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Open Poetry #5
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My Family Tree...................................archives
| Open Poetry #5 |
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My Family Tree...................................archives |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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The other night while I was feeling Rather fancy-free I found the thought quite interesting To trace my family tree. I talked it over with my friends Who helped me very much. They told me they had come from kings, And dukes and earls and such. Their ancestors helped shape the world; The rulers of the masses. Not one I spoke to said that they Came from the lower classes. But someone took the garbage out. Someone cooked the gruel. Someone put a costume on To play the courtly fool. Someone had to act as servants To the royal line. Since all my friends are kingly, well, Those other folks were mine! MY kinfolk built the pyramids. They guarded castle walls. They sharpened swords for Lancelot And swept out knightly stalls. They tilled the land - They dredged the Nile They fought the great crusades. They stood on tiptoe, clapping, As the kings passed on parade. They stomped the grapes for royal wine. They made bricks out of mud. They lived in abject poverty, Yet made their peace with God. All other men can come from kings- It matters not to me. I'll bless each branch that reaches Skyward....on my family tree! |
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| © Copyright 2000 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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devina Member Elite
since 1999-10-28
Posts 3539Cali |
Said very well Micheal, guess my family tree would be hard to trace...from California to Indiana at least...maybe the blonde one's didn't have to take out the garbage!!  Open arms can be the most fragile in the world... |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
Balladeer, as always you impress me! I liked this one a lot. I'd rather come from people who know what hard work, family values, respect, and love of God are really about!( and I do!) -SEA |
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Mark R. Member
since 1999-06-25
Posts 113San Francisco, CA. |
Royalty or not with many riches or not. You Balladeer, certainly deserve to be set on high on just your talents alone...best wishes on your imaginative travels... |
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simplyYRREHS Member
since 2000-01-03
Posts 162 |
I Loved This, Deer! I actually found some very important branches of my own family tree just last year with some online searching ~ fascinating! This poem is a cheerful look at respecting all of the branches, regardless of their titles! What a knack you have for rhythm and rhyme...this one has me tapping my toes as I read it. Wonderful!!!< !signature--> "The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet, we do not treat ourselves nor another thus tenderly." ~Henry David Thoreau [This message has been edited by simplyYRREHS (edited 01-30-2000).] |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Well, one of them must have been a poet. Maybe he scrolled verses into those mud bricks Great poem, Mr Balladeer Liz |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Yeah, Balladeer- But how many of them drove a Mercedes ? Hon, this is precious. I wouldn't mind resting under your limbs. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
This is absolutely wonderful! Whew! This really got me all misty eyed! I'm going to print this out and make copies for my brother and sisters, with your name on it, of course! I know they'll love it too! Denise |
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One Who Understands Member
since 2000-01-20
Posts 251Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
You are perfect, that's all I have to say  |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Great poem, Balladeer!!! (Lemme know when you start to shed those leaves. *EG*) [This message has been edited by suthern (edited 01-31-2000).] |
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tracie66 Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713Australia |
Balladeer you have written the most devine piece, very special Tracie |
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Saxoness
since 1999-07-18
Posts 1102Texas |
Wonderful poem Balladeer. My family is also into Geneaology. I should email this poem to them all, they would enjoy it! "Glory remains unaware of my neglected dwelling where alone I sing my tearful song which has charms only for me." -Charles Brugnot |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Wise, wise words Balladeer |
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RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
Bal: No wonder I'm still Cinderella..*g* HUSG Memories give you the power to collect roses in the winter... |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
A wonderful re-read - thanks for unarchiving your limbs. Sunshine Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
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LngJhnAg Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion |
Limbs? Tree? You coulda fooled me - lol Seriously, though, 'Deer - this is another great poem from you. |
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
Perfect?!?!? Mike are you perfect my friend? hmm must not know you very well then...lol.My family tree is weathered, It's battered and it's bruised. It's seen all kinds of hatred, And it's been unkindly used. It's stood up through the ages, Through the hurricanes an such. It's been decietly climbed on, But it hasn't worried much. I come from good and healthy stock, We're strong of form and will. No matter what we have to face, We will be standing still. Great job Mike!!  |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Devina...hehe. I guess the blondes were to busy being preffered by gentlemen. Sea....I'm with you. Mark R...Thanks for the words and the wishes. Sherry....It is fun, isn't it? Thank you for tapping! Elizabeth..Could be that's what all those heiroglyphics are!!!! Marge....ROFL!! When there's a vacancy, I'll let you know Denise...your mist is bliss to me. Thank you. One Who Understands....Not by a long shot, I'm afraid, but I certainly appreciate your words. Suthern....I liked your reply before you edited it. I already had 4 bags filled with salt!!!! Thank you, Tracie. Saxoness....do it!! I hope they do. Thank you. Hoot....when an owl says "wise" twice, I'm very flattered! Rainbow...and Cinderella you will always be. If only I had that slipper..... Sunshine....my pleasure. Atrophy was setting in!! LohnJohn....Yep, trees. If I were Toe, I would have said family bush  Marilyn....Terrific reply. Your family tree must be an oak With roots in solid ground. You'll flourish if you never let Some cruel sap get you down! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Too good to let it fall to the bottom.... this is one of your better poems, Balladeer! |
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G. A. Webb Member
since 2000-01-21
Posts 441Stanton, California, USA |
Right on Balladeer! I like this. Not everybody can come from the cream of the crop. But we all have the power to rise above it. Do we not?  )G [This message has been edited by G. A. Webb (edited 01-31-2000).] |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
bumping this one up. latearrival |
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Klassy Lassy Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187Oregon |
I only know a little about my family tree, but they shared their warmth and kindness--sweet heritage for me. Here and there a skeleton rattled a branch or two, Slipped back into oblivion, I guess, obscure, when it was through. There never was much money, they worked for what they had, Together, rich in laughter, even when times were bad. Ordinary, common folk, I thought they were divine, Because love wove magic in their lives, turned water into wine Midst mountains of challenges, and that mostly was their lot; But they stood for each other, and family is what I got. Reading wealth within your words, your heart is to revere; Friend or family, we, too, are blessed to love you, Balladeer.  |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
This is really good, Balladeer. I am so happy it was ressurected - thank you, late. Alison |
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