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Open Poetry #49
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A Darkened House
| Open Poetry #49 |
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A Darkened House |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana 
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An old man in a darkened house Drags his feet down a hallway In his undershirt On a mission Maybe the good spirits Will reach out Help him remember what the mission was Touch him just for goodness sakes Ease his restless journey Guide his steps That he does not take a bad tumble The old man Who once could charm shadows Wore a smile a mile wide First in line to help where needed These days the vast night of old age Imprisons him When he can't find what he is looking for He remembers now He's searching for his walker Hasn't used the cane in a long time If he finds it the old one Won't remember why he needed it The old one Alone, gives a strangled sob Raises an arm As if warding off old ghosts Ghosts who now are as old and as helpless as he The man holds onto the wall As he shuffles up and down the hall Forgetting where to stop And why He is no longer viable In these moments of semi clarity He wishes to end his life But the moment is fleeting And he forgets He hears the bray of the ghostwolf Sometimes The ghostwolf stands where the big timber grows Sometimes If the old man is feeling just right He howls back to the ghostwolf A mournful Plaintive wail of his own And the wingbats in the bell tower Applaud ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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| © Copyright 2015 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Hey now - really liked this one - especially the following lines: "...Maybe the good spirits Will reach out Help him remember what the mission was Touch him just for goodness sakes Ease his restless journey..." A lot of us can relate, for sure... j. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thank you Jimmy, glad you liked it. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Yes, that is old age we written, Jerry. Ida |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Unfortunately it is Ida, thank you. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Jerry, just "wow"...I see this so clearly. (p.s. Your quilted poem adorned my tree this year again, bringing contentment this season. Thanks again  M |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Many thanks, nakdthoughts, for your exceptional comments, and the mention of the quilted poem. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ [This message has been edited by JerryPat2 (01-26-2015 09:39 AM).] |
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Redstart Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535 |
Powerful stuff. Great imagery, and sadly it hit the nail of truth right on the head. I'll not be forgetting those wingbats. The fluttering of their wings as applause. Great. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Many thanks Redstart. I appreciate your timely thoughts. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
fine writing...james |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thank you James. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Maybe a little too good...a specter of things to come. That was intense! ~L |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Hah! Too good! I love it, and you may be right. Thank you for being here. Too good! Eh . . . As I said, maybe you are right. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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