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Open Poetry #36
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Poster Son
| Open Poetry #36 |
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Poster Son |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass 
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Poster Son I remember how he filled his room with blue, with sky over luscious waves over sky, those poster prints that tracked up walls and over, even the ceiling, all that antigravity water to tumble him away, to a place so blue you couldn’t notice the paint was aging from it, pocked with tacks on tacks and the stiff squarish blots left over from the old days, when even athletic tape would hold them, if that’s what he had. One day I noticed a picture had fallen, and I put it back for him. Later there were others, but he seemed not to notice, so I left them like leaves falling piecemeal in a slow blue autumn, until the walls went bare again. The last few fell together, one moment there, then gone. I still have those walls, festooned with marks and holes under their flat sheen of spackle and new paint, and I have a son off tumbling somewhere, maybe into the blue. |
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| © Copyright 2005 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ed I'm glad you posted this...it seems just the right time. It's hard to let go, but so necessary!  |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
My heart this morning, Ed. You wrote it. With one gone and her room about like that, and another on the way soon....this definitely captured my vision. ....jo |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
We're in the middle of the re-do right now, and I've spackled at least a thousand nail and tack holes..... ....when it came time to choose the paint, we decided on two colors for the walls...blue and blue, of course! ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> ______________Ratleader______________ |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Sure to touch a strident chord in the hearts of many empty-nesters ~ or those who are about to be. I know it has in me... Linda |
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CastleGuard Senior Member
since 2003-04-30
Posts 760Alberta, Canada |
I read you well, Ed. CG |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Sooooo.....dead-center in the rewriting of this room, my other son decides to have a meeting of a group he's in, at our house....maybe twenty people tonight, in a home that seldom sees more than one visitor at a time.... Meanwhile, we had "everything" out of that room, including furniture (most to be discarded) and all the effluvia that Poster Boy had to leave behind because a tiny apartment wouldn't hold all of his and his new bride's things.....it was almost....groan....midnight last night, before we got everything put away and the house back in shape...... ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> ______________Ratleader______________ |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I still have those walls, festooned with marks and holes under their flat sheen of spackle and new paint, and I have a son off tumbling somewhere, maybe into the blue. I love this... both as poetry and as a look into purest love. There is pain in letting go... (besides the physical labor of remodeling *G*) but also pride in the man who grew from boy in that room... you've shared both so beautifully!!! And LOL at other son's timing with visitors... nothing like a little pressure to get the job done! LOL |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
I could have merrily strangled him! ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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Misty Lilacs Senior Member
since 2005-11-15
Posts 1060White Birch Forest |
Ah yes, the torn wallboard and tack marks. We quickly patched and painted and moved! |
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Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
How many memories are contained in this creation? Too many to count I suspect. It certainly raised a lot of memories of children and renovations for me. The last part about the boy tumbling into the blue was perfect. Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
From one empty nester to another... well done Ed...oh how I can relate. Hugs~Nancy ~ Trace my body with your words.. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
So...it was he who snuck off with the book then, could it be? If so...let me know... for I remember the room as I left it... and the rooms as they left them... and the rooms I now leave behind all on my very own. P.S. I have a story for you... |
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Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
..speechless... |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
brings back memories of when I just removed a wall and made the room go away it became part of the evening sky afterwards a place where visitors would sit and try to replace the laughter with their chatter enjoyed it ed |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
One day I noticed a picture had fallen, and I put it back for him. Later there were others, but he seemed not to notice, so I left them like leaves falling piecemeal in a slow blue autumn, until the walls went bare again. The last few fell together, one moment there, then gone. I so know this Ed. It seems like just yesterday those pictures so loved were replaced with new, more grown up things... well done sir, very well done... |
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aujussy wolf
since 2003-08-09
Posts 1215Michigan |
now thats an awesome write , i can tell this one is from the heart , the heart and soul of a father indeed , made me want to call my old man (dad wolf ) and say I miss ya man , peace ~wolfman |
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pictureme2 Member
since 2005-11-13
Posts 194 |
What a touching write. I could relate, I felt the pain and the joy....and it just kind of left me.....blue! Really enjoyed! pictureme2 |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
for me, this was so nicely done, it brought back very fond memories, one cannot help but smile while reading this...what we do for our children, and, what they have done for us...outstanding! |
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majnu
since 2002-10-13
Posts 1088SF Bay Area |
excellent. -majnu |
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luminosity Senior Member
since 2005-11-18
Posts 813 |
*smiling* sons are the nicest of people, and yes, hard, so very hard to let go of...sigh |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
beautiful, those last lines really tugged at me |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
There's a private irony for me in those last two lines, and a double entendre....he's spending all his free time and money now, on flying lessons -- because he wants to become an airline pilot....into the blue indeed! ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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silverwind Junior Member
since 2005-12-07
Posts 37that place over there |
Love the poem. The posters in my son's room used to annoy me,that was until his room was empty and he was serving in iraq. He's home now and it's strange, those posters? I don't even notice them. silverwind |
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silverwind Junior Member
since 2005-12-07
Posts 37that place over there |
Loved the read. My son has posters all over his room and they really used to annoy me, until that is, his room was empty and he was serving in iraq. He's home now and the strangest thing is, I don't even notice them posters now. silverwind |
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Startime55 Member Elite
since 2003-04-05
Posts 2148Alberta, Canada |
How could the vision painted by these words not touch the heart and bring a smile....You can't help but love them even when they are driving you crazy....A touching poem that I thoughly enjoyed....**big hugs** |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Ed, Yes those were the good times. And even better memories. Life is good. Nicely recalled. Thanks.  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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Goldenrose Member Elite
since 2003-05-30
Posts 3665 |
Ed ...it is strange how a simple thing like a hole from a poster or tape still on the wall can conjour memories...this awakened within me the attachment that everyday things have on us..thank you... Goldenrose. Desire for nothing except desirelessness,hope for nothing except to rise above all hopes, want nothing and you will have everything.avatar Meher Baba. |
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