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Once Upon a Century Ago
| Open Poetry #46 |
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Once Upon a Century Ago |
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gilead Senior Member
since 2008-03-10
Posts 1067nevada, USA 
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Today: I gotta break out, Do something big! It’s tight, man, tight! I gotta build something, Something big! I gotta move something, Something big! Yesterday: Ah, Professor Hansen, You told me in the backyard, When my pockets were bulging With pecans, that big things are made Of small packets, that you Have to sort them out, Put them together, And maybe, just maybe, You’ll do something big, Something worthwhile . . . Ha, and after the stern lecture That seemed to last forever--- Stay out of my pecan trees Without asking, boy, Or I’ll tell your daddy! So much for big things--- A tanning of the hide, And supper without dessert, Such as dessert humbly was . . . NOTE: Professor Hansen was tall, very dark, a very fearsome looking man, and I associate him with black clothes, even a long, black overcoat in the summertime! He came to visit one day, and I was drawing war scenes on butcher paper---airplanes, and ships, and soldiers blowing the hell out of things. He told Daddy, “Don’t let that boy grow up to be an artist; he’ll never amount to anything!" ---Close, Professor Hansen, too close! |
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| © Copyright 2010 arthur chapman, jr - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
It sounds like the Professor was offering some worthy advice, but at a price. Your final comments left me wondering what it is you do for a living. I, for one, find your writing to be quite artistic. I particularly like that whole openning scene. Very powerful! Thanks for sharing. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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gilead Senior Member
since 2008-03-10
Posts 1067nevada, USA |
Hello, Andrew, and thanks for the comment. I am retired, and working on a number of manuscripts---poetry, and Bible commentary. I have a collection of more than 6000 poems, and numerous manuscripts, which might explain the poem's first stanza. I want to honor my father and mother with a book or two before I check out of this hotel earth, and take up my abode among the wandering stars. Peace and goodwill, my friend -- Art |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Hah! It was the watermelon patch that kept me in trouble, and it wasn't a professor, but a farmer who didn't take kindly to the "no-accounts" in his watermelon patch. He actually shot his shotgun one night. I'm sure he pointed it away from us, but we found other things to do with our boredom from then on. Sorry, really didn't mean to go on and on about me, but the well-written poem brought it all back. |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Well, from the picture you post it looks like there's plenty of good reason to write down as much as possible. I'm all for honoring the parents of the past, but I think the future will certainly benefit from your efforts. Best wishes on your projects. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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