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On the Street Corners of Philadelphia
| Open Poetry #13 |
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On the Street Corners of Philadelphia |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California 
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On the Street Corners of Philadelphia On the street corners of Philadelphia the children pass, their hardbound wisdom doesn’t tell them how to deal with the dealers, the ones that hang out on the corner, conduct business in the alley, the ones who corner the stoop where they were going to play. The child has pockets of gold, pockets filled with the wealth of rubber bands, a piece of gum, and chalk both white and yellow, and as his sneakers eat his socks with walking he stops for a moment to pull them up, and beside him a man is yelling dope dope dope into the street of cars where faceless people search for paradise. The sound is like the coo of pigeons in the early morn, so much a part of life, almost ignored, except he is scared, this child, very scared of something he can’t name. It is in the crazy energy that holds the corners together, it is in the music of horns, the cacophony of breathing need that melts on the sidewalk, it is in the man’s face who sits aimlessly on the steps counting money. On the street corners of Philadelphia the children pass. |
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| © Copyright 2001 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved | |||
SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
sad........heart breaking........terrifying.......and so vivid..... |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
...and it is heartbreaking to see it, too, isn't it, Martie? This is very sad... |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
every city....every suburb ... even the rual areas ... renact this scene in some way ... everyday. yes...they pass and often innocence is passed on in the process ..traded and taken away. Compassionate Reality writing with your gift of imagery Martie. "and as his sneakers eat his socks with walking he stops for a moment to pull them up," very cool line. oh you speak to me in riddles |
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Auguste
since 2000-02-16
Posts 3953By the sea |
Marie, I spent some time in Philly. It's not on the corners and in the alleys. It's on the streets and sidewalks. Dallas is much the same. I'm sure all large cities are. The problem is much too widespread to be adequately fought by even an army of law enforcement. It has to be fought in the home. Change a heart, give a child hope, good self esteem and he/she won't feel a need to find it in illegal substances. Give them yourself when they have a need to talk and let them know that you're interested in what it is they have to say. Always give them yourself and set a good example for them to look up to. To your children and to all children, be what a line in my poem says. "Be the wind that fills their sails." You've done well with this one, my friend. A timely subject and one that many of us prefer not to talk about. Bravo! Michael Proust- |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Never been there Marty, but we have it in Vancouver too being a seaport. Small children hide crack in cellophane inside their cheeks at the train stations trying to sell to people. These children have been brought from South America to do the dirty dealers work for them, as they know they won't get charged as adults. It sickens me, just sickens me. Thanks for putting this out there, so people are aware and can at least warn their children about this trash. Great job. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Even on the open plains, behind the barn, or making meth along the Saline River.... ah Martie! I thought the title was going to bring me into a "Boss" song...what a sad read! But as ever, done so Martiesque! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
You've created such a striking contrast between innocence and those who would prey on the same ... very well written Martie!  Best wishes, /Kit |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Friends...thank you for reading this...I know this takes place all over, from one city to another...and one country to another, and yes, it is sad. I have never been to Philadelphia, but I was watching a documentary about drugs in the United States and this one scene in Philadelphia cut at my heart so much that I just needed to write something...I thank you for reading and replying to it. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Martie~ You pull our heartstrings ... and shake us with the reality of shame ... The shame is that our young people are being used to line the pockets of the drug proffers and we are not doing enough to stop it. Keep writing, love ... maybe ... just maybe ... we won't wake up too late to reach a child in need ! *Hugs* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Marge--thanks sis for the reply and for being you. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Penned with perfection, heartbreaking in its truth... beautiful! |
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Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Martie, this is a wonderful write, and oh so real. One day it will be all gone, though not in our life times I bet.  Parker |
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Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
Such a true and sad picture you paint - I wasn't ready for such a cry today - but - I guess I needed it - - many could tell this tale - but no one could do it with half the force of your words |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
suthern--You reply with much grace. Parker--I hope you are right. Bill--I certainly didn't want you to cry, but it is a tearful subject, isn't it? |
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Panne415 Member
since 2001-03-21
Posts 104San Antonio |
Martie - this is everywhere USA and you show a great story with your words in this piece. I grew up 25 mi NE of Philly and lots of relatives in Philly and it was so different then - it was something we only heard about - from radio, tv, newspapers - it happened only in the big, bad cities but not ours. But as already said by everyone this is anywhere now- just left CA and it was in San Diego, San Jose, Sacto, SF. It is here too and what is even more surprising to me is that it runs rampant even in the suburbs now... I enjoyed the read - thanks. Panne |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
panne--thank you for reading this and for your reply...I appreciate it. |
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