Voices on the Web |
The Dummy |
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
In that forgotten part of town Where wasted hopes and dreams abound, A wrinkled man with life near end, In hopes to have at least one friend, Fashioned bits of wood and things And made a dummy run by strings. He sat alone for hours on end, Conversing with his only friend And found delight within the fact That he controlled it's every act. He told it how he never had A chance, since all his luck was bad Although he'd tried so to succeed - The dummy nodded and agreed. And how his journeys in romance Had never given him a chance, And wasn't it a crying shame That he was always held to blame When everyone knew, oh so well, That life is but a living Hell, Controlled by lust and power and greed? The dummy nodded and agreed. With patience that would rival saints, That dummy sat through all complaints And, with each little expert tug, He'd droop his head or bow or shrug And give some comfort to the man Who held his lifelines in his hand And helped to fill a lonely need When he just nodded and agreed. Senility increased with time As did the old man's phantomime, And feverish fingers pulled with glee The dummy's dance of misery. They never left each other's side Until the day both stopped and died. We found them lying, hand in hand, The dummy - and his wooden friend. |
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© Copyright 2000 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Balladeer~ And YES ! Excellent, excellent choice. Love you~ ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
I've been waiting for a chance to do this! I love this one sir..but then I love all your poetry... |
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Novacaine For The Soul Member
since 2000-05-26
Posts 122New Orleans |
dear balladeer, this is absolutely magnificent work... i'm going to have to look up some of your older poems in the archives, seems you write according to my poetic tastes definately got my vote... sincerely, a sad tomato you're such a beautiful freak... i wish there were more just like you... |
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linda munday Member
since 2000-06-17
Posts 315Adelaide, Australia |
Intense and powerful... with a hint of quiet remorse... I loved it.. I love your style too so I am going to look for more of yours right now. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Marge, WOW! your puppet is better than my poem!!!! Thank you deVine one..you've always been there for me. Thanks again Novacaine...I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your vote. linda...What a nice thing to say. I thank you very much...... |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Wonderful poem, fantastic ending! Love it! Denise |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
perfect choice to reflect your work... and i hope this wont be the only one jm |
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wayoutwalt Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 4870TEXAS (it's all big) |
i was wondering when you would arrive balladeer yuh this is so great yuh so great yuh so great yuh yuh big time yuh with big time fonts for you!! |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
AHH!!! I finally get the chance to vote for the man with his very on "back" button LOL Great poem Balladeer All my love, Jeffrey I lie awake in a world filled with dreams, but dreams can be so real when you don't know you're asleep |
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bsquirrel
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855 |
Bal, I've always admired how you can write subjects while keeping your wit and not losing sight of the characters in your poems. This one is exceptional -- I love the end; you give your opinion on the matter without being overbearing. Great work. Mike |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I do so admire your expertise...even if I do relate more to the "dummy" here...thanks so much to you...you've been an inspiration. |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
An excellent choice, my revered story teller and poet... Sir Balladeer, awesome work from you as always... humble regards, Sudhir [This message has been edited by Sudhir Iyer (edited 06-21-2000).] |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
My favoritest.... |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
This is my first read on this one. Where have I been? Excellent poem, my friend Liz |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Excellent Baladeer ... wonderful choice! Your stories just take on a life of their own and flow so smoothly with such rhythm ... I just find myself caught up in each one! Loved the ending! (click) Best wishes, /Kit |
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Mike Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462 |
Good selection. add one more vote. |
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Nicole Senior Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 1835Florida |
Excellent as always, Sir. *vote!!* |
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FlyHigh Member
since 2000-06-21
Posts 84Bekkestua, Norway |
Oooooo, nice one.. Hope I can write as good as you someday. -- "Luck affects everything. Let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it there will be a fish." Ovid (BC 43-18 AD, Roman P |
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FlyHigh Member
since 2000-06-21
Posts 84Bekkestua, Norway |
Ooooooooo. Nice one... Hope I can write as good as you sometime.. Geir Jakobsen -- "Luck affects everything. Let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it there will be a fish." Ovid (BC 43-18 AD, Roman P |
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FlyHigh Member
since 2000-06-21
Posts 84Bekkestua, Norway |
Ouch, the lag monster took me.. Sorry for the duplicate.. GJ |
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Corazon Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 1209 |
yes yes yes...but you know I don't envy you...yours are all so wonderful, how do you pick the ones to post to the book? |
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Colin Senior Member
since 1999-06-05
Posts 596Callington, Cornwall, England |
Over here in Britland we call babies pacifiers "dummies", and if you had written about that, I could say "this poem sucks " but it's not about that kind of dummy and no way does it suck. Eric. "We are the music makers and we are the makers of dreams." - Willy Wonka. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Balladeer--I just love this poem!! |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA |
Balladeer, such a sad tale, but beautifully penned by you, the master of poetry. Take care, Melissa Honeybee |
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Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
Ah! I'm glad I didn't miss this one. Now, this is loyalty. A dummy. why didn't I think of that, and loyal, always agreeable, never giving me a bit of trouble head bobbing up and down, saying exactly what I want him to say. GOD I love this one!!!!!! Kathleen "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace." Elizabeth Barrett Browning |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Again I thank you for the wonderful replies! Corazon, I just pick the ones I personally like best. That's all I can do..... In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him. |
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X Angel Senior Member
since 1999-11-07
Posts 1521Oregon |
ahhh the King of Ballads I love this one 'Deer, truly I do! ~Heather |
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Craig Member
since 1999-06-10
Posts 444 |
Vote! Yes, I admit your general rule. That every poet is a fool: But I myself may serve to show it. That every fool is not a poet. |
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Di Junior Member
since 2000-06-29
Posts 19Ontario, Canada |
You never cease to amaze me! Wonderful once again. Hats off to you sir ~People shine from the inside out~ |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
In all seriousness, with the way you write, you should have a book to call your own! Your writing is superb and I hope one day I can at least achieve 1/2 the gift you hold~ |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Oh 'deer - that last line!!!!!!!!! WOW WOW... awesome hon... K |
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