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Open Poetry #13
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Wilfred Yeats
Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704
Wilmington, Delaware

0 posted 2001-04-27 09:06 PM


Warning - this may not be to everyone's taste.
As I daily write to satisfy my 'addiction' - I also include as old memories resurface - recollections of past events in my life; With the express purpose of providing additional insight into the "me" - that existed before my kids were born - that they might know me better since I know I will not live forever.

Anyhow - a slice of early 1961:


The Fire

It was forty years ago
I'd moved to Detroit
A good job
I rented a duplex apartment
Single, no entanglements
I had many dates
And then I met Pat

While in the service
I'd did my 'tour' in Puerto Rico
I spent weekends dancing
Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Mambo
Rhumba, I was happy as a clam

In the motor city
Dancing - I had to relearn
Steps all different
Pat taught me
I loved her
Divorced, with two under six
I didn't care
I would have bought the package
Pat however loved an engineer
But I strived for her approval
I had a fifty-nine T-Bird
She drove a Triumph TR-3
So I traded up to a Porsche
To no avail
I lost her

Then my neighbors
(seemingly all divorcees)
Took notice of me
One - across the street
Bought herself a Alfa
Took me for a ride
And next door -
The other half of duplex
Vacant until now
Acquired Marsha
And five year old Seymour

Friend Tom into my second bedroom
Paying half the rent
At a dance my friend Paul
Introduced me to my children's future mother

Tom and I both became engaged
The following month
Tom and Carol still live in Michigan
I'm God-parent to one of their daughters

One night after taking Penny
My fiancé, home from a date
I returned and fell into a sound sleep

Marsha = high on style
Had recently redecorated
White fluffy carpet
And a sofa to match by the window

A heavy smoker
As many of us were
She also had a deathly
Fear of fire

Tom woke me about two AM
He smelled smoke
I threw on pants and we went outside
Looking into Marsha's window
A tiny flame
About the size of an ashtray fire
Burning - apparently in or on the sofa
We rang- we pounded on the door
A neighbor called the fire department
We hastened trying to break in
We saw hands  in the bedroom window upstairs
Before we could measure time
It was over
The fireman asked me:
"Was she pretty?"

The first duty of love is to listen.

               ~ Paul Tillich ~

© Copyright 2001 Wilfred Yeats - All Rights Reserved
jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas
1 posted 2001-04-27 09:19 PM


Neat tale my friend...and let's hear it for the TR-3...would love to have mine back.


jwesley

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 2001-04-27 09:26 PM


This leaves me hurting...aching...to know a little of a person that I shall never meet, except through this memory.
serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

3 posted 2001-04-27 09:39 PM


Oh Wils...thanks for sharing this one, love, would lend itself to prose so easily...the ending chilled me...total tears. HUGS. And thanks, and ? More, please.
inot2B
Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205
Arkansas
4 posted 2001-04-28 12:19 PM


The things that one remembers. The good and the bad, have a way of mingling together. As always Sir you tell it so that I'm right there beside you seeing it.
forevernbluejeans
Member
since 2001-04-05
Posts 76

5 posted 2001-04-28 02:07 AM


Lifes memories arent always pleasant...you left me chilled
Joyce Johnson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912
Washington State
6 posted 2001-04-28 02:18 AM


Oh.  I went through a horrible fire once.  But the only causalty was our litle dog.  Otherwise I enjoyed your memories.  Joyce
Wilfred Yeats
Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704
Wilmington, Delaware
7 posted 2001-04-29 09:54 AM


those few months of early 1961 - I learned a lot.
Sadly - I don't believe we could have saved Marsha or Seymour

And 20/20 hindsight tells me -

I didn't learn fast enough to avoid marriage that year

thank you  

suthern
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
8 posted 2001-04-29 04:11 PM


A chilling tale you've told well...
latin passion
Senior Member
since 2001-04-26
Posts 576

9 posted 2001-04-29 09:43 PM


My body is still trembling, for my fear of fires, much less flying. My hands clutch the sides at the picture you just painted.  Thank you for sharing a bit of your past. LP
Marge Tindal
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
10 posted 2001-04-29 10:40 PM


Wilfred~
This is a very sad tale of remembrance.
I shudder at the thought of Marsha and little Seymour losing their lives in a fire.
How very, very sad.
~*Marge*~

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


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