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Open Poetry #6
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The Greatest Gift
| Open Poetry #6 |
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The Greatest Gift |
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PoeticKnight Senior Member
since 2000-01-20
Posts 1144New Orleans, LA |
THE GREATEST GIFT 12/14/87 At the window the old man perched For something past the glass he searched Life rushing by day after day Time flying by, just slipping away To live out his years of twilight With no one to share the night Closes his eyes, remembers a song Reminds him when days were long Every moment frozen in time Of the silly, and the sublime Locked up here in this house of aging Keeping him down, humanity disengaging He remembers when he was more alive Than these who take away his inner fire But those who play with fire get burned Just one of many lessons learned A child sitting upon a rocking chair A boy running fingers through white hair Only a shell of he who was Epicurus Flying through the air on wings like Icarus He too fell to the Earth Judged to be of no worth Not a tear flows from his eyes Not until the day he dies Soon, soon come the winds of death Sucking out his parting breath Still he waves to those passing by With neither gloom nor mournful sigh They see some old, broken man Light in his eyes, and a waving hand They can’t take anything away Even upon that final day His thoughts begin to roam To childhood friends and home When he was nine, or maybe ten Telling his friend: “This won’t ever end!” Things are the same when you’re older At least that’s what he was told; now it’s colder He remembers fighting for his country And horizons as far as he could see Recalls every sight, sound, and smell The fear of Heaven, and of Hell Now you can run and hide He chooses to reach deep inside Of his heart and mind Another day, another new find Brings him back to here and now Far below the lofty clouds See the old man with head bowed down Every now and then, he’ll take a look around But his eyes glisten from memory pain And his hands with calluses that still remain Sits, and watches the world moving on Time for his moving long gone The winds are so much colder now Running carefree, he has forgotten how He has forgotten many things But remembers all the dreams It seems like only yesterday Where did he throw it all away? There is still time for immortality Away from the window he lets it be Each memory shining through Now he knows what he will do To spread his life’s wisdom and joys To some little girl or boy It is the only gift he has to give Through their lives, he shall live |
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| © Copyright 2000 J.M. Landry - All Rights Reserved | |||
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Great finish on this one  |
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
This piece has so many layers, so much depth, and some very creative phrasings ~ "For something past the glass he searched" "Soon, soon come the winds of death Sucking out his parting breath" "It is the only gift he has to give Through their lives, he shall live" I really enjoyed reading this. ~ Claire [This message has been edited by Meadowmuse (edited 03-06-2000).] |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
He remembers when he was more alive Than these who take away his inner fire But those who play with fire get burned Just one of many lessons learned A child sitting upon a rocking chair A boy running fingers through white hair ------ Now you can run and hide He chooses to reach deep inside Of his heart and mind Another day, another new find Brings him back to here and now Far below the lofty clouds See the old man with head bowed down Every now and then, he’ll take a look around But his eyes glisten from memory pain And his hands with calluses that still remain Sits, and watches the world moving on Time for his moving long gone --------- He has forgotten many things But remembers all the dreams It seems like only yesterday Where did he throw it all away? There is still time for immortality Away from the window he lets it be Each memory shining through Now he knows what he will do To spread his life’s wisdom and joys To some little girl or boy It is the only gift he has to give Through their lives, he shall live damn your deep..I keep saying it..and Claire just seconded it for me..SEE..you'll learn in time...I'm always right  this is excellent...tell me who inspired it...still stalking..jm ...every moment of every day... your still with me in every way. every poem and song... every rhyme and verse... your still here...like a beautiful curse. janet marie |
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PoeticKnight Senior Member
since 2000-01-20
Posts 1144New Orleans, LA |
I was only 17, but felt like an old man, and started imagining myself really old...which isn't hard for me. I wondered how i would be, how i would act, where i'd be, what i'd be doing...etc. Thanks so much Claire and JM. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I was fighting tears as I read this... for every line reminded me so much of my Dad. He gave that gift generously and I miss him... even the bad days. But to see that this insightful, sensitive portrayal was written by a 17 year old?? That takes my breath away... you have incredible talent! |
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