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Open Poetry #38
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222 homicides in Philadelphia
| Open Poetry #38 |
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222 homicides in Philadelphia |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296
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and so alone, on Philadelphia tarmac lights illuminating recycled wolf howls over The Museum can you feel them knawing your skin? seeping beneath your flesh with a blood threatening atmosphere riding the Expressway with odd misshapen hues everywhere to nowhere going postal & born to be wild Will Smith marches for an end to violence mournful ears read the words of missing children mocking birds play raunchy bass heavy music pounding out a killer’s ransom red eyes blazing anger out of the darkness like fat slices of stalking déjà vu explosive stabbing mobs of crime sigh an upsurge of inmates on death row while the signs on jails shout “no vacancy” grimacing screams in playgrounds bouncing on the streets children curled up in fetal positions in the narrow alleys of poverty secluded pathways of drug runners kids owned by the hood billowing mysteries of legal failures (mayor street?) living in bell jars of beveled glass apprehension edges on the brink of everyday life putting an end to confidence growing skeletal remains wearisome living 5 floors below the surface with dark-paneled pubs pushers & pimps of a worldly hell vomiting freshly spilled blood a siren’s call in the distance shifting eyes of some swinging door monumentally erupting guns then... another... fallen... police officer responding to the sum pierced empty sidewalks with sharp blades of sludge hidden turnstiles of souls where children go at age four and through the visor of mind refuge screams in terror “the kid’s zones”… offered on Ogontz Ave “Stop-snitching” T-Shirts victimize their next targets going against everything we know while agony of surviving families...friends have grave decisions to hold the American Dream becomes something that goes bump in the night ************************************ 222 homicides in Philadelphia as of Tuesday, July 25, 2006 sorry, it just gets to ya after a while [This message has been edited by LeeJ (07-28-2006 07:13 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2006 Lee J. - All Rights Reserved | |||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
oh my, Lee, it is this kind of scene which shakes my faith (tho I really have no faith anymore anyway). Thank you dear friend, for the kind email. It is people like you who renew the remnants of what I once held onto as faith in humankind's ability to turn the world around. Lately, it seems, I can only trust a very small handful of people to be sincere and, with motives that are altruistic, not born of greed or some other suspicious ulterior motives. And the lack of caring, lack of willingness to take actions to change directions that don't involve violence and retaliation..shoves my heart and soul into a deep dirty ditch, waiting for the shovelful with my name on it. But I am not done yet. I listen to the birds, look at the sky when it is clear, smell the flowers, and walk the pathway in spite of the boulders. It's easy to do when the path is in a small, relatively safe town. Not so easy for someone in Philly, or other major cities teeming with so many layers of life and death. You wrote it with much intensity, true gritty lenses focussed on the stench of it, especially how it impacts the four year olds. That turnstile line really got me. Thank you for being able to write such truths, the news we want to ignore because it is so devastatingly real, and often in our own backyards. |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Excellent write Lee J. I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in... (Yeah...Yeah... Oh, Yeahaaaaaaaaaaaa)... Thanks for reminding me. Big Hug  JL  Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
You write it so well Lee! Sitting here shaking my head.. what's to come of us? Love ya, Nancy For it was not into my ear you whispered But into my heart.. It was not my lips you kissed But my soul. |
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aziza Member Elite
since 2006-07-09
Posts 2995Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy! |
This poem has so much power. After reading it, I was listening to NPR and there was a man talking about the murder rate going up in larger cities. Boston and Philidelphia were mentioned -- I flashed back to your poem and listened to him more intently. That is power and that is a wonderful thing in a poem. Thank you. aziza |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
senseless  what an outstanding write that just made me sit in awe very powerful Lee |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Lee, check your e-mail. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
"The City of Brotherly Love". Well described. Sorry, it is too rampant everywhere.. You are a master at description. love ya. martyjo [This message has been edited by latearrival (07-27-2006 11:23 PM).] |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Visiting Baltimore Lee, I get the same feelings and hear the same news... and I am between the two cities...sort of safe for now...but as the move towards the country increases, so does the crime rate even in surrounding towns. I have lived here in this area over 30 years and have only heard of 3 murders in all that time... even that is 3 too many. think I will stay put...but I wish something could be done to help those who have to live among it... a good descriptive write Lee stay safe  M |
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Goldenrose Member Elite
since 2003-05-30
Posts 3665 |
This poem shows the great importance that poetry has to to tell and inform in such an explosive way...Lee this is what ALL poets should do from time to time and not be afraid to do so...an excellent write but so harrowing..thank you.. Goldenrose. |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
Powerful work... stark truth. Well done LeeJ. |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Look on the bright side....most of them are on people who would be likely to do the same thing themselves, if you put any stock in statistics....so maybe they're thinning themselves out, like overplanted weeds. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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divine chaos Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617dancing 'neath the moon |
powerful write, LeeJ very powerful I'm originally from Chicago, still have family there ... I shudder to think of that life anymore I'm so glad to live in the country now where I can let my baby play outside unattended, leave the doors unlocked and open when I run to the store, and walk safely in the street even after dark *hugs tight* ~*Sheli*~ By words the mind is winged |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Well done, Lee! |
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Bonnie j Senior Member
since 2003-06-27
Posts 1588Ohio |
Hi there LeeJ. Yes we do live in troubled times. I just wrote a prayer for all the children of earth. A PRAYER IN TROUBLED TIMES. Tears of sadness, tears of sadness for the mess we are in. It's like we are on a fast moving train that is out of control and we are not sure when it will stop or come to crashing halt. Hugs to you my friend. Be safe. Love BonBon  |
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