Open Poetry #31 |
Weight (carrying baggage) |
ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
The boy, about five Started sagging, already gathering Baggage to carry through life "Big boys don't cry", His mother (Embarrassed) by candy demands, (Placed at kid-eye height) Slaps him: "Just wait 'till I tell your father" Pack-straps dig deep into tiny shoulders. * Ten years pass And his thoughts are of different confection, Fantasies change, becoming bolder He arranges slicks of penthouse pets, and playboy bunnies beneath His pillow, lives out lusty dreams Of them, physical; is caught In tactile acts, touching tangibles Told he will burn in hell and his ears will grow, For sleeping with paper devils; Snatching up another heavy satchel. * Seventy fifth in a class of one hundred "You will go nowhere in life" Says his divorced mother, "just like your father". Under a cardboard hat, he wonders If she was right..burger grease stings His eyes but tonight he will be drunk And happy, the beat goes on, In the song refrains of his sire, Same tune, different generation. He cannot touch, but feels the burden That the hidden music bears.... Brass knobs of a heavy trunk, Loaded with foul syncopation Weighs heavy on his heart, Presses hard, and bruises his chest. * Myriads of digs and stabs Time went on, seemed like forever Hung on a cross held upright by others, In chains, dragged through familial history Until someone came along To break those iron-links of bonds. * Saved, when all was near lost, In splif smoke and phones shut off; Appears, the angel of love to save him Lifting conditionings heavy weight; Confirming his worth, by encouraging, Exposeing what made him vulnerable In long and bloody, mental battles. * Sometimes... only love can heal The wounds of slings and verbal arrows, Can bring hope, by slow, persistent salving Of old wounds and held in rage Sometimes... comes along a one That cuts that cage of bars, Begins, to lift the heavy burden; Then love and hard work starts to heal The welts and scars, Of life-long carried baggage. |
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© Copyright 2004 ford hume - All Rights Reserved | |||
Michelle_loves_Mike
since 2003-12-20
Posts 1189Pennsylvania |
Ice, so true, so true, so true,,,,,we are heaped upon for years,,,,,to be saved from a grave of acceptance and compliance,,,,,wonderful write,,,hits home in so many ways with this reader,,,my saviour came,,,,,,I was a lucky one Michelle I wish all could find the true happiness I have found,,in the eyes of Mike |
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McLean Member
since 2004-01-05
Posts 484state of marital bliss |
I can tell much care was put into the selection of your words here. Quite a heavy subject for discussion, and you do it well here. Perfect description: "Just wait 'till I tell your father" Pack-straps dig deep into tiny shoulders. It does start young, and in ways many adults don't see the lashes that scar. Great display from you this morning, Ice. McLean |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
ice - many memories read here. Touching it is, and a touching write... BC |
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Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
ice - I say Brava !! to one exceptional piece of writing. Library bound!! Chris "At one glance |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
ice Well you melted the ice in my ice tea this morning. Excellent write and the symbols on your line will catch many a fish. LOL |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
excellent story well written |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
ice Love can heal many a thing. A wonderful, sensitive and thought-filled poem! |
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1slick_lady Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088standing on a shadow's lace |
thats right...it just takes 1...to save us from ourselves...h |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(big angel hugs) Oh Ford, this so deeply touched my heart as I am still young and never want to lose my spirit of the inner-child, dearest friend, as I would be heartbroken if I lost it! (sigh) I believe one should always keep the baby boy or girl in ones heart blanketed and that it is okay for boys to cry as it is a strength and sows ones feelings and emotions! God Bless You, sweet friend, yay, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Ford, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Michelle Yes, "sometimes" a "savior comes....seems so in your life and the life of the fictitious boy in this poem...actually the boy is real, I did see him in the supermarket with his mother....the rest I made up in my mind...thanks for commenting.....:-) * McLean It is hard to believe that statements such as this are still used by women "Just wait 'till I tell your father" I think it gives boys the idea that women are powerless in situations...Thank you for the reply * Bill C. Some of these memories are mine also, not all but enough that it took years to subdue them...Thanks for reading....:-) * Chris Thank you....I love the quote from Hatnun * Seymour Thank you for reading and commenting. Symbols don't put fish in the pan.....lol * P.S. Thank you for reading and commenting....:-) * Martie Yes, love can heal, in my mind it is the only medicine that works..thank you for the reply....:-) * Slick "it just takes one ("sometimes")to save us from ourselves" you got that right...great line for a different poem...thank you for commenting....:-) * Noah I always enjoy your heart warming replies....thank you ....:-) |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
"Saved, when all was near lost, In splif smoke and phones shut off; Appears, the angel of love to save him Lifting conditionings heavy weight; Confirming his worth, by encouraging, Exposeing what made him vulnerable In long and bloody, mental battles." Wonderful imagery. This was a tremendous poem and gave me hope for my son. I don't understand what men go through in growing up; I know it's different for them than us women and maybe, in some ways, harder, and sometimes it's hard for a mother to understand what's going on in her son's mind. Thank you for writing this. |
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