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Open Poetry #29
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A November Day (reposted from #23)
| Open Poetry #29 |
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A November Day (reposted from #23) |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533
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That 42 degree day found the Merrimack full and towering Red Maple's broad leaves mostly fallen and burnt in death. Yet some splay in rust with yellow veins. A pair of New Hampshire state employees walked off the late lunch of the near retired, past Franklin Pierce's grave as cool winds ushered on November's debris. One reach down to snag a leaf from the low growing Checkerberry, pinching it to draw it's wintergreen scent. A slightly warmer Scranton found young mothers pass the last school hours in Nay Aug Park. Littered with dark brown acorns it's Northern Red Oak skirted with deep furrowed bark, branches still clinging to most it's bright red, sharp point leaves. Large Fothergilla shrubs display blue-green and russet leaves. Two boys play hooky in the tallest oak after tiring of skipping rocks across the Lackawanna River. A third generation dairy farmer sat quiet on an Appalachian ridge over Henry Lake. He lean against the marbled trunk of a Paperbark Maple and watched the V shaped valley for a deer. In the lower 47 degree vale on loamy soil grew Wintersweet, sparsely displaying sulpher yellow flowers. He drew on his Lucky Strike not caring if he saw prey. He was content with the fragrance and peace of his beloved Tennessee. In Dallas it was 58 degrees. A limousine sped to a hospital with a dead man and his pretty wife. |
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| © Copyright 2003 Richard S. Wells jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I remember. Welcome home! |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
RSWells Nice to see you back, well done and I was dreaming till you brought me back. Enjoyed |
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Dee Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330Queensland, Australia |
Interesting peice, thought provoking. And what were you doing that day?  Dee Stand straight and tall, not the reflection as others see you, but as you truely are. Clearwater |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Were you one of the boys playing hooky that day? I was sitting in my French class, reciting passages from Voltaire and Rousseau for an oral exam. The screams in the hallway stopped me in mid-sentence....it was one of those moments burned into the core of forever. Camelot had fallen. Richard, it's so good to read you again, you have been greatly missed.  |
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1slick_lady Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088standing on a shadow's lace |
OMG richard...i am so happy to see you...e mail me...helen (great poetry btw as always) |
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wandering glider Senior Member
since 2001-04-04
Posts 501aloft |
As vivid as yesterday. |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
glad to have a repost...good to have you back around |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
It's nice to read you again. I think those of us old enough will always remember exactly what they were doing at the moment they heard about this tragedy. |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
This poem I had not forgotten. It has as much impact on me now as it did the first time that I read it. You are a marvellous poet, Dear Richard, and you have been sorely missed. Warm, welcome-back hugs, (you are back?!?) Linda |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I still feel the pain of that day even now, and with all the televised documentaries over the past week, it has rekindled many old feelings as has your great poem. Welcome back Richard, nice to read you once more. |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
Thank you my friends, sorry I've been away. Too many reasons to go into. I was a 10 year old boy attending Saint Bonaventure Catholic school in Pittsburgh that friday afternoon. The entire school was in a church service when the nuns whispered down the pews "The president's been shot....the president's been shot" I recall sitting on our sunporch watching TV that Sunday and seeing Oswald silenced. The incident has had a lifelong effect on me and doubtless help contribute to my anti-establishment attitude. |
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inkedgoddess Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392Ohio |
in far rockaway ,queens, new york, a freckled face chubby little girl, that would one day become a siren, sat eating her curds and whey wondering why the teachers were all crying and sending us home...... |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Well said Mr. Wells. We will never forget that day. Hugs~ ~I've loved you forever, in lifetimes before~ |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
I followed you south just now... me? all I can remember is being in chorus when the news came over the intercom...and then actually watching the shooting of Oswald on tv as it was happening... nice to see you again  M |
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