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JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2012-03-20 05:22 AM

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sometimes, at night
I walk the dark streets of Thibodaux
just me and my mutt
Zoe
my poets' inner concentration
allow me to hear
leaves on the trees
as they talk to me
no, of course they do not speak
but they do talk
when, in the wee hours of morning
city traffic almost nil
far off a dog barks
sensing Zoe
and possible trouble
wintertime and midnight past
the best time
to listen to the leaves
as I walk street after street
finding a good place
I stand still
Zoe sitting near my feet
I begin to hear
the gently rustling leaves
of ancient oaks
the strange needle-like leaves
on the odd-shaped
cypress trees
whisper to me in bits and pieces
of the leaves observations
since the first settlers
a red man's tribe were here
then came the French
and all the rest
I listen, as does Zoe
I feel small
within the company of ghosts

©March 15, 2012 / Jerry Pat Bolton

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

1 posted 2012-03-20 06:21 AM

lovin' this Jerry, feel like I'm right there with you and Zoe

Lori

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

2 posted 2012-03-20 06:31 AM

Good morning, Lori, and thank you.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

3 posted 2012-03-20 08:43 AM

Wonderful piece, my friend ... among the best of yous.

j.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

4 posted 2012-03-20 08:49 AM

Thanks, j., much appreciated.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

bel1e
Senior Member

since 2006-07-24

Posts 1631

5 posted 2012-03-20 06:55 PM

Feeling the serenity in this, Mr Pat~

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

6 posted 2012-03-20 07:50 PM

Thank you, Baby Girl, I appreciate it.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Misty Lilacs
Senior Member

since 2005-11-15

Posts 1060
White Birch Forest

7 posted 2012-03-20 07:57 PM

WOW - great piece!

Marti

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

8 posted 2012-03-20 08:17 PM

WoW! back to you, Marti, and thank you very much.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Michael

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-13

Posts 7666
California

9 posted 2012-03-21 12:00 PM

Maybe you were an ancient derwydd <-- (quite sure I spelled that wrong) in one of your former lives, JP. The trees do talk, and have much to say to those who can and will listen. Many secrets they hold, and have witnessed. Maybe not ghosts, but definately spiritual.

Michael

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

10 posted 2012-03-21 12:12 PM

Hi Michael, did you mean Druids? At any rate, who knows where, or what, I have descended from. Strange feeling, all alone except for my mutt, and standing still listening to the wind rustle the leaves of the trees. I just got the feeling things were being said, but of course I didn't decipher anything except the rustling of the leaves. At least it brought on the poem, so maybe they did talk to me after all.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Michael

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-13

Posts 7666
California

11 posted 2012-03-21 12:26 PM

Hey, JP. Good morning to you. The word I was thinking of is the origin of the word druid... Not sure if it was derived from a Latin or Greek translation. However. The term represents more of a fairee or wood sprite... a magical being as opposed to a "druid"... being a human who practises magic.

Btw, Zoe is an awesome name for your *mutt.

Michael

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

12 posted 2012-03-21 12:39 PM

Okay, Michael, you got me on the original name thing, but I have been Gooling around and found this name in association with the Druids . . . druidh . . . that is close enough to your misspelling to get my attention.

Yep. Zoe is the boss.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Michael

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-13

Posts 7666
California

13 posted 2012-03-21 01:09 PM

Lol... When I was a kid I used to have an 1892 dictionary that was about eight inches thick. If I had a buck for every *obsolete word that still pops up in my head from that thing I could retire early. If google couldn't find it, I'm gonna have to dig that thing up out of storage to prove to myself I ain't crazy. You believe me, right Jerry? I ain't crazy I tell ya. Really, I'm not!

Michael

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

14 posted 2012-03-21 01:17 PM

Uh, yeah, Michael, I believe you. Uh huh. Yep and sho 'nuff . . . quit looking at me that way and laughing, come on man, we're friends heah . . .

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

15 posted 2012-03-23 11:53 AM

I think Michael's right about the spelling - derwydd is a Welsh word... (and if you think the spelling is strange, just listen to someone speaking Welsh - I had the opportunity to visit Wales several years ago and had to pull over when I tuned to a Welsh radio station... I was laughing too hard to concentrate on driving! LOL)

Your ability to listen to those ghosts and whispers most will never hear is a gift... and when you put your pen to paper, you share that gift with us... Beautiful work!!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

16 posted 2012-03-23 11:58 AM

Yeah, I have no doubt Michael is right with the spelling, it just looked so . . . er . . . strange, I went searching.

Thank you, thank you twice, suthern, for being so nice to me in commenting on my poems.

WORD TO HUSBANDS . . .
To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

17 posted 2012-03-23 08:29 PM

“wintertime and midnight past
the best time
to listen to the leaves
as I walk street after street
finding a good place
I stand still
Zoe sitting near my feet
I begin to hear
the gently rustling leaves
of ancient oaks
the strange needle-like leaves
on the odd-shaped
cypress trees
whisper to me in bits and pieces”

Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy, before the LORD, for He is come to judge the earth.
(1 Chronicles 16:33 JPS)

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
(Isaiah 55:12 JPS)

Well, sounds like prophetic poetry to me.
Keep listening, my friend.

JL

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Maranatha!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

18 posted 2012-03-23 09:00 PM

I guess it does sound prophetic, JL, although I couldn't deciper anything spiritual or religious about it. I'll listen harder next time, like in the morning. Thank for the input, my friend, it is appreciated.

WORD TO HUSBANDS . . .
To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up

Ron63
Junior Member

since 2012-03-18

Posts 49
Suffolk, Eng, UK

19 posted 2012-03-23 09:15 PM

This is such a lovely poem that brings to my mind one of the greatest joys about nature; I simply love the sound of whispering leaves on a cool breezy day. I can sit and listen for hours and never get bored of it. It's so beautiful and relaxing. Thanks for sharing your poem with us.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

20 posted 2012-03-23 09:23 PM

You are morn than welcome, Ron63, Yes, there is something soothing about the sound the leaves and the wind make together. Same thing with the sea as they dash up upon the craggy cliffs, or even a placid seashore where to hear anything you must put a conch shell to your ear. Everything say something to us. We are much too occupied to understand it however. But I am trying.--Thank you--Jerry

Strummer
Junior Member

since 2012-03-14

Posts 12

21 posted 2012-03-23 11:04 PM

Now being from Louisiana, you only missed out on hearing the clanking of accouterments and pawing of horse and mule drawn wagons in the mists of time and once in a while..maybe..just a parting of the mists to see the lines of soldiers

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

22 posted 2012-03-24 05:42 AM

Yeah, maybe I missed all that Strummer, but I got enough out of it to hold me still for a few moments. Thanks for reading and commenting.

WORD TO HUSBANDS . . .
To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

23 posted 2012-03-30 06:02 PM

This poem is very much after my own heart, Jerry. Really beautiful.

Margherita

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

24 posted 2012-03-30 06:05 PM

Hello, Margherita, and thank you for lending your heart to my poem.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

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