»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #1
»
A Tribute
| Open Poetry #1 |
|
A Tribute |
|
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Often in life, we don't take the chance to tell someone they affected our lives in some way. It's sad, but true. I would like to take this opportunity to submit this tribute to someone whose poetry inspires me and whose wisdom and kindness to others is a testament to the kind of person he is... He strolled into our small town that day a hat shading his face from the sun little did I guess, as a child of ten, through him, my life had just begun. He was a stranger, dusty from travel his boots were little more than soles he carried a bulging pack on his shoulder wore a gray shirt and jeans with holes He came to our little run down motel and rented a room for a week I passed him on the way to school he nodded, but didn’t speak. I saw him sitting under the walnut tree next to Jim, the mechanic’s shop I stared at him as he wrote on a pad he looked up but didn’t stop My mom asked him to supper one night he wore clean clothes, was freshly shaved I watched his every movement wanting to see how he behaved. He said he spends his life on the road no job, no home, no family working at odd jobs just to exist living his life totally free. Later, I watched him as I did homework, an essay for English class, The stranger glanced at me once or twice over the rim of his drinking glass. He asked if he could read my work and I handed it to him with dread and when he finished, he smiled at me; he told me he liked what he had read. He told me he was a traveling poet roaming the country trying to find inspiration for his soul and stimulation for his mind. I asked to hear some of his work though I thought all poetry was dull but when he spoke I was lifted up as I listened to his chronicle. He recited to me, almost til dawn words creating a world that was real his intricate rhyming took me away my heart opened up, my head began to reel. Soldiers and knights, maidens fair and foul were paraded before me that night his voice soothed my childish heart his stories set my restless soul alight. Each night he stayed, we sat together he regaled me with poems of every kind fascinated, I sat transfixed at the words that came from his mind. One day I awoke to find he had gone a farewell note stuck under my door like any performer, the drifter knew to leave his audience wanting more. He told me to always remember him to find joy in the written word to be happy, and kind and always remember the stories that I heard. Since then I have a love for words for poetry with and without rhyme I hear them in the drifter’s voice remembered in that far off time. To this day, I treasure the gift of poetry as I write, I’ll always hold it dear and I often reread that wonderful note signed, poetically, the Balladeer. |
||
| © Copyright 1999 Poet deVine - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Lucie Senior Member
since 1999-06-20
Posts 1077Houston |
BRAVO... I THOUGHT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS LONG AGO.. I REALLY LIKE THE STORIES I READ IN THE WORDS OF MY FAVORITE POET HERE TOO. HE INSPIRES US ALL.. AND I BOW TO HIM. |
||
|
Sally S. Senior Member
since 1999-06-07
Posts 847Ohio |
Well done Ms. deVine!! A lovely sentiment to a man who has touched many people with his gift. Now, lets figure out how to get him published, shall we?!!!  |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Poet deVine....In response to several of my poems, you have created little tears on the page. I can't do that but please know this. The tears are here.....and real. I don't know what to say. This poem will be hanging on my wall, framed, proudly displayed. It will remind me of how lucky and blessed I am to have a friend like you. Thank you. |
||
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Balladeer, I think you have many admirers here that feel the same way about you. There is so much talent in this place and yours shines so brightly I have to wear sunglasses when I read your poems. I'm glad Nan found you and brought you 'home'.  |
||
|
sea_of_okc Senior Member
since 1999-06-15
Posts 568Oklahoma City, OK, USA |
HEAR HEAR! A fitting tribute to one who inspires us all! |
||
|
Krystal Member
since 1999-06-19
Posts 140Shelton,WA USA |
WOW!! First of all, Poet de Vine... this is a wonderful poem, it grabbed my attention, and boy, was I in for a surprise at the end! How was I to know that wonderful poet you met up with would be Balladeer??? I guess it's kind of a small world after all. And we are all lucky to have both you AND Balladeer in it... you both are so talented! ------------------ Shannon D. Montgomery ("Krystal") |
||
|
poetFemmeFatale Member Elite
since 1999-07-25
Posts 2646Arkansas |
What a fabulous piece this is - bringing it back from page 60-something...!! I know there are many newcomers who would like to experience this one....I sure did! Back to the top it goes !! Fabulous piece - I'll say it again....I liked your message at the top the most I think..... ------------------ - poet FemmeFatale "The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone..." Henrik Ibsen (1826-1906) Norwegian dramatist lyric poet |
||
|
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
speechless, a first. ------------------ ...the things I did not know at first, I learned by doing twice. -Billy Joel |
||
|
Terri Member
since 1999-08-08
Posts 82Turtle Creek, PA |
Do we ever really know to what extent we touch each other's lives...how a simple twist of fate can choose the path we walk? Bless you, deVine, for bringing this realization back into my life. It had been gone so long, I didn't know it was missing. Many heartfelt thanks! |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
How is it that I never responded to this? I could never improve upon deVine's eulogy, so I'll just tell you all a TRUE story instead... I meandered onto another "poetic" site one day.... and onto their forum, aptly named "The Slam Pit". There, lost amongst a brigade of (mostly poor) poetry, was a flawless poem called The Dummy by some character who called himself Balladeer. I felt impelled to respond, as he seemed to be foundering alone in a sea of mire - so I told him "I know that YOU know that I don't have to tell you how GOOD this is!!" In an email that day, he told me that this had been his FIRST online posting..... So, I shamelessly Deer-napped him... and brought him here for sanctuary... Thank you, Michael, for joining us - and for being not only a phenomenal poet but also the wonderful friend that you have become... Nancy  btw - The administrators of the "Slam Pit" removed his poems because they weren't getting positive feedback......(truth) [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 08-15-99).] |
||
|
Sue Member
since 1999-08-04
Posts 383France |
I'm so glad this was brought back, I didn't see it the first time round. Fantastic! |
||
|
Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Poet deVine, This must be Balladeer week. A wonderful and fabulous tribute to a grand master. He has lit many a dark place for me. |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Poet deVine did a wonderful job on this piece. No thanks need come my way, Nan. I count my lucky stars daily that you guided me to such a wonderful place filled with so many poets and good, kind people. May the Passion never end! |
||
|
WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
This was wonderful deVine! A great tribute to a good person! You both are so talented! Glad to see the tributes that are well deserved. What a place to call home! |
||
|
passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
 |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
