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To Let the Flaming Pain
| Open Poetry #6 |
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To Let the Flaming Pain |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California 
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To Let the Flaming Pain A cup of tea, from an old copper kettle, and something to eat, she said as things rattled and flew from cupboards and drawers, boxes, cans and jars. He felt like a gentle, powerful tornado had picked him up. All he had wanted was one beer, and here he was watching the fluid movement of this fleshy woman as she prepared him tea, for God’s sake. Wife and child dead, house taken by the bank, he had lived in his car, long enough for the cash to run out, cash for gas and food cash for booze— I’m floating over the pain booze— floating up and over, and then, like someone holding him by the seat of the pants, dangling with arms and legs kicking, dropped him onto the hard cement of reality, booze. What a macabre dance with the devil that was, as the money ran out, the hangover ran on, and he was sick from the stale taste of his own bewilderment. Oh yes, he liked the tea he answered her questioning eyes, feeling awkward with conversation except to himself. The words croaked and a large swollen infected feeling pushed into his throat and lodged there making his eyes water. Then she was kneeling beside him taking him by the shoulders and enveloping him in the warmth of her spongy arms and big soft breasts. It’s okay to feel the pain she whispered into his ear. He resisted at first, sat stiff and tried to focus on not feeling but then he relaxed, let his body be rocked, let the flaming pain tear at him, enfolded. That’s good, she said. [This message has been edited by Martie (edited 04-15-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Rosemary J. Gwaltney Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997northern mountains, Idaho |
Oh, Martie, this poem really tugged at my heart. Very deep and much too real. There's so much pain in this world. Nurturing hurting people is something dear to my heart. You have painted a picture excellently vivid and cutting. It will certainly stay with me for a long time. Very meaningful. Thank you. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Rosemary--Thank you for responding to this tale of the beginning of hope and one simple act of kindness...you are special. |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Oh, Martie, my sister~ You cradle compassion in the warmth of your words. This is such an endearing render. Hope can be begun in the arms of a hug. Bewilderment brushed aside with just a gleam of hope. Release is so much easier engulfed in a hug following a cup of tea. Special hugs to you, my friend. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
It takes a very special person to write a poem like this. I have little doubt you would be the same way as the woman in your poem. Beautiful, Martie. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Compassion just oozes from this, Martie. Very well written! Denise |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Marge--thanks for the sister--quite a compliment! Baladeer--You touch my heart with your words. Denise--Thanks you for seeing compassion. |
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Alwye
Moderator
Member Elite
since 1999-06-16
Posts 3850In the space between moments |
It is one of the best feelings in the world to be able to help someone in such pain..such a vivid tale here, Marge. I too believe you are a woman such as the one in this lovely poem.  *Krista Knutson* As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as something unfathomably mysterious, thought begins. ~*Albert Schweitzer*~ |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Thank you Krista for the sweet reply to Marge...LOL--she's my sister, ya know. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Well, SIS ... What a wonderful tribute to us both. (Thank you, Krista) Gosh ... this 'sister' stuff just grows on ya'. If I have my way ... AND I DO ... I hereby declare that Martie and I are SISTERS. (Now ya' got one, sweetie !) What a wonderful gift she's given me. I will treasure the sistership with much love and affection. What a glorious day this is ! ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
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Pepper Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079Southern Florida |
Martie ... your heart is shining again, in this piece .... Very touching; very moving .... Excellent "This is where you will win the battle .... in the playhouse of your mind." Maxwell Maltz |
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Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Martie, I can not believe how much love radiates from this little gem. Such a vivid image of a tragedy in one's life, with one person careing so much to give some needed love. Parker |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Marge--A sister of the heart is the best kind to have--and I would be very honored to be yours...I call my sister in law my sister in love, because love is what it's all about. I hope the sun is shinning for you today. Hi Pepper--I sure am glad to see you reading this and what a nice response, thank you. Parker--This is just a little fiction from my mind, but this truth exists everywhere and love is a very healing power...that is not fiction. |
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RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
Martie: Every now and then I sneak back and this brought a huge smile to my face as I imagined the pain and coldness leaving and the warmth filling every vein and the talk that must have followed and all because someone cared...Thanks love...it made me cry but thank heavens it's still ok to show someone how much you care.. HUSG |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
RG--If this made you smile, then you have made my day! |
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Mike Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462 |
Martie, I am often asked how I can handle dealing with the subjects I've dealt with on a daily basis for the last twenty years. My response is, that while I deal with so many unthinkable tragedies, I believe in the basic inate goodness of people. You have given me a smile today my friend, for you have validated that statement with this wonderful poem. |
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Effigy Member
since 2000-04-11
Posts 486disbelief |
Very nice. I loved the discription. |
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Alicia Member
since 2002-03-22
Posts 279 |
~Sighs and tears. |
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