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Open Poetry #16
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The Lady of Shallot
Senior Member
since 2001-10-03
Posts 818
USA

0 posted 2001-11-06 12:34 PM


I was seven, maybe eight,
climbing chutes and ladders.
You took my board away from me,
locked me in my room for days
with nothing to eat.
I thought I had lost.

Scrabble spelled out four
letter words
I didn't understand
and jumbled messages
meant to taunt me.  
I thought I had lost.

I was twelve, maybe thirteen.
I wanted to buy Boardwalk,
maybe Park Place
you took me to a hotel…..
The stakes were too high,
I didn't have enough
cash on hand to buy back my innocence.
I thought I had lost.

Maybe I was sixteen and I
wanted to go to the prom.
The prom is a special time….
a girl looks forward to it.
Someone invited me.
You ripped my dress to shreds
with a pair of scissors
and called me a terrible name.
He never called me again.
There was no dance,
no moonlight kissin'
no memories.
I thought I had lost.

Maybe now, the years have
backed up on
me and I'm a child again.

I'm climbing another ladder.
One where the sun
shines in phrases.
Where the stars link together
in dotted sentences that speak to me.

I not just passing GO,
I running past it, releasing myself from
jail and I own the board.
I need no money, my words
are the treasure God gave.

My scrabble is poetry,
where everything spells
out my heart, my soul and my emotions.
If they
are jumbled, I'll throw them
up in the air and
start over…..until I get it right.

And I've been to the prom.
The most special one
I ever had in my life.  
No one can take that away
from me.   No one!

For you see, I never lost.
I was always the daughter
you could never
fully control and why was that?
Because God made me a winner
that's why.

You lost…you lost me….
but you never really had me
because you cannot cheat a person
out of their soul.

"Winner take all"

What do I take, what do I have?

poetry
my emotions
everything beautiful
kindness
all that is sacred
and all that is pure.

So I say to you…winner take all.
I write it down, one last time,
I let it go,
I release it.

If you're reading
this from wherever you are, know one thing.
The only way I can possibly lose anymore
is to continue wallowing in it.

I'm going to stand beneath a wellspring-
someplace fresh,
fill myself with peace and why?

Because I know the only game
you're playing now is solitaire.



-befriend yourself and you will never be alone-



[This message has been edited by The Lady of Shallot (edited 11-06-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 The Lady of Shallot - All Rights Reserved
Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

1 posted 2001-11-06 12:46 PM


I'm climbing another ladder.
One where the sun
shines in phrases.
Where the stars link together
in dotted sentences that speak to me.


I not just passing GO,
I running past it, releasing myself from
jail and I own the board.
I need no money, my words
are the treasure God gave.

My scrabble is poetry,
where everything spells
out my heart, my soul and my emotions.
If they
are jumbled, I'll throw them
up in the air and
start over…..until I get it


And I've been to the prom.
The most special one
I ever had in my life.  
No one can take that away
from me.   No one.

For you see, I never lost.
I was always the daughter
you could never
fully control and why is that?
Because God made me a winner
that's why.

You lost…you lost me….
but you never really had me
because you cannot cheat a person
out of their soul.

=================================


Seems to me you now write the rules for the "game" ...
seems to me you are well on your way to "getting it right"
Keep climbing that ladder Lady S ...
theres no place left to go but up now
very very very impressive write.
take care of you
jm



Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
2 posted 2001-11-06 12:58 PM


You are now in complete control of the keys to your door, your heart, and your soul. You climbed the highest of all ladders, and you didn't fall. There are several others I know who could greatly benefit from reading this. I will share it, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing it with me. It is a very healing, encouraging poem.
Duncan
Member Ascendant
since 2001-08-07
Posts 5455

3 posted 2001-11-06 01:07 PM


My scrabble is poetry,
where everything spells
out my heart, my soul and my emotions.
If they
are jumbled, I'll throw them
up in the air and
start over…..until I get it right

This is the most incredible poem.  The strength, the resolve, the acceptance of it...all amazing.
I really like your style of writing.  It's very unique.

Professor Gloom
Member Elite
since 2000-07-23
Posts 3082
of Depression
4 posted 2001-11-06 01:13 PM


In games played
I’m seldom the winner,
I even lose at solitaire,
But in the game of life,
As the cards are dealt, the tokens moved,
The dice rolled, spinner spun,
The most important part is the playing on your own terms.
If you do this, you are the winner.

Gloom

The Lady of Shallot
Senior Member
since 2001-10-03
Posts 818
USA
5 posted 2001-11-06 01:44 PM


Janet Marie, thanks hon, just one I had to get out. You are very special to me!

Midnitesun: thank you and you just show it to anyone you want ok?

Duncan, well, I didn't really craft it, I just rolled the dice and wrote it! Thank you for reading.

Prof....yes, all that and more. thank you


-befriend yourself and you will never be alone-

[This message has been edited by The Lady of Shallot (edited 11-06-2001).]

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
6 posted 2001-11-06 02:21 PM


We all need to find our road to happiness...as your poem illustates some have a lot farther to travel then others...James
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
7 posted 2001-11-06 02:50 PM


Don't ever look back, not even in retrospect. Banish it from your mind and keep climbing....skyward.
The Lady of Shallot
Senior Member
since 2001-10-03
Posts 818
USA
8 posted 2001-11-06 04:10 PM


James Michael, yes, we all have journeys, thank you for reading and I hope this wasn't too depressing.

Balladeer, I will never, ever look back. Looking back is confusing, can't think clearly and you don't see how beautiful the world is and the sky!  Into the archieves with this one....the sooner the better ... thank you.

I'm climbing right now through a poem I'm working on....


Oh! The color, the sunrise, the sky when it’s blue
and the fields where the daylily sings!
There’s a thunder of magic, a mingle of hue
so believing, she opens her wings!

She’s no moth anymore, but a monarch in flight
and her colors are vivid and pure.
Flying bold through the sunlight without knowing why…..

haven’t finished this yet!




-befriend yourself and you will never be alone-

[This message has been edited by The Lady of Shallot (edited 11-06-2001).]

Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136
Mobile, AL
9 posted 2001-11-06 08:09 PM


stunning and direct from the soul you never lost. I love this!

Sometimes the heart needs the solace of solitude and silence.

Startime
Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918
Canada
10 posted 2001-11-06 08:19 PM


STANDING OVATION!!!!YOU HAVE SAID IT ALL FOR YOU ARE TRULY A WINNER!!!BRAVO!!!

Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams.

Tracey
Member Elite
since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808
where insanity meets breeding
11 posted 2001-11-06 10:14 PM


Wow, this is one powerful piece of writing Lady. I could pick out some lines, but they are all so very good. A very amazing piece of poetry.
No, just went back for another read. There is one stanza that really stands out for me

I not just passing GO,
I running past it, releasing myself from
jail and I own the board.
I need no money, my words
are the treasure God gave.

Those lines speak of a new found freedom, a new found peace.

If she who dies with the most toys wins, then can I have some toy boys please?

Mistletoe Angel
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Empyrean
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon
12 posted 2001-11-06 10:25 PM




(sigh) Sooooooo beautiful! Your words of courage and strength fill all your wonderful words! I LOVE IT!!! (smiles) You are playing Solitaire, and in every Parcheesi game fate can never blockade you! (big hugggssssss) BRAVO!!! (kiss on cheek) You have such a beautiful heart, sweet lady, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
13 posted 2001-11-06 10:33 PM


This is just so powerful...anything I wanted to say has already been said!  Potent piece here and so very very well written!
~hugs, Nancy~

~I've loved you forever, in lifetimes before.~

The Lady of Shallot
Senior Member
since 2001-10-03
Posts 818
USA
14 posted 2001-11-07 09:44 AM


thank you each of you------(((((HUGS)))))))

-befriend yourself and you will never be alone-

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