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Statue in central Park (repost of a classic Balladeer poem)
| Open Poetry #5 |
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Statue in central Park (repost of a classic Balladeer poem) |
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LngJhnAg Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion 
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Statue in Central Parkby Balladeer The statue stood in Central Park Right in the middle of the square And all the people passing there Were held in awe at that great sight, A symbol of man's strength and might Was the statue in Central Park. A full ten feet it stood upright But, more amazing than its height, Was the power it seemed to posess; Self-confidence, assuredness, And, people passing hour by hour, Thought, "What I'd give to have that power!" Occasionally in the dark Quick footsteps rang in Central Park And one could hear a chipping sound As chunks of granite hit the ground From strangers who had sought to gain A piece of strength to ease their pain. Relentlessly, they whittled down That new-found source of strength they found Till dust and pebbles now are all Remaining of that figure tall. Humanity has left its mark - No statue stands in Central Park. The statue's story is my own. Instead of rock, I'm flesh and bone But cousins, uncles, aunts and nieces All have taken little pieces. Searching for the strength to be, They've all been chiseling away at me! The statue in Central Park and I Will go together, by and by. The strength we had to stand alone, (His of granite, mine of bone) Defeated, crumpled on the ground By 'friends' who finally brought us down. I'll always be right here for you But know that I have limits, too And my advice is...please step back When you see me begin to crack For, though I seem to stand alone. I, too, need statues of my own. Is there anybody (except maybe Balladeer?) who is not inspired by this true work of incredible art? 'Deer, you are indeed a statue, but "A full ten feet..." doesn't come close to your stature, my friend. .....(Nan here - I had to add this pic - We all knew this was Balladeer when we found him in front of The Capital Building in Washington DC.... Love ya, Deer)  [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 01-15-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Michael Waterman - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
From the day he sauntered into the Halls of Passion, his worth as been proclaimed in his poetry and his responses.... true to his name he is: Balladeer. |
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Tarzzan New Member
since 2000-01-14
Posts 7Deepest, Darkest, Africa |
LongJohn...Though I'm also unfamiliar with your work, (LOL), and that of this great statue of a poet, (I'd love to be a pigeon over his head), I'd have to agree....the man's simply a genius....(Do you hate him as much as I do?)..... |
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LngJhnAg Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion |
Tarrzan - Hate Balladeer as much as you? I didn't know anybody could hate this devil as much as me - lol. Yanno, if he wouldn't post in here, I would look really good. I think ol' 'Deer oughta get out of his current business and open a music store. He's great at making us look like second fiddles -  |
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Toerag Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622Ala bam a |
He is just awful to us yanno?....The only reason he writes all this great crap is to make you and I look bad.....LOL@second fiddle |
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LngJhnAg Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion |
Toe! Hey there, you old reprobate! I agree with you, 'Deer has it in for us, and he shows off his talent just to make us feel bad. When are the rest of the poets in here gonna wake up and realize what he's up to? lol - How's life under the overpass treating you? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
It was Doreen who first recognized you, Deer...  |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
And why didn't I get a piece of that venison? LOL. (stomping foot... NOT to be confused with stepping on Toe. *G*) ROFL @ second fiddles... not so, gentlemen! *S* But thanks for the giggles. *G* Such a superb poem, Balladeer!! |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Excellence in poetry! Hey there LJA, glad to see your return! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Wow! An oldie from the past (well, that makes sense). Thank you, LohnJohn, for the resurrection. I guess I better start writing some new stuff! Don't give me that 'make us look bad" junk! Anytime you feel like it, you knock off your foolishness and pump out some masterpiece about dancing or something that has every poet here drooling for more. I'm never gonna get rid of you two!...and that's one hell of a good thought. I don't know of anyone who has pushed me to my limits more than you guys. I don't have any time to rest on my laurels (whatever they are) 'cause you are always coming out with something better, forcing me to give chase again. GEESH!! I thank you, Michael, for your kind words and you, Nan, for adding that great statue to the poem. Devine one, Suthern, and dovey....your words are music to my eyes. Thank you......and you, too, Doreen, wherever you are..... |
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Rus Bowden Member
since 2000-01-13
Posts 139 |
LngJjnAb & Balladeer, I am very glad this was reposted. This is an excellent muse well done, a great read. Rus |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Balladeer - stop lounging around in Central Park and start writin' more poems, will ya?! Geeze...ya know about my addiction, don't ya? Why must you make me suffer?! LOL Another great poem from the Past!!!! Now get writin'!! Denise And slight is the sting of his trouble Whose winnings are less than his worth; For he who is honest is noble, Whatever his fortunes or birth.~~~Alice Cary, ~Nobility~ |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
Thanks for reposting this, Longjohn... never saw this one! I *did* see that statue, though, and Nan was right, Justin Kace you guys are interested in the story behind it... Several of the poetpeople from these halls of Passions got together in DC last September and it was just too weird.... our good friend and bard, Balladeer, didn't show, but everywhere I looked, I saw him! We were in Dulles Airport and I said, "There's Balladeer!" but the darned guy disappeared before we were able to actually say hi. Then, one day, we were in back of the Capital building after Nan got us kicked off the grounds for spying and there was this statue, set in bronze and I stopped in my tracks and pointed and said, "There he is! It's HIM! It's 'DEER!" and everybody else stopped and several tourists turned there heads to looked, and believe it or not, they nodded in agreement! So, in conclusion, I'll just say this... You are obviously 'DEER to our hearts or we wouldn't have been seeing you everywhere we went, my good friend Balladeer! I just have one question.... Where'd you get those great boots? And what are you reaching for behind your back? Flowers, you say? For ME? *blush* how sweet! And at first I thought you were hugging yourself and would have told you no need... i'll give you that big hug myself! Here it now! *HUG* Hey, you guys, when are we getting together again? This time, I'd like to meet my friend "deer in the flesh instead of in the bronze... Nan??? Springtime on the Cape? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Cape Cod in the spring is a pretty neat place.... Sounds good to me - The beach is at the end of my street... But only if Balladeer comes.....  |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Balladeer...I loved this poem the first time round and I've only grown fonder the second time. Excellent work my friends. Nan...hey, springtime in the cape...I'm in!!!!!! |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
....love re-reads....thanks, LJA, for bringing this back... Sunshine Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
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