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Community Poem
| Open Poetry #1 |
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Community Poem |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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The passionate poets proudly present the premier presentation of the first community poem. As with all first births, the labor was long and had to be induced at times but the operation was a success and we have a healthy, bouncing baby community poem. Applause for all participants!!!! The posters littered Main street. One could find them everywhere Proclaiming the arrival of the circus coming there. The children rubbed their hands with glee in wild anticipation Of clowns and games and animals in festive celebration. The adults, though, were not so gay. They wore a worried frown. One never knew what happened when the circus came to town........ From miles away the circus train's heard as it comes to town. Excitement teems from every door and children gather 'round To see the cages full of sleeping lions and big cats. How odd to think these simple folk are clowns and acrobats. Then elephants with boundless strength pull till the tent is up... In seemingly a blink of eye, there stands the grand "Big Top"! Old George had been a clown for years, riding with the train. With nose on straight and baggy pants, again and once again-- He'd do a back-flip entrance while his girlfriend, Laurie Spring, Awed them with her double twist upon the ten foot swing. He'd always loved the circus. He joined when he was four-- His father tamed the tigers then; George listened for the roar While sitting on the sidelines, intrigue his only friend-- George vowed to love the circus life until his days would end. But today while riding through Orleans, George's smile was upside down. This clown was not too happy as the circus came to town. George eyed the crowd with apprehension while he darted in and out; making faces at younger kids who would respond with a laugh or shout His stomach did the flips, like the acrobats up ahead, waiting and watching, his heart filled with dread. He dared not take his makeup off, his face must not show Orleans held a secret, one George wished no one to know He hid his dismay the best he could, and forced a smile through lips of wood. "The show must go on was his only thought There's lions to tame and, no matter what, The smiles of the clown must carry the show from the highest trapeze to the rings below." So for a brief moment, he forgot his trials, and busied himself with creating smiles. What questions lurked, behind clown's paint? Caused one to gasp, and then to faint When first she learned, had come to town, Out of her past, insidious clown. So long ago, she'd felt the harm, Sweet Mary Ann, Orleans school marm. On basement shelf, red bulbous nose, How long she'd kept, she only knows. When just sixteen, had run away, Sweet Mary Ann, what would they say? The clown and Mary Ann, they held a most horrid secret, For things were so very different when bathed in iridescent moonlight they had met. Back in those days George was a man of the night, Dark and mysterious, he held young Mary Ann in an enraptured fright. Oh, but the tale grows more strange than even this, For on a darkened night, ripped apart was a young love's bliss. No one knew of her addiction. She held her secret well. Would George renew her dark affliction? Was far too soon to tell. At age 16 she found her way into the lavish scene. She met George that very day. The clown of her dreams. That bulbous nose! Those floppy shoes! Her heart increased in speed. She had to have them....would one do? Could he fulfill her need? Deep inside she could feel she had to be a clown. Her life became so unreal the day the circus came to town. She snuck out late that night, stealthy as a shadow Avoiding every spot of light so nobody would know Soon she came upon the tent that harbored George the clown And the canvas she did rent as she hunkered down So quietly she slipped inside, she could hear George snore Why, oh why had he lied all those years before As she looked upon his face bitter memories replayed Fate had brought him to this place and she would be repaid Oh yes, Sweet Maryanne, a clown she had hankered to be but way back then, with evil grin, a clown George would not let her be “go away, dear heart, the circus life’s not for you” and crying softly, broken hearted, away Sweet Maryanne flew. Now she’s come back to ask again to be a clown through the day but her in heart she really knows at night where her head would lay. As she creeps towards sleeping George, her heart began to ring when suddenly she spies another, oh no, [gasp], it’s Laurie Spring! The terror and torment of what she saw caused Maryanne incredible grief The life she yearned stolen from her, and alas here was the thief Revenge it formed in her sullen eyes, how she would make them pay She left as quietly as she came in preparing for the day Her dear clown and the love he chose had made on fateful mistake Written in the diary that Maryanne had the bearings to take Secrets she soon would reveal as the opening act was played Oh how they both soon would wish Maryanne was never betrayed That night was grim, But sullenly peaceful. The day for him Would soon be frightful. Maryanne knew her opponent Well enough it seemed. She failed to know of her proponent Who had already started to scheme. Bearded Beatrice of Tent One Had too an affair with the clown. The bearded lady swore it would be done When the circus came to this town. Beatrice, with wooly beard Throughout the circus was most feared T’was said she once a man did pound Till just his head stuck from the ground She’d teach ol’ George to clown around And Maryanne, our lady scorned Was out for blood - George be forewarned Between these two your fate is sealed For neither’s heart has ever healed They’ll skin you like a grape that’s peeled Our girls have read your diary With tempers hot and fiery They come for you – you’d best take wing Just leave your clothes and everything And don’t forget ol’ Laurie Spring And on the other side of the little town Sat a lonely boy, with big eyes of brown. Wondering if this circus would be the one To make his happiness come undone, The one to take away all that was sad. Was this the circus with a clown he had called "Dad"? Little did old George know about the little boy Nor sweet Maryanne's vengeful ploy To seek revenge on that fateful night That filled Maryanne's heart full of fright. Not only how he violated Maryanne But from her being a clown he did ban. Maryanne was just the tender age of sixteen She thought George's rejection was so mean But what was worse than that night Was just the beginning of her terrible plight But what was discovered in the next few weeks Would make even sweet Maryanne shriek. ...Sweet Mary Ann and Laurie Spring each other did consort - n Together then, with Wooly Beatrice - The Triumverate Snuck under cover of the dark, and in betwixt his snores, Did silently pilfer from George, his shoes and bulbous nose! The story's told that Mary Ann did don his festive duds; Then off she stole, with circus trains, in quest of real clown studs... Their covert plan - The Mighty Three - Now George would have to pay, A clown retired to Orleans town, forever and a day.... George awoke to find that he was helplessly stranded there gone was his nose and shoes gone his bright colored hair. He found some pants in an old dust bin and quickly donned them with care then wandered through the city streets looking for a circus or a fair. George roamed the streets and sidewalks long with no-one by his side. This lonely clown with bright orange pants had loves not rectified. He couldn't seem to find a circus waiting for a clown -- New nose he found (removable), then finally sat down. He sat in front of Diamond Drug and smoked a cigarette. He thought of Maryanne and Laurie.... how could he forget? He loved them both--- how could he not? He knew they both loved him-- and yet the choice between the two had almost done him in. George sat and puffed and smoke arose and filled the air with whisp... and looking up, he saw the beard of good ol' Beatrice. She stood above him, statuesque, and stared into his heart... then Beatrice proceeded to give George a hard jump start. "Hey you!" she said, "What's up with you? Why are you sitting there? Don't you know your boy is looking for his father at the fair? Get up! Go home! Change out of those orange pants! Your boy is just not looking for a clown lost in a trance!" George looked up at Miss Beatrice, admiring her plea-- then picked his nose up off the ground and got up on one knee. "Where is my Maryanne?", he asked... his eyes began to tear. "Maryanne?", she echoed, "I don't know. But she isn't here." "Well, where is Laurie?," George then asked, reaching down to grab his nose from rolling on the sidewalk down the grass between his toes. "Good grief! Who cares?," Miss Beatrice said, "Your son is searching wide for his father who abandaned him, he wants you by his side!" So, George stood up and hugged ol' Bea and thanked her, looking stunned--- then headed down the little town to find his long lost son. So to the Bigtop George returned With not a thought of being spurned By either lass whose love he sought The thought of both made Georgie hot A threesome maybe? Worth a shot But Bearded Bea had set a trap And fed our boy a line of crap His son had left the day before Gone home to mother's by the shore For George the worst was now in store George found our Laurie hard at work Walked up to her and flashed a smirk Said "Laurie baby, I'm your guy But Maryanne has caught my eye Why don't you give us both a try?" She trained elephants - our Laurie Spring Big Bertha and her partner Bing The darlings of the center ring For her they'd do most anything They'd even give ol' George a fling Bing flipped his trunk out like a whip Encircling our George's hip And pitched him in the air with ease And through the very top trapeze Where George now dangled by his knees George hung there momentarily And then he looked down warily Although the net was far below His knee joints now were hurting so He closed his eyes and just let go He prayed while falling toward the ground Swore that he'd never fool around In fact a new life he would start And never break another heart From now on in he’s play it smart He hit the net and off he sprung And as he did he bit his tongue Then landed in Big Bertha's dung She glared down at him angrily And took a moment then to pee The girls, well they just laughed and pointed As George lay there - by dung anointed He lay there just a moment longer A distant song now getting stronger What was that voice he now could hear? Perhaps an angel passing near Perhaps a wandering Balladeer….. And so, at last, poetic friends This is how the story ends. Old George was left without a thing While Beatrice and Laurie Spring Continued on from town to town And Maryanne became the clown She had always hoped to be... The little boy, of course, was me. [This message has been edited by Balladeer (edited 08-10-99).] |
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| © Copyright 1999 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Lucie Senior Member
since 1999-06-20
Posts 1077Houston |
I followed this saga from the beginning.. loved the twisted end. Good job everyone. I wanna help with the next one..hehe |
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Cinderella Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 152Arizona |
I have been anxiously awaiting this community group poem, not knowing what to expect. Just absolutely fabulous guys and gals!  |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
There's a small segment of the literary world that contends Shakespeare's plays were actually written by Fancis Bacon. I think we have just discovered an important truth - the beauty and diversity we've appreciated for several hundred years might instead have been the work of a devoted poetic community… You have all done a magnificent job!With your permission, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to feature this epic story on the main Passions site - directly off the main page, front and center - so a few hundred thousand starved readers can appreciate it as much as do I, and perhaps learn what happens when talent and devotion are freely shared amongst friends. (If any of the esteemed authors have a problem or would like to be featured under another name than posted here, please email me privately and we'll hash it out. Those of you who are already Resident Poets at the main site, you will be published under your established name there, with a link to your authors' page.) Everyone deserves a loud round of applause! We'll also be taking up a small collection to purchase some Miss Clairol to help Balladeer contend with those few gray hairs this project may have added, to be accompanied, of course, with our profound thanks for a job well done. So, Balladeer - how does it feel to deliver your first baby? |
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Lost Dreamer Member Elite
since 1999-06-20
Posts 2464Somewhere near the Rainbow |
This was excellent! You all did a great job together. I looked forward to baby number two. |
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Toerag Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622Ala bam a |
Wow! Excellent...well done..... |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I'll be hovering around the delivery room! *G* Great job! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Seeing it all together like this makes it worthwhile! Do we have to wait 'six weeks' before we can do it again?  |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA |
Very well done y'all. I particularly enjoyed seeing everyone's unique style side by side, so to speak... great tool to compare and analyze... blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda. Excellent job. ------------------ Dum spiro, spero JP |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
This is a wonderful piece of work. The talent overwhelmed me. |
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Delores Hall Member
since 1999-07-16
Posts 342USA |
This was nice. |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Thanks to you all for putting together such a great story. Kudos to Balladeer for keeping it together. Most enjoyable! |
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aziza Member Elite
since 2006-07-09
Posts 2995Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy! |
This is so much fun to read and had me laughing .. Love it. A |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
enjoyed ARCTIC WIND |
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