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Open Poetry #3
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The Man Who Liked Poetry...reposted for Denise
| Open Poetry #3 |
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The Man Who Liked Poetry...reposted for Denise |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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I was seated comfortably last evening in my cozy den Imbibing a bit of Longfellow and Keats and Byron when I found myself in desperate need for a spot of company Another soul with whom I could relax and just be me. Thinking of not another lad to join me in my plan And knowing of course, that woman is no substitute for man After a half a dozen shots of Wrinkleberry rum I found myself in Oscar Henry's Pet Emporium. After screaming at the snakes and cursing at the cats, Poo-pooing at the porcupines and raging at the rats, Just when I'd decided that I could no longer bear it My eyes were held transfixed upon - an avocado parrot. Oscar Henry almost broke his neck getting to my side, Strangling quite audibly a smirk he tried to hide And said. "You are a man of class, that one can plainly see. You've picked the only bird alive that recites poetry'" Having been weaned on poet's milk since I could barely stand And considering Heaven to be the gentle palm of Shakespeare's hand. The sale was made and bird and I walked out into the night, Excitement filling, chilling me with waves of sheer delight. Seated again in my cozy den with bird perched on a chair I waited at length to hear the words the parrot had to share And said, "Dear bird, lift up your beak- and share your gift with me. Bathe me in the sunlight of your golden poetry!" "Effervescent elephants, elated with the eve..." Sepulchral serpents slithering in syncopated style... "What's this" I cried' "What balderdash flows from out yon beak? Poetry is what I asked for. Begin anew, bird. Speak!" "Prolyphame's protruberance paled princely, pallid pride ..." With sanctifying sweetness the somber sultan stepped...." Good grief!" I cried. Apparently poor bird had lost his brain Pouring out with filthy breath words obviously insane. Pouring out a small shot, in an effort to be civil, I gave some to the creature saying, "An end to all this drivel! Let me hear the words of Alger slide from off thy tongue" And Longfellow and Whittier and Merriwether Young!" "Culminating clouds whimpering like wailful, whispy whales ..." "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree!" I shrieked." The austere anteater ate unbridled, ancopantic ants ..... "I am the captain of my ship. I am the master of my soul!", I squeaked. "Fluorescent fluid flowed within the fairy-tale lake .... "Honor the Light Brigade' Honor the charge they made' Noble 600!!" Serenly slithering in the sewer the lazy Iizard leaped. . . . " "Once upon a midnight dreary as I pondered weak and weary", I screamed! We battled far into the night. My den was a dismal wreck Till finally I grabbed the ingrate by its lying neck And said, "Cruel bird, your worth to me has long since been undone'" And scurried back to Oscar Henry's Pet Emporium. "Take back thy bird! Return my coin"', I said with nasty scowl. "I've come to see exactly why a bird is called a fowl! This bird knows less of poetry than laymen know of pills. Begone, I say! My books alone will cure away my ills'" "Poetry's changed," M. Henry replied. "Nothing stays the same And, if you want to criticize, my bird won't take the blame. Take this list of names that fostered poetry's undoing.." The names jumped off the page at me - McLeish, Sexton, Mckuen. "But when", I cried, "shall they return - the Kiplings and the Poes To break these chains and cast aside this paraplegic prose? When shall Wordsworth reappear to make my spirits soar?" Quoth the bird - and Oscar Henry - in unison, "Nevermore." [This message has been edited by Balladeer (edited 10-06-1999).] |
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| © Copyright 1999 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Pepper Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079Southern Florida |
extraordinary......... ------------------ May your days be filled with lots of sunshine and your nights lit up by golden moonbeams |
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
Cracker, Balladeer?  Loved it! ------------------ "Tread softly, for I have spread my dreams under your feet"~~William Butler Yeats |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Truly awe inspiring work. I humbly bow to your talents. ------------------ Michael Anderson When God puts a tear in your eye, He puts a rainbow in your heart. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Never say nevermore! There are Poe's aplenty in this place and quite a few Longfellows! (You are in the lead there!)  |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
WOW! I don't believe I came across this before! WOW! |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
I know what you mean! Very well done! Always a pleasure to read your work! MORE Evermore!  ------------------ Denise |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Thank you, Pepper, Caroline & WhtDove. Michael, with your abilities, you bow to no one. Why, Poet DeVine!!! (wink) Glad you liked it, Denise. |
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Soleil Member
since 1999-06-12
Posts 113 |
hmmm...nifty and cute. With a touch of moralizing thrown in for good measure. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
And I to ring the bell for thee. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I missed it the first time. And no one has said "Polly wants some prose?" |
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Pufalove Member
since 1999-08-18
Posts 119Houston, Tx. USA |
Thank you for this repost. It is truly unbelievable, unbelieveable! I simply HAD to read it over and over! Awesome! ------------------ O all ye powers that he implanted, Arise, keep silence no more; put forth the strength that he hath granted, your noblest work is to adore. |
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Iloveit Senior Member
since 1999-09-02
Posts 1121NM |
oh gosh, this is excellent, I just love it, not what I expected from the title at all lolol |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
You all do inspire me to keep on going! Thank you all. |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Sir Balladeer: Once again you put before us a level of quality to aspire towards. A fine bit of humor and truth in this one. And I must say the parrot will always be a poor choice of companionship regardless of its speech, for it can only regurgitate and not create. You strike me as a man who requires the latter. Thanks again, I bow to you and yours. |
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Justbleu Member Elite
since 1999-08-31
Posts 3329Oregon, Originally From Alaska :) |
Hehehe I could see this unfolding before my eyes......this was great!!!!!!!!!! I can see when I dig in the archives is when I find such treasures as this!!!!! Bridgette [This message has been edited by Justbleu (edited 12-07-2001).] |
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