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Open Poetry #15
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Jimmy Beggs 1953-1978
| Open Poetry #15 |
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Jimmy Beggs 1953-1978 |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533
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One more than a dirty dozen we in our extended family, semi urban adolescents learning to spread our wings to free, some abused, some neglected, in our "gang" we felt protected, metamorphic teens resented that by none were we respected. Braun schoolyard was "where it's at" there we lied, smoked, drank, cursed, spat, too we sang, fought, Loved, play games, some shot hoops while others sat. Tightly knit each found his niche, stands on race and war were switched, we all had some wild nicknames that really stuck if you dare *****. Oh, the stories I might tell, there for hours I could dwell, police and others thought us dregs believed our futures led to hell. In that coming of the age, aquarius and "Nam's" rage, we smoked weed and stole beerkegs drifting off to girls engage. But my writing's at this point, from days of LSD and joints, boys now range lawyers and yeggs in life succeed and disappoint, would be the quiet of the group, some even thought him just our dupe, bispeckled, plain, thin, near all leg, who in those years shared with us a stoop. Some found fortune and they like her, others restless (I hichhiker), the path chosen by Jimmy Beggs was to be a big bad biker. So tattoo'd he roared around, pack of lowlifes he'd surround, naive girls they would debauch, lifestyle sure to run aground. Last night he came to me in a dream, his simple features sad it seemed a kinder memory's stopwatch where his innocence is redeemed. Jimmy took an acid trip, lost patience with another's lip outside a bar in McKees Rocks a punctuated silver tip. Hallucinated life was freed, doubtless at a tortured speed, lynch mob's melting faces gawked at growing crimson circles bleed. Some schoolyard boys would later hoist to toast their old friend in one voice, but not his outline made of chalk nor the quiet boy's ill fated choice. "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to decieve" |
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| © Copyright 2001 Richard S. Wells jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Powerful story; crafted form; lingering thoughts... Your writing hits home, Richard. Very well crafted. -MVS "When you tell the Truth, you never have to remember what you just said." |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
WOW! Richard that was one hell of a story! Extremely well done, and the last stanza was dynamite! Kudos, on an excellent poem, psst..festival material! ~If you have a choice to sit down or dance, I hope that you dance~ |
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Lone Wolf Member Ascendant
since 2000-03-16
Posts 5842Lansing, MI USA |
You told this story well. Drew me in from the beginning and just didn't let go. Very good write. All writing comes |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
I realize that some of what I am compelled to write may make some uncomfortable, but I can only draw from my experiences since I lack the imagination of other more fanciful writers. Poor Jimmy Beggs died on a sidewalk in a sleezy part of Pittsburgh and no one should have to do that. Sure it was his choice but imagine (if you can) being on acid when your life slips away. I don't hale from the land of flora and fauna and occasionally I will draw from some very guttural experiences. "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to decieve" |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
powerful story, I'm glad you made it through it can't unscramble eggs, but you may help others from scrambling theirs with your stories |
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Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
this read like a ballad, a very real story and it was refreshing yet tragic, of course. Sounds like a neighborhood I remember.... "It's easier to kill love than to nurture it" Fred Hardesty |
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Lady In White
since 2001-02-12
Posts 2799USA |
Ah yes...we need to read all kinds, for that is what life is weaved of.... |
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Victoria
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869 |
i find the true life experiences more captivating..this was very well written.  ~Victoria~ |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
What a powerful story. Sorry to hear what happens to some people. |
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