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Open Poetry #38
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XOx Uriah xOX
Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403
Virginia

0 posted 2006-08-25 05:58 AM



Napoleon Solo
playing in the back yard.
Chased away by a stranger
in a rusty yellow car.

"Can you tell me how to get to
mumble mumble?"

Struggling to understand
Stepping closer
Sir?

"How do I get to Peter   burg?"

Black hair
slicked back
greasy
puffy face
also greasy

Petersburg?

"Yeah,
Peter   burg"

laughter

I didn't get the joke
Too young to understand.

Stop sign
Right turn
Cross tracks
You're there.

"Can I play with you?"

Sir?

"I'll give ya a quarter
if you let me play with you"

I understood

No sir

"How 'bout you play with me?"

No sir

"Well, thanks for the directions
Heres a quarter anyway"

I reached out for the coin

Caught  !
Strong hand !
Greasy !
Hairy arm !
Pulling !

My hand on...

once
twice

moan

three

"Oh, that was nice ! "

shoving the coin
into my palm
"Thanks boy ! "

drove away

I walked back to the house
quarter held tight
squeezing fist
ashamed
not wanting to
see it

Easing open
the screen door
into the kitchen
slow
silent

I placed it on
the window sill
next to the sink.

The rest of the day
and into the evening
the light reflected off it
hurting my eyes
piercing my brain
searing my heart

Soon as I would enter the kitchen
There it was...
larger than the stove
dwarfing the refrigerator

"Larry", Mama called
Standing at the sink
washing the dishes

Yes ma'm ?

"Did you put a quarter
on the window sill ?"

Yes ma'm

"Where did you get it ?"

A man gave it to me
for giving him directions.

You can have it Mama.

Many years would pass
before I could stand the
sight of Robert Vaughn

© Copyright 2006 Larry F. Leake - All Rights Reserved
elisalie16
Member
since 2006-07-12
Posts 118
new jersey
1 posted 2006-08-25 06:05 AM


this is incredibly heart wrenching
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
2 posted 2006-08-25 11:10 PM



hard to read
but so necessary...
thank you for sharing Larry
had to be difficult

Kate

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