17 posted 2011-08-31 08:32 PM

A most excellent tribute. *S*

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

18 posted 2011-08-31 08:34 PM

Thank you S. There are far too many rules here. I appreciate all the times you have read and commented, but I won't be back anymore,. Thank you again.

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