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Open Poetry #46
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At the Gravesite
| Open Poetry #46 |
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At the Gravesite |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America 
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colder'n blue blazes preacher standing ramrod straight mouth so cold lips turning blue mouthing verses mouthing verses nobody hears after he speaks them and words pass his mouth only to shatter in the cold, graveyard cold I'm dressed warm not warm enough to stop chattering teeth shivering not all from the wintry blast no their eyes looking at me instead of the preacher even the preacher presented me with a glacial sneer before he started mouthing verses no one hears not supposed to be here I don't care hungry panther couldn't keep me away I loved her more than anyone did even her husband especially him preacher stopped mouthing silence two strangers walked to flag-draped coffin took it stood in front of the husband she was a veteran folding the flag to precise specifications every fold means something so I've been told the two armed service guys presented the flag to the husband everyone stood whispered among themselves hate-filled eyes darting toward me I remained sitting not part of the ritual would not pretend I was they all left eventually only I remained two men showed up to fill the grave I held up a hand They stepped back I rose and walked toward where she lay knelt at the foot of it tried to speak couldn't tried to pray I couldn't do that either one of the grave men coughed I rose swiped at the tears left, leaving my heart at the bottom of that hole . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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| © Copyright 2010 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Amaryllis Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306Mi now |
Strikes right to the heart, J... gripping, poignant, so moving. . Amaryllis |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Much appreciated, Amaryllis, Thank you too. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Eusta B. Mae Senior Member
since 2010-05-03
Posts 903 |
Jerry, you got me tearing up here... Excellent write! ebm |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
ebm. Thank you. Used my departed wife for part of this. The veteran part. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
nice slice of iron jp...like putting on gloves with memory in the fingers |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Wow...but it just happens, doesn't it. It just does, and there's not a danged thing one can do to turn that kind of love into anything other than what it is. Good job, sir. |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Never hear it put quite that way, D.S., but I love it. and thank you. You are correct, Sunshine, there isn't much of anything that can be done about it. It is what it is as you said. Thank you. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
A hard read, in a good way. One can feel the emotion coming off the page. My sincerest thanks to your wife for her service. Rest in peace. |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
I know my wife thanks you and so do I, Andrew . . . Thanks. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
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Prasad Nataraj Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149Bangalore,India |
Tough write this must have been. Gripping write, Jerry. "Hardwork pays in the long run" |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Thanks for being here, Andrew. Prasad, this was fiction. The only thing real about it was that my wife was in the military. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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