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Open Poetry #36
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The Story Teller
| Open Poetry #36 |
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The Story Teller |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Story teller-my father: I heard his voice-last night Rise from silent shadows, Coming dreamwise ...he sat bedside- I was five again... His Pall Mall glowed, red: Though more than half-century Had passed- the brand turned orange- Each wheeze, swelling him larger Than death-Morphing him Into Uncle Remus; a nightly ritual, He performed for his children, Long before mortality Took away his story breath. And he began to sing An Old-South song, Though he lived mostly north (Virginia was his home) He sang in Old African- A language, stereotypical- Maybe, or perhaps a dialect Of pure Childrenese, a stirring Of Blue Ridge and Black-mouth Potions-spoken to conjure charms, In white magic patterns-woven From many colored threads- That he would spread Like warm fabric Over his wide-eyed children When time was for bed- But sandmen had slacked At shoveling tasks; The lyrics rising Into the night With opium effect. * Awakening, I found myself alone- He was gone! But clues exists- His visit was more than a dream; Stories, and their tellers Never die-are not like mortals, Sometimes they resurrect; The proof of this, Was in the tear stains On my pillow. |
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| © Copyright 2006 ford hume - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I almost thought you would speak of the ashes dusting the floor... but the tears were heart-rent enough... thank you for this... storyteller |
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scorpio Member Ascendant
since 2002-10-02
Posts 5178right...there |
You are a storyteller in your own right. This is powerfully moving. believe in what your heart feels... |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
ice He would be proud to read this. Well done my friend. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ford "The proof of this, Was in the tear stains On my pillow." and the way you told of him...the proof is in the love that never dies. A wonderful and poignant story!!  |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
and his legacy lives on, m'friend.  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
"Awakening, I found myself alone- He was gone! But clues exists- His visit was more than a dream; Stories, and their tellers Never die-are not like mortals, Sometimes they resurrect; The proof of this, Was in the tear stains On my pillow." Ford, you are indeed a fantastic story teller. This left me with a tear about to spill. Hugs~Nancy In the midst of winter, |
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inkedgoddess Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392Ohio |
he sounds like a colorful character and you were blessed to have such loving thoughts of him |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
I loved this - for so many reasons. Thank you ice. - Wide-eyed Owl |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
Remarkable work. "That he would spread Like warm fabric Over his wide-eyed children When time was for bed- But sandmen had slacked At shoveling tasks;" |
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Dominique-Simone Senior Member
since 2005-11-12
Posts 643 |
His Pall Mall glowed, red: Though more than half-century Had passed- the brand turned orange- Each wheeze, swelling him larger Than death-Morphing him Into Uncle Remus; a nightly ritual, He performed for his children, Long before mortality Took away his story breath Brilliant |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
"Stories, and their tellers Never die-are not like mortals, Sometimes they resurrect; The proof of this, Was in the tear stains On my pillow." aw now, you are makin the tears roll but that's ok, Ford ~they are tears of love and memories~ for me, it was Bull Duram? I remember little drawstring bags... |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
I'll tell another story, a true one These replies are cherished, each of them- I hold close to my heart. A story tellers aim Is to be understood... It seems I hve hit close to the mark.. Thank you, poet friends For the kind replies I love it when my stories Have effect on others emotions....  ________ _____ice . ><> |
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froggy Senior Member
since 2003-06-23
Posts 1893Michigan |
Good read hear Ford. I could see many images within the words. |
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pictureme2 Member
since 2005-11-13
Posts 194 |
Hello ice, I listened as a father told a story to a five year old...again! He sang a song and spread the warmth Yes some storytellers never die and storys live on...otherwise.... bitter sweet ..... Enjoyed the salt! sweet dreams! |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Did we have the same father? No, I'm not joking, although I know we didn't -- they had similar spirits, I think. My father's favorites were just about anything where he could take the role of the character and he especially liked Briar Rabbit and Uncle Remus and Mopsy, Flospy and Cotton Tale. Oh, and there was one very special story and I am not sure of the spelling, but it is pronounced "E Pam a Nontus" -- I think my sister, misc'e knows the origin and proper spelling; it is the family favorite and has been passed on by generation. Really kind of a cruel story, but it had a moral, as most of my father's stories had. Thanks for this dear memory. ....jo |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
A deeply moving write. I can't ever remember my father telling me a story and now suddenly it hurts. "Of pure Childrenese, a stirring Of Blue Ridge and Black-mouth Potions-spoken to conjure charms, In white magic patterns-woven From many colored threads-" Wonderful! Helen |
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littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Gosh, just had me one of those dreams and it kept me up. But this, Ford, is lovely and he visits you often. A beautiful thing, indeed. |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Such beautiful replies , I know make the spirit of the old story teller glow- bashful red, like his old Pall Mall.. Though mute now, like the tarbaby, who could not speak..sez me, for he "Ged moanin poetz".....cuz he lows he caint say nuttin. _________ ___ice/ford ><> |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
lol, and for some reason I am hearing a song my father sang, the old lamplighter...of long, long ago "his snowy hair was so much brighter beneath the candle glow the old lamplighter of long, long ago...." |
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