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Open Poetry #38
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Your Poverty
| Open Poetry #38 |
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Your Poverty |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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YOUR POVERTY 19 May 2006 Repulsed, and powerless to help you in your abject poverty, in frozen mind I saw and heard you on my television screen . . . and paralysed, I heard about your distorted values and your supercilious vanity and your six hundred pairs of shoes and your eight luxury cars and your imminent gift of a ninth from your husband two and a half times your age - there where you sat and frothed in the fur of how many animals? - Owl |
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| © Copyright 2006 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
Good write, Owl, but perhaps we are meant to see these things in order to make of ourselves better human beings. What repulses could be to our advantage if used properly but it is still hard to understand values so contrary to ours. Have a lovely Sunday - we're freezing here. Helen |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Very powerful write and I am sure many can relate to your reaction, because it's normal that the blood pressure rises when we are confronted with such pathological behaviour. This person is on her own path and - like the rest of mankind - she is here to learn some lessons. May we all learn quickly that more material possessions won't help us to find the true inner joy, which can expand only when there is "exchange of love" between each other and which is the only base on which we can evolve towards justice and peace. I appreciated your considerations. Love, Margherita |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Diana...thinking about this and wondering, could the clutching to material things mean she is lonely for the real touch of life. A very thought filled poem.  |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
I do agree with you, it is repulsive and an unfortunate fact that is in every land where riches are in the hands of a few. |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
I must agree with the above. Great write here! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you Helen, Margherita, Magnus, Martie and Dixie. Helen, we are freezing here too (by Durban's standards!) although it warmed up a little in the afternoon - thank goodness because I had a showhouse to do. I think you are right and especially being on television like that would open up thoughts of self-improvement to many all at once. Yes, Margherita, her behaviour was/is pathological. Martie, I think what was driving her was not that she is lonely for the real touch of life. She is from a disadvantaged group during the apartheid years and I think she thinks it is impressive to be the way she is - a yuppie in the extreme. That is very sad because I have come across many, many, many in fairly similar (and unsimilar) positions who could have turned out her way, but instead are warm, real people who understand and appreciate "the real touch of life" if they have it, and want it if they don't have it. Hopefully one day (as soon as possible, she will see the error/failure of her ways and hanker after real warmth in her life. Yes, Magnus and Dixie, it is a very sad fact that there are such people who throw away their lives on hankering after cold gold, but fortunately many realise in time and turn around. Let us hope that she does sometime soon. - Owl |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
"- there where you sat and frothed in the fur of how many animals?" Oh Diana, we can never get enough of things we don't really want. Too bad she needs to impress others. This poem is perfect and I love your question. Thank you. |
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picturegramic Member
since 2006-05-16
Posts 112 |
Wow. Very nicely done. I liked it all the way thru but the ending lines are punchers! Well messaged! thanks for sharing this! picturegramic :) |
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XOx Uriah xOX Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403Virginia |
Ohhh !!!! Hisssssssssss LOL Great write! |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
You're absolutely right, lonely for the touch....when it's been there all along, or would have been if it weren't held at bay by a wall of money. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks, Kate. I tried hard not to look at her huge fur coat nor see the spots so that I couldn't identify what kind of animals died for her to sit there and boast that the fur was real. However, I couldn't avoid wondering how many animals died for her to be wearing them. Thanks picturegramic, you shooter of animals (just teasing - I know it's only with your camera!). Thanks, Uriah. I wasn't very nice to the woman, but I was repulsed at her hardness and selfishness and self-centredness. Thanks, Ratleader. It wasn't only money, it was even more status and impressing those around her. - Owl |
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David D Jerald Member
since 2006-08-07
Posts 74Tucson, Arizona |
I like that OwlSA, Makes you wonder where the balence in life is. You did a good job on that poem. Keep writing. Dave |
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divine chaos Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617dancing 'neath the moon |
wonderful job on this piece I no longer am repulsed by these people, I feel more pity for them than anything I don't have the status or the material belongings that they have -- I have something better because I have touched life, I swim in the pool of it they stand outside the doors and only get a glimpse or a whiff of it when the doors swish open and closed, and comfort themselves with their possessions .. compensating for their lack of courage to actually live. ~*Sheli*~ By words the mind is winged |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
sometimes when you come from a disadvantaged background when you have the opportunity to "have" material things or even food you go to extremes...you begin to hoard things as you get them, even if you don't need them. I remember being one of many children and I am not sure where we were on the poverty- middle class scale but I never had store- bought clothes until I began babysitting and had my own money...and my Father worked 3 jobs to support us. My grandmother and mother would make all my clothes or I would get hand-me-downs from wealthier cousins. And I learned how to sew and make my own...something I am grateful for. I appreciated it all..but once I was grown and on my own, clothing became an addiction and I had more and still have more than I could possibly wear in a year. I still can't depart from older clothing from over 20 years ago (well some has come back into style so I will keep them..and the rest I will give after this weekend to "Good Will") after another yard sale... And these past few years I can't afford to just spend so I have learned what is important in life and it sn't "things"...but it is like anything else in life...if you have a little of something you don't crave..but if you never had and finally are able to get it, you may go overboard... sometimes for appearance and sometimes just to make you think you "feel" better... sighing~~ not sure you understand M |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
"a thing" cannot hug you back for certain this was an awakening poem...perhaps this woman should see it? good one and well done. |
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