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Open Poetry #50
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Cash, Diamonds, Credit Cards
| Open Poetry #50 |
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Cash, Diamonds, Credit Cards |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California 
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Cash, Diamonds, Credit Cards Palms flat on the table, Lower arm ink proudly displayed, She gives her most enticing laugh. I know she’s trying to provoke something, Might have even considered a response For a second, But I am distracted. I have to know if I am seeing What it is I am seeing… I ask of the art work She reveals to me: “Cash, Diamonds, Credit Cards— The only three things a man’s good for,” A lesson from her, now professed to be Less than wholesome grandmother, Who at least at one time, It becomes painfully obvious, Meant far more to her. Mood significantly altered, Another suggestive advance from her Leaves me thrown. I politely give an excuse why I can’t… At war with myself in the back of my head. Caught between the wanting to be with her And an even stronger desire to show her Something better— The wanting to give her all she wants, And that which she truly needs: That fourth thing At least some men are good for, Fatherhood. Futile I know, To wish to show her the one thing— Probably the only thing An upbringing like hers Forbid her from ever knowing. In the end, I say nothing. Finally, she stands up, Walks away alone. I know she won’t spend the night that way. I will… happily. If all lives are but threads In fate’s tangled schemes, Only changing direction when Contacting one another, I may have just escaped the biggest Tangle a life such as mine Might ever see. Why then, should I be saddened by this? Trajectories completely unchanged, When morning came I would have Got up and headed to work. At some point in the afternoon, She’d finally have woken and staggered Out to pick up her daughters At their grandmother’s house Where, chances are, The truth about All a man is good for had Just been indoctrinated Unto another generation. As such, I still feel I've witnessed A murder here. Hell, I just stared into the eyes Of Murder herself, Didn't I? I’m just not quite sure where it leaves me? The nuclear family dead, And I, a man who all his life, Never wanted to be anything Other than a loving husband, A great father, A steady provider… Does this make me the victim? The witness? Or the perpetrator? Michael Anderson 9/20/2020 [This message has been edited by Michael (09-27-2020 09:54 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2020 Michael Anderson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Wow! |
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Forlorn Angel Member Posts 143 |
interesting read...diamonds, cash, credit cards, murder and mayhem could turn this into a bestselling hardcover. |
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augustsky Senior Member Posts 828 midwest US |
What a Silly Bimbo Woman, Sad she'll pass this way of thinking onto her daughters. Enjoyed this style of writing from your pen.. Sky~ ~Tell me the story about how the sun |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Michael...Very different style and subject matter with this piece. Does this make me the victim? The witness? Or the perpetrator? I think none of the above I think this makes you the winner!!! Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Grooves McFly New Member
since 2020-10-01
Posts 3Denver, Colorado |
Just joined the forum yesterday. I think I've read your poem 4 times now. Really puts a story into my mind. Very powerful. |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
"The truth about All a man is good for had Just been indoctrinated Unto another generation." This really struck me. It's the sad truth. It has been the truth for a very long time. This attitude has been passed down for a very long time. The whole poem paints a "cringy" scene really. I'm not sure about how much of it was intended to do so, but that is where it took me. I've read it a few times in an attempt to come up with an answer to the ending and I'm still not there yet. Enjoying the contemplation! "I know this love will tear me to pieces |
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soul drifter Senior Member
since 2004-09-08
Posts 711Colorado |
Outstanding! There is a curious, constantly crazy distance between a man and a woman and our wants are largely, in essence, the same though the way differs considerably. The more we shorten that distance the better we’d understand each other. All this and more was brilliantly illuminated by you, my friend. Keep writing. Meanwhile, I’m saving this. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Ida, thank you. I’ll that that as you liked it.  Michael |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Forlorn Angel, don’t forget about the scandalous intrigue…and the deception. Thank you for stopping by. Michael |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Sky~, Wasn’t my normal cup of tea…just an actual encounter than pushed hard on my emotion. I wanted to scream, but the more I wrote about it, the more I began to see how differences in culture and upbringing shape us as human beings. In light of all going on in the world today, I felt very small after this experience. Amazing how much of our personalities is developed before we even reach the age of awareness. Michael |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Haha, Paul…I think maybe “none of the above” may be close, but truly, I feel like I’ve been red-pilled to reality here. I do recall the standards being instructed in school to to the females role in my adolescent schooling. And while I was happy to charge into the male role role of chivalrous provider, I can see where the expectations given the female role certainly sucked. Everything is taken to the worst extremes these days, and as much as I detest “man-hating feminism”, I will admit their existence is literally the fault of the males who refused to see them as equal, or give them the chance to be. We threw them pacifiers, when they needed recognized equality. So whose fault is it truly that the nuclear family died? Thanks for the read. Michael |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Grooves, I’ve been away for a couple weeks. I am sorry I missed your reply originally. I hope you make it back to PiP at some point. Love the moniker. Michael |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Jenn, if you ever have an answer to the question, let me know will ya? Just as I am not comfortable with the agendas they push on our kids in school today, I now clearly remember the ones they pushed on us as children. The real question for me is who gets to set these agendas in the first place? …and why? Was a very cringy experience…so cringy I felt somehow violated. That’s why I wrote it out. Could have written a book on the topic if I wanted to. Will chat with you later on just how deep this rabbit-hole goes. Michael |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Soul Drifter, quote: I guess it all comes down to the ways and the means. I really wanted to expound on the principles here…the how and why women and men can share so much, and yet be so different all at the same time. Could have spent days doing it probably. I would call us two different species if I could get away with it. I’m glad you enjoyed the read, friend. Michael |
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