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Open Poetry #1
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The Memory of Marie
| Open Poetry #1 |
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The Memory of Marie |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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I hadn't noticed that old drunkard sitting next to me In that dim bar so oddly named 'The Memory of Marie' Until a gnarled and wrinkled hand gently tapped on mine And breath filled up the atmosphere with smells of day-old wine. "You may be wondering", he said, "just how this barroom came To be the dump that it is now with such a haunting name. In younger days the lights shone bright,laughter filled the air And , if you fill my glass with wine, I'll tell you, if you care." Drunks do not appeal to me, but something in his style Made me think that, possibly, his words could be worthwhile And, having nothing else to do but watch my life pass by, I had his glass replenished and I watched him drink it dry. "Let me pose a question, sir. Please answer if you can The avenue that you would choose, a decent, honest man If you were standing in my shoes those many years ago. It will not change a blessed thing but I'd just like to know." "Let's suppose the sweetest woman ever in your life Made a vow that she would be your ever-faithful wife, And let's suppose that Heaven smiled the way it smiled on me The day the angels blessed me with my beautiful Marie." "She made my life a ferris wheel - she filled me with a joy That gave me cause to call it love that nothing could destroy. I built the place we're sitting in for all the world to see The neon sign upon the roof that lit my life - MARIE." And then one day, the bubble burst. One day the mail came. Within it was a letter sent to one specific name. Emblazoned on the envelope, alive with mystery, The letters of the girl I loved..addressed to my Marie.' "I don't know how but I was sure as I was standing there The penmanship was masculine and screamed the word "AFFAIR!" The choices laying in my hand were obvious to me - Open it or leave it and say nothing to Marie." "Affairs are temporary roads a decent woman may Venture on until the time the newness wears away, But, in the end, true love would win and, when the thrill had died, I knew that my belov'd Marie would be back at my side." "But male pride ruled in the end and, with a trembling hand, I read the words of love undying from another man, And, in a fit of fire and rage within my agony, I screamed the words of hatefulness that cost me my Marie." "My question is a simple one", he said with quiet voice. "With that same situation pending, which would be your choice? Faced with that dilemma staring, which would you find better... Contenting yourself with what you have, or opening the letter?" The old man didn't wait for me; instead, without "goodnight" He got down quickly from the stool and hurried out of sight. The last I saw was his bent form held up by shaking knees Scurrying quite quickly from 'The Memory of Marie's. The years passed quickly. I forgot the old man and Marie's Until, one day, the memory came screaming back at me. Almost, as if the gods were laughing with a wild derision, I found myself encountered by that very same decision! I know, by looks, I seem to be a bum perched on a stool, Rambling with thickened tongue words spoken like a fool, But since you've made my wine glass full, I'll pose it now to you. Faced with that decision, stranger, tell me what you'ld do. Content yourself with what you have, or view with opened eyes, Events which could do nothing more than hurt or criticize? I'm not sure what you would do, which choice you would find the better But, as for me, I wish to God I'd never read that letter! |
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| © Copyright 1999 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Ain' Life Grand??? |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
I remember Tom, so long ago, the day the letter came, Once he was a handsome man, now his face was not the same. He screamed at me, called me a whore told me to pack and get out the door. Crushed under his vitriolic tongue, I turned and walked away But I often think of him and regret what I didn't say. He read the words "I love you Marie, and I always will" He read on, right up to the end, "signed, your loving Bill" Not knowing the truth, he assumed he knew the story behind what he read. And until this very day, my friend, the truth remained inside my head. I got the letter, yes, but I never loved another, The letter I received that day, was from my long lost brother. So, trust in the ones you love, judge not upon a whim, If Tom had heeded these words, I'd still be married to him. [This message has been edited by Poet deVine (edited 06-07-99).] |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Is this woman great or what!!!??? Thank you, Poet deVine! |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
Balladeer~ You picked a very appropriate name for yourself. "The Memory of Marie" was terrific.I guess I don't know what I would do in that situation, but I will try to come up with a poetic reply. |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
OK, here goes. It's not the best, but.... If only I had been the one to get the mail that day. There is so much I wish to do and wish that I could say. Tom thought that I was cheating, that I loved someone new. I wish that I could say to him, "I love only you." But my one and only love had opened up the letter From my old flame, who'd said of me, "I never could forget her." And afterwards, he never gave me a chance to speak To him and we were separated by the end of the week. He wouldn't read the letters I wrote, nor answer to my calls And he began to take to drink, to stumble and to fall. The "new man", Jim, and I broke up before Tom and I had met But of the days I spent with him, Jim would not forget. If Tom had only listened, he would have seen the truth And I would have spent with him the remainder of my youth. I am still in love with Tom, to this very day. There is so much I wish to do and wish that I could say. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
If we could just turn back the clock And have another chance To rectify some foolish wrong Brought on by happenstance Could we really make a change or would things be the same? Do we control or are we part Of some etheral game? We'll never know what could have been. No need to even try. All things work out for the best; On that we must rely. Your poem was very well done, Elizabeth. Thank you. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
In my Bill I had put full trust until he followed not love but lust and came home in the early morn just three months after his child was born. "And where were you, heaven tell, pray? go ahead...with a woman...do say!" "Yes", he answered, with head hung low like a cannonball to my stomach came the blow. Six more years I gave the louse, 'tis true trying to regain the magic, much to my rue. Left him I did, when the love was gone Never more to hear his name in the 70's song. ************ Wonderful ballad - deer! Back to the top with you! for all the new kids on the block can see Marie in you. ------------------ Sunshine Words will always express our feelings true. KRJ |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
What a wonderful and movoing ballad and the posts that followed suit. Hats off to the bunch of you! ------------------ "Nobody has measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold" ~Zelda Fitzgerald |
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elvira Senior Member
since 1999-07-06
Posts 936California |
again Balladeer, you touched me deep inside, with all the fabulous poetry you always seem to write *curtsies* ------------------ i never call a poem "nice" or such, for that would not be saying much |
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CastleHoward Junior Member
since 1999-07-12
Posts 20 |
for surely you know how hearts work... their wonders and infidelities to perform... you portray them in verse yet better! |
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angel girl Member
since 1999-07-23
Posts 322within a whisper... |
this is a great poem- all of you guys who helped write it. it was so good, i had to e-mail it to some of my friends. great job! angel |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Hard to pick the favorites! |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Love And I remember those nights alone when "use to be" was love Until one day I took his phone and wondered messages of When finally learning how to use the cellphone and I saw The many times and names exchanged in each and every call Were those to him and those to her when years together none Had I received in all that time, barely not a one... My story's not much different from those that have gone before Except that after 30 years love had expected more... He's back you know, for lust is lust, I was opponent strong He lives now in the back, a barn, for who knows however long And like the letter and mistakes, he made one very wrong But love cannot evaporate, it just travels on in song... Happy Birthday..again Mike   M |
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dollmaker Member
since 2006-08-30
Posts 155mass dorchester |
that was quite something, great use of irony,****good jobfrom dollmaker |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Thank you, dollmaker...glad you liked it.  |
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