On the Sidewalk of my Mind

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Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

0 posted 2001-01-08 08:01 PM

On the Sidewalk of my Mind

The street was full,
color ran from it into the gutter,
words twisted together in tongue
turned corners and were gone,
and some evil lurked in the doorway.

I could feel intensity everywhere
as a man hurried past,
a bag of pampers under his arm.

A woman in a round skirt and three sweaters
searched the crowd for quarters,
her feet pulled up to her knees
with socks that were too big,
she turned the corner in front of me
then passed me again from behind
and I could feel the magic of crazy
as she avoided my eyes.

I sensed the buildings closing in
and my peace of mind squeezed
until I felt a scream sliding,
and saved it as I looked up
a sky studded with tall buildings
and let it go to the tower
of a restaurant that turned
and saw what,
not down here
for down here hurt,

and did not taste like California cuisine.

I was just another ant dotting the street
of careless and crazy
where a smile was free
and families coped with poverty
in noisy congested groups
and everyone looked down or across,
looked around or in,
and I was the only one looking up
to wide open spaces of sky away away
from the blur that buzzed in me
and took me to my knees on the sidewalk
of my mind wondering who I was.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2001-01-08 08:13 PM

Sounds like a full-fledged anxiety/panic attack...but you survived...

come to Kansas...the only skyscrapers I see are trees...

and I've plenty of room...

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

2 posted 2001-01-08 09:39 PM

Sunshine--I'd love to come to Kansas! Los Angeles streets can sometimes be so cruel.

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

3 posted 2001-01-08 09:51 PM

Oh, Martie~
How you write !

'her feet pulled up to her knees
with socks that were too big'

'I could feel the magic of crazy
as she avoided my eyes'

As an avid 'people-watcher' ...
I can't even begin to tell it like you do !

And Florida's nice this time of year, sweetie.
Five acres and homegrown orange and grapefruit trees ...
Lots of looking-up room here on the Green Swamp, where flora and fauna assail your senses.

Come on down !
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

Mike
Member Elite

since 1999-06-19

Posts 2462

4 posted 2001-01-08 09:58 PM

Splendid writing Martie... once again you are able to transport us into a snapshot of your life with your amazing ability to paint a poetic picture. don't envy your life in the big city... if you stop in to visit Sunshine, I am just down the road a bit...

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

5 posted 2001-01-08 10:16 PM

Marge--The town where I live is not like Los Angeles...it is small, we live a few blocks from our flower shop...you can even leave your doors unlocked...and in my back yard I have citrus too...Los Angeles is 30 miles away...but the distance is bigger in change then miles. I'd love to come to Florida!!

Mike--If I ever get to Kansas...I'll for sure stop in to see you...count on it!

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

6 posted 2001-01-09 12:27 PM

I was just another ant dotting the street
of careless and crazy
where a smile was free
and families coped with poverty
in noisy congested groups
and everyone looked down or across,
looked around or in,
and I was the only one looking up
to wide open spaces of sky away away
from the blur that buzzed in me
and took me to my knees on the sidewalk
of my mind wondering who I was.
==================

Ill jaywalk to be on the sidewalk of your mind

very cool and truthfilled poem martie-girl
makes me glad I live in poetry land

jm

No one ever told me ... I could get lost while standing still ...
and sorrow doesnt make a sound ... as it takes away all your will.

Wilfred Yeats
Member Elite

since 2000-08-04

Posts 2704
Wilmington, Delaware

7 posted 2001-01-09 09:06 AM

absolutely NO ONE can find and articulate the perspectives you provide like you can. I have had these scenes when I lived in Michigan - worked in Detroit, Have them now sometimes when I walk to Market, How vividly you drove them home to me!

Irish Rose
Member Patricius

since 2000-04-06

Posts 10263

8 posted 2001-01-09 09:10 AM

Thank you for specific, detailed, images that put me there. This is a wonderful write and refreshing to read. Martie, in this you showed an economy for words. I love that.

"Every man dies.
Not every man truly lives."
Braveheart

Kathleen

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

9 posted 2001-01-09 02:11 PM

Janet--You do? Can I come and live with you? Hope you're feeling better!

Bill--Some things are hard to look at without seeing...thank you for seeing.

Kathleen--Thanks...I'm working on that economy thing.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

10 posted 2001-01-10 04:50 PM

and everyone looked down or across,
looked around or in,
and I was the only one looking up
to wide open spaces of sky away away

Maybe it's where you look that gives you the powerful perspective you possess... you have a sensitive heart coupled with an incredible ability to show others what you see... and you do so in awesome poetry. *S*

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