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JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2011-02-07 03:17 PM

The traveler meandered down the dusty road
like an abandoned cur,
stopping momentarily
to gaze at a Broken Heart scattered here and there.
As he stared at what was before him
he likened it to nightmarish dreams.
Shading his eyes from a tremendous August sun,
the traveler peered off to the right
where a mortally wounded Psyche lay in the weeds,
baked into something calloused and hard,
no longer part of the poor soul it had come from.
To his left,
where he didn't have to shade his eyes,
rose a huge Mountain of Betrayal.
Hand-sized tears
tumbled down its weathered slope
to drop into a swirling vortex of optimism,
which reprocessed it back into betrayal,
forever recycling the sadness of man's Treachery.
The traveler closed his eyes and sighed.
Old Sol plunged behind craggy mountains
where it would soon retire for the night.

I can't do this.

He received no answer.
The traveler expected none.
Still, it was not silence which greeted his declaration,
faint Moans of Anguish could be heard
over the tormented pleas of a small child.
Male? Female?
He knew not.
It mattered not.
The pain was real.
He withstood it by keeping his eyes closed.
The road was familiar.
He had never been there, though.
Not in this life.
That was the thing, then.
Since everything seemed familiar,
if twisted and quite out of kilter,
the traveler had to ask . . .

Am I dead?

Far away he heard Shattered Hope screech.

Am I dead, or is this the way to The All-American Dream?

©February 7, 2011 / Jerry Pat Bolton

~ Some people are like a Slinky -- not really good for anything -- but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs. ~

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

1 posted 2011-02-07 03:24 PM

I liked this Jerry. It's different.
Lori

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

2 posted 2011-02-07 03:28 PM

Thank you, Lori. More to come.

~ Some people are like a Slinky -- not really good for anything -- but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs. ~

serenity
Junior Member

since 2011-01-30

Posts 13
Queensland, Australia.

3 posted 2011-02-07 09:10 PM

Hi Lori,
Being a novice, I'm more reading than writing at present, to learn.
I got a book from the library & in it, it said that to get the maximum from a poem, one should read it out aloud.
I did this with yours & see what the book meant.
You really get the feeling.
Thoroughly enjoyed your poem, thank you.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

4 posted 2011-02-07 09:19 PM

Thank you serenity, but my name is JerryPat, not Lori and I am male instead of female. Other than those two mistakes I appreciated your comments.

~ Some people are like a Slinky -- not really good for anything -- but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs. ~

faithmairee
Senior Member

since 2011-01-05

Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA

5 posted 2011-02-08 05:29 PM

ok, i read the second part first now i have two down...great reading, JerryPat...can't wait for part 3...you're an awesome story teller

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

6 posted 2011-02-08 05:41 PM

Ah . . . Great, Faith, I'm glad you are liking it. Tomorrow, #3.

~ Some people are like a Slinky -- not really good for anything -- but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs. ~

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

7 posted 2011-02-08 07:06 PM

Ah, Jerry. I had a "mad Max" moment as I read this.

Which is a compliment, okay?

Now, on to number 2!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

8 posted 2011-02-08 07:10 PM

I used to love those insane movies, Sunshine, and thank you for reading and commenting.

~ Some people are like a Slinky -- not really good for anything -- but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs. ~

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