Open Poetry #14 |
Roman Nights |
MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Solitude around me Nature's sound fills the air The setting sun before me The sea-breeze in my hair A campfire's remnants show through The sand beneath my feet Reminding me how time flew By this place where we would meet. We were all in high school Back in nineteen-eighty-five Pebble Beach was still new And the nights! They came alive! This place we had discovered Just minutes away from home A magic spot uncovered: We agreed to call it "Rome". We'd follow the trail Beyond the dirt plateau Collecting fire kindling And laughing as we'd go... We'd sit around the fire And say what came to mind We would never tire Of this tradition left behind. Roman Nights -- the essence Of being young and free Roman Nights were our quintessence Of spontaneity I still hear our echos In these familiar sites On the charred wood, now a plant grows Preserving those Roman Nights... Many times I've come here To reflect and walk my dog... The landscape's changed through the years; It's seen the sun and fog... My doberman lies beside me Awaiting anxiously The sun has set completely, And I know, it's time to leave. I get up with sadness Because I must return Back to the L.A. madness From where I'll always yearn To be here in the beauty And splendor of my home -- Away from the big city In a place that we called "Rome". copyright 1991 by: Mark V. Sheldon "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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© Copyright 2001 Mark V Sheldon - All Rights Reserved | |||
rosepetals25
since 2000-05-31
Posts 3076PA |
Mark, Oh I can just feel the memories of my own "Rome" rushing back. Things were so good back then weren't they? So much more simple than now. I can't tell you how much I long for those days back sometimes. Very well written.. I love this It is going straight in my library . TaraB |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Thanks, Tara. We probably all have our own "Rome" somewhere in the annuls of our minds and hearts... I am honored to be included in your library. -MVS |
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Zinsser Senior Member
since 2001-02-27
Posts 1641Calif. |
Mark Now that is what I call Great!!! I grew up by the ocean and yes had a "Rome" of my own too I have written one called Lifes Force about the Ocean its here somewhere LOL Thanks Connie |
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SEA
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
a ways North......mine is 10 mile beach..... and bit further North.....Samoa....( off Eureka ) I relate to this completely.....you write lovely |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Hi Connie; thank you for the compliment. I'd love to read your poem if you can point me in its direction... -MVS "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Hi SEA. I'm not familiar with the area you describe, but I imagine that if it's like the rest of the northern California coastline, it must be beautiful too. Thank you for the kind words. -MVS "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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SEA
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
Mark~ it's amazing it's not like the beaches down south....these beaches are more of recreational beaches, for like dirt bikes and quad runners....quiet overcast, moody skies (usually) not much in the way of tanning LOL no crowds unless something special was going on... |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
SEA, can you even call them "beaches" down south? After Carmel Beach and Asilomar Beach in Monterey, it truly is all relative to only the best of the tropics... Sounds like Big Sur beaches and such, what you describe... -MVS "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Enjoyed this..James |
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SEA
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
honestly, I haven't been very far down south....at least beaches wise....just what I've seen on tv (sad, I know) it just looks gross.....all those people crammed onto a beach....yuck....no thanks.....I prefer a moody cloudy stormy beach/sky.....I like being able to walk for miles without running into but a handful of people that nod and leave you to your thoughts |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Thank you James. SEA, I hear you completely and concur -- some places are meant for solitude or a simple company of true friends and loved ones... -MVS "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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athena4 Senior Member
since 2000-12-10
Posts 622 |
Mark, What a beautiful journey you have taken me back to to my own "Rome". All the sights, and smells come rushing back, and we know deep in our hearts, we have never left... A wonderful write! Elise |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Mark, this is very nice, nostalgic, and written beautifully. I like Windandsea beach in LaJolla. Ever been there? Sandra |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Hi Elise, thank you for your positive response; I'm glad that I could share a very personal reflection and have others relate to it. It's truly satisfying when one can can positively influence another. There's just too much negativity out there right now, and seems like we here are all doing our tiny parts in putting some love back into this world of ours... Sandra, thank you too for the kind words. Isn't La Jolla down towards San Diego? I may have been there once, extremely briefly, en-route to the San Diego Zoo, but other than that, I can't claim to be familiar with it. I'm sure it, like so many other places, has its beautiful spots, but honestly, I'm hoplessly biased towards the Monterey Peninsula... -MVS "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
This is beautiful... what a great memory to have! *S* |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Thank you, Suthern -- indeed, it's a memory that's a part of who I am. Thanks for reading it. -MVS "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
I don't really have a Rome...unless you could call a quarry where we all gathered to swim and make friendships and eventually marry....pleasant memories, almost a wistfulness about them. *s ~Wynter "The worst prison would be a closed heart". |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
That's EXACTLY what "Rome" is, Wynter! We all have our own, whether it's a pearl of paradise on the CA coastline, or a desolate rock quarry in the Midwest... it's simply a magical spot that has personal significance to ourselves and our friends -- a place where memories were made, good times had, and Wisdom learned... -MVS "If you think you know it all, you have a lot to learn." |
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