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Allen
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Allen |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion 
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Allen Hired to do some renovation, He arrived when the mood suited, A carpenter of reputation, Which was now being refuted. He said he was an insomniac, He drank Coke and smoked all day, Coworkers said he was a maniac, And at times acted that way. As he sanded and coaxed wood, His mood was generally bleak, He seemed most misunderstood, Some days he did seldom speak. With patience unprecedented, I silently watched him work, His coworkers he resented, Company of others he did shirk. But his story gradually unfolded, As every surface began to layer, In his hands, wood molded, In the fine dusts of his labor. The gossip was quickly spread, Of alleged criminal lunacy, A tale of a girlfriend now dead, Hinting at an amazing story. He told me of their time together, Ten years of happiness, Until an accident in bad weather, Took her to a dark abyss. Her brain had been damaged, Her long term memory gone, Left tortured and ravaged, Missing lyrics to every song. One night she took her life away, Using his very own handgun. He found her there in that way, Quickly dialed Nine-One-One. His prints had been on the gun, He was arrested as a suspect, They said she couldn’t have been the one, This victim they could not protect. But it was ruled, he was in the clear, At the time of death, a tight alibi, Lost everything that he held dear, As he said this, he began to cry. I pulled him to me and held him tight, He smelled of cigarettes and dust, Told him one day it would be alright, Gve him a simple gift of trust. My friends thought I had lost my mind, Befriending a man accused of murder, But I saw someone gentle and kind, And would hear protests no further. The job done, he prepared to leave, I gave him a book of poetry, On suicides and how we grieve, and as he left, he smiled at me. © 2000 Corinne Bailey [This message has been edited by Corinne (edited 05-29-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Corinne - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
What a thought-provoking story Corinne ... it reminds us to "never judge a book by its cover". Well done! Best wishes, /Kit [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 05-29-2000).] |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Corinne, This is one amazing poem... I am touched and after reading this, I sympathise with Allen...So often do we see the world shunning a man for a crime he did not commit... I am touched by your poetry, Corinne, really. Regards, sudhir Hey you, out there in the cold, Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me? Hey you, standing in the aisle, With itchy feet and fading smile, can you feel me? Hey you, don't help them to bury the light. Don't give in without a fight. Hey you, out there on your own, Sitting naked by the phone, would you touch me? Hey you, with your ear against the wall, Waiting for someone to call out, would you touch me? Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone? Open your heart, I'm coming home.... by Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) - The Wall |
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Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Corinne, I love the way you worked this, the layers of the man, compared to the moulding of the wood, the patience to know the story. Always a wonder to read you, your poetry often gives me a happy sadness. So bravo on this one. Park |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Thank you Kit! Sudhir, thank you for your kind words. Parker, happy that you saw those layers so. Corinne |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Oh, I got interupted with a telephone call in the middle of this, and told them I was busy reading a poem, so they think I'm crazy, but I'll straighten it out later. I just couldn't get away from this. You tell a story well, my dear. Liz |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Corinne~ I understand completely ... that's called compassion in my book. And I'll bet it's called respect in Allen's. I did enjoy this. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
This is a beautiful poem. True, we have to get to know people before we can really judge them. "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
C, I am so moved by this poem, it is WONDERFUL... both the writing and story telling, but most of all the emotions and message of it... your "understanding eyes" are evident in this and your kind heart shines... I too was blessed with this experience and it changed my life, the lessons I learned and the love that was exchanged is the reason I write and find inspiration with in myself... on first look, I judged out of fear... when given the chance to look again, deeper, I found an angel with broken wings... we all have a light that shines from within... some times we have to look a little harder for some... but the gift comes in finding it. sorry to go on so long... your wondeful poem seems to have evoked much emotion from me-- for that I thank you. take care, jm < !signature--> Some things cannot be explained by verses that rhyme, They are not measured by the commitment of time. Some emotions run too deep to be described by words, Forgiveness and understanding-remain the most beautiful words ever heard. ~Janet Marie~ "What the caterpillar calls the end ... The world calls a butterfly" ~Lao Tze Tao~ ~Butterflies are meant to be free~ [This message has been edited by Janet Marie (edited 05-29-2000).] |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Wow, Liz, I think that's the best compliment I've ever received! Thank you! Thank you, Marge, I was worried the poem might come off sounding self-congradulating, which isn't how it's meant. Thanks, LoveBug! And thank you, Janet Marie, yes, these moments do change us forever. Corinne |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Wonderful story!!! I loved it.  |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
As much as we don't want to believe it, innocent people are occasionally accused of crimes they didn't commit.. and their lives are frequently destroyed in the process... You've done well by your friend, Corinne... and paid wonderful homage in this poem..  |
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