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Open Poetry #36
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Meringue and Harbour Corner Hobo
| Open Poetry #36 |
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Meringue and Harbour Corner Hobo |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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These poems were not intended to be a pair. However, I wrote the second, very aware of the first, and I usually post them as a pair. Meringue July 1998 She goes about her nothing way Pointing plastic smiles at cardboard figures, Doing relatives and others on given dates at given times, As surely marked on some drab calendar. With effort she could spell compassion, but the homeless constitute a threat. She never wonders how or why. She fills her day with nothing things. She doesn’t know another way; She hasn’t walked damp forest paths; She doesn’t feel the sun’s kind touch; She hasn’t watched an eagle fly And craned her neck till it wants to break long after bird becomes the sky. Her outer crust has shunned the crisp sweet green of freshly mown grass. She’s heard of music, but hasn’t let it crumble her shell. Nor has she ever reached into a painting. Her thoughts have stretched once or twice … to leaking taps and travellers’ cheques. Three times she kept standing at her door and talked To her lonely calipered neighbour, But didn’t ask her in - you never know with them, she says. She once or twice poured tea for charity, but now she counts her money gleefully and flits from England’s cold to our sunny shores which are too hot then back to England - it passes time. Children and pets are not for her. They need …..someone. She has no future, nor past nor present. She goes about her nothing way. She doesn’t know that she doesn’t know nor that she just simply isn’t. - Owl Harbour Corner Hobo September 1998 You went about your something way. You lit your fire like clockwork every night, and scattered your spot with your litter, As though it was your dirty washing, your cushions, your shoes. You never glanced at passing cars. You were busy with primary tasks. Were you a recluse? A poet? Thief? An immigrant? Or were you merely temporarily unemployed? Did you look long and deep into your fire’s flame? Did you have enough to eat? Did you ever speak? And were you ever spoken to? Did you have a mind or was it destroyed by mankind or substance subservience? Were you content? Or miserable, cold and lonely? Did you ever beg? Who were you, really? And why are you no longer there? - Owl |
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| © Copyright 2005 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
owl Very observent...a good thing to be if you're a poet and storyteller. I wrote a series on the homeless at one time, in poetry, called "The Street".. It's here in the archives if you want to read. I really enjoyed this poetry....people everywhere are so much alike, for I have seen those that you write of, here in California. |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Extremely well written.. I so much enjoy your work. Hugs~Nancy ~ Trace my body with your words.. |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
this was tolerance and an abreviated awareness, enjoyable read...no, profound |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
These do work very well together... though both stand on their own. *S* Excellent work! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you Martie, Enchantress, LeeJ and Suthern. The first one was about my late stepmother (while she was still alive) and the second was about a hobo whom I passed in my car every day. - Owl |
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