»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #27
»
Cooper
| Open Poetry #27 |
|
Cooper |
|
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738
|
He's made of Mississippi mud burnt umber and yellow eyes I watched him wade into the mighty where he knew there was a tree hollowed by the tide of time and he'd bait the opening I watched him in amazement when he pulled a catfish from the stump hugged it tightly to his chest and brought it to me-oh-so-proud A big she-fish she must have weighed well over twenty pounds-- he told me we'd have lunch that day but said her eggs were just for him. I think of Jim as a Huck Finn he never could walk right in shoes and he would trap the nutria I shuddered when I saw the skins stretched in the sun to dry... he never could hold down a job but lived according to the sun offshore work and roustabout and sometimes he would pick up cash trawling with the old timers-- he had a knack for finding shrimp. I guess that he's retired now, and he doesn't look quite right the contrast doesn't play too well against the stiff white hospice sheets. He told me that he knows that he will not live to see next year and that the only thing he'd miss was the taste of ice cold beer that, and mud between his toes while bathing in the Mississip... Then we both laughed at his joke because he never would deny that he weren't right in the head-- he smiled and said that he has proof offical chemotherapy as tumors fight his brain for space-- a war within his skull. Then we talked "remember when" in the days we worked the stage-- how management would toss a fit when they saw that Jim showed up-- how I always had to state that "Yes, it's TRUE he's with the band" they always thought he was homeless and technically I guess he was, I knew then what I know now Cooper has no need of walls-- as long as there's a river's flow-- Jim will have a home. Once again, yes, once again a dying man said "please don't cry..." |
||
| © Copyright 2003 serenity blaze - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Ishmael Member
since 2003-06-01
Posts 51 |
Noodling for she-fish and a lump in his noodle. This is a mighty sad and fine bit of reading. That I would one day be so honored, is a dream. Ish |
||
Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Touching....absolutely touching. I'm so glad I stopped to read. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
serenity...Sorry, don't have the right words ....except this touched me, you touch me.  |
||
|
icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Excellent. Just enough "self" to carry the load. Thank you for sharing this. |
||
|
Edder Senior Member
since 2003-04-02
Posts 671 |
you my dear, have a beautiful mind. |
||
|
Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Gosh, darn....sheesh...speechless here Ser. This is so very touching. |
||
|
suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Ah, gal... this grabs the heart and doesn't let loose... wonderful write! |
||
|
vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Karen...you already know...so just more "...until you have read the verse on his heart, |
||
|
brian sites Senior Member
since 2002-06-25
Posts 1475usa |
sigh you have shown us.... US again and yet you bear the pain you are GOLD and I hug you like diamond |
||
|
littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
God Karen . . . enough of this already This was so heartfelt Here I am all enthralled in reading this "tale" and then the ending and then I look up to see what Bri wrote . . . You guys are trying to make me cry xxoo |
||
garysgirl 
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Once again, yes, once again a dying man said "please don't cry..." Karen, you have the biggest heart, Lady.... and it shows, my friend.......in this and all your poetry. Thank you for sharing this with us. Heart hugs to you... Ethel |
||
|
passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
 god this is so sad! geez! what an awesome write![This message has been edited by passing shadows (06-24-2003 03:23 AM).] |
||
|
Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
You know the most interesting people, and I love seeing you celebrate their lives, and mourn their passing with your celebrations. |
||
|
Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
you know... dang it... |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
"I think of Jim as a Huck Finn he never could walk right in shoes" I am jealous that I didn't know him... Susan |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Thank you. That's all. Just...thank You. |
||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
ah, the only thanks necessary are from me to all of ya'll. And he's a loveable kind of guy, too. I wish he had a pc, I'm sure he would love to hear from you all. But all prayers are welcome, I assure you. As you can tell, he's also a non-denominational sorta guy. His only church is the Mississippi River.  Thanks.  |
||
|
Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Oops! I had almost missed reading about Cooper! You've immortalized him! Gotta love a man who loves the Mighty Mississippi!--and the person who writes about both of them!  Love & Light, EA |
||
|
Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
From the first lines I felt a little Twain, but this is undeniable K country..yer an amazing storyteller |
||
|
Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
Karen, I was sitting here wondering why tears were welling in my eyes. Then I remembered an elderly male friend of my husband....named Normy. He lived all alone in a little handmade shanty in the country. No indoor plumbing, and wild ferrel cats all over the place. But, oh, what stories Normy could tell....and all true. The dirt road he lived on was not driven much....so if you did not know him, you would never have even known he existed. We did. We would take him food and warm blankets for winter. It was a sad day when he passed. Although he was found in his little makeshift bed, our blanket gift as a cover and a half drank bottle of home made wine beside him. Oh - and a smile on his face! Thanks Karen. You have brought back memories for me and probably many other readers to-day. You are one awesome lady. Never change. hugs, Chris "Said you'd give me light... |
||
|
timothysangel1973
since 2001-12-03
Posts 1725Never close enough |
Very enjoyable! |
||
|
Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Touching write dearest Karen ~ Excellent ARCTIC WIND |
||
|
redheart angrybraids Member
since 2000-04-16
Posts 410honolulu, hawaii |
Traveling Wilburys and the walls came down. Kindly, |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
