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Open Poetry #38
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The Willow and the Vagabond
| Open Poetry #38 |
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The Willow and the Vagabond |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
The Willow and the Vagabond Why does the weeping willow weep With branches hung down low To shade one’s sleep while slumber keeps The vagabond below? How do the raindrops fail to pierce Her leafy parasol That stands against the winds so fierce One hardly blinks at all? What hope could be for saddened tree Slumped over mournful grave That fate nor chance nor circumstance Nor life itself could save? Lighthouse Bob |
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| © Copyright 2006 Robert E. Michaud Jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
I'm speechless |
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Jess Member
since 2006-06-06
Posts 243Washington |
You hooked me from the first line on. |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
A most excellent write Bob! A joy to read and a keeper for my library. Hugs~Nancy ~Somewhere in my heart I'm always |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Bob, a superb poem...wonderful flow and rhyme in it...impressive...thank you. |
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StevenS Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945L. A. (Lower Alabama) |
Perfection Lighthouse Bob! Enjoyed every word and every line! :-) |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Standing ovation! Perfection! Saving this beauty. miscellanea |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Bob....your poem makes me want to answer the question...all I do know is that trees are special in so many ways..so is this poem!  |
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Klassy Lassy Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187Oregon |
Exquisite! The soul of a tree sighing here...keeper of the tears. ~ Klassy |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
LHB...this was a pleasure to read and that last verse caught the mood just right. |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Dixie, Smiles. I'm not sure exactly how to take this, but I'm believing that your silence here is a good thing. Right? My poet friend, thanks for commenting. I do appreciate you much. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Jess, Smiles. Interesting. Usually I'm not that good of a fisherman, but perhaps this time I got hold of some good bait. Anyway, I'm glad you got hooked. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Nancy, Thanks for your "most excelent" feedback. It always makes me happy to think that my poetry is being kept somewhere special. Smiles. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Magnus, I greatly admire your admiration and your words of commendation here and, yes, a big Thank You back at you, my friend. Thank you. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
StevenS, WOW! You got me scratching my head here in wonderment because I rarely reach the point or get a response of perfection. Again, WOW! I do appreciate your comment here very much. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
miscellanea, Still scratching my head after the last response and here you give me another perfection. WOW! WOW! WOW! Thank you, miscellanea, thank you so very very much! I'm really starting to become like Dixie here-- Speachless. Thank you for keeping my poem. I appreciate it very much. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Martie, You inspire me. Your such a special poet with such a tender heart toward nature that if anyone would know how special trees are it certainly would be you. Thank you very much for your kind reply. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Klassy, Thank you for your "Exquisite" reply. Thank you for seeing into the soul of a tree here and, yes, it's good to know, even if it's a tree, that someone cares. Sigh. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
iliana, I'm glad that you found pleasure in reading my poem and I'm also glad that you had patience with me on Owl's posting.... and I do think that you are correct again, the last verse here does tie it all together (including the mood) nicely for me too. Thank you, my friend. -Bob |
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Troy Member
since 2006-06-04
Posts 52B.C. |
Brilliant poem! One that can belong in any anthology. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Bob, this is poignantly beautiful! I feel so much for the tree and its friend, the vagabond. I hear melancholy notes of piano music dropping slowly in the background, so perfectly have you painted the picture. If only you could know how exquisitely this connects me to Flicka, my late horse. I have him buried below a tree and a heart-shaped flowerbed. Only, his tree stands tall and proud to be guarding his beautiful soul. He meant/means the world to me. I visit his grave and tend his garden every week and often write poetry and since I bought a digital camera recently, I now often take photographs of his garden and the surroundings. Last week I was there on Friday afternoon and evening, and I took a photo of a leaf on his tree with the moon in the background and wrote a 5-line poem about it. I haven't ever posted with a photograph, but was thinking about doing so this time. However, at the moment, I have been so very busy at work, that the photo is still on my camera. With or without the photo, I will post the poem soon. It is called Ever-loved. |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
I don't think she weeps but protects. It is her job, assigned by nature. The way of things.. Enjoyed Bob. "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
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CastleGuard Senior Member
since 2003-04-30
Posts 760Alberta, Canada |
Loved this. Excellent write. Though I think it's time for all the (living) vagabonds to rise and start protecting the trees - return the favour, so to speak. For the mutual interest of all. CG |
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XOx Uriah xOX Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403Virginia |
Excellent write ! Still... I know that her roots will gradually encompass the vagabond. She will feed and he will nourish her. Life goes on ! |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
Willow trees - yes, they're one of my favourite trees and surely they will never die though they weep and grieve like one of us. Enjoyed your poem very much, Bob. Thanks! |
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Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
Oh, this is exquisite. I love the scene you paint here, and the language you use. Nan (Pilgrim variety) |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Bob, what a nice image this just gave me remembering a weeping willow from my childhood. |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
I'm so happy to have happened by, this was beatifully articulated and a joy to read... |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Bob...Tender story. well written and very much enjoyed...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Bob... This is marvelous! And it's a  |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Troy, Thank you very much for your kind reply and a great big W E L C O M E to "Passions" and, yes, I would be most definitely proud to be included in an anthology right next to any of the most excellent poets found here. Thanks again I do appreciate your comment very much. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Owl, (Sigh) Thank you for sharing about your life and your dear companion and friend Flicka with me here and I will look for your poem and your accompanying picture (possibly) to come. I think that "melancholy" is a very good description of the portrait that this poem trys to paint. The actual beginnings or inspiration for this poem is rooted in a similar scene as the one that you've described to me where there is found a kind of homemade memorial and always a fresh display of flowers, but no gravestone. Three or four years ago I was driving home from taking my wife to work and I noticed a body resting beneath a kind of willow tree who at the time I thought was asleep. Later on that day, when I returned to my wife's work, I saw all caution tape, detective work, and the unmarked cars and beneath realized that the person had actually passed away there. Anyway, this most "melancholy" scene remained in my mind. Again, thank you for sharing and God bless you my poetess friend. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Susan Caldwell, Yes, I do believe that you are right! It is the way of things... I have sometimes found shelter and protection under a weeping willow tree during a rain storm and so why not in death??? A very wise analogy indeed. Thank you for your comment. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
CG, Thank you for your most kind words of commendation. I appreciate them very much. I also appreciate your comment and concern for the trees and, Yes.... Let the Vagabonds Arise!!! Let the Protection Begin!!! Smiles. You left me with some interesting mind images here. Thank you for sharing. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
XOx Uriah xOX, Smiles. You have such a morbid, but gruesomely honest, way at looking at things. I Love It!!! Yes, Dear Friend, Life certainly does go on... Thanks for your comment. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Honeybunch, Thank you. The weeping willow is one of my favorite trees as well and they do inspire many wonderful wonderful mind images from which I can write poetry. Between you and I, the best I understand it, the willow was once a symbol of joy during biblical times, but it was later that the poets found a similarity between the willow and a woman grieving over a grave and thus the name weeping willow was adapted as a name. So, I haven't really written anything new..... Shhhhhhh.... Don't tell, OK.... Smiles. And, yes, I agree, they won't die because we'll forever hold them in our hearts. Thank you again for your kind reply. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Pilgrimage, Smiles. Thank you very much. I have the utmost respect for you as a poet and mentor and your reply that this poem is "exquisite" has floored me, my poetess friend. Floored Me!!! I have to believe (I have to believe) that "exquisite" poetry writing, if indeed I've accomplished it, must be the result from instruction and poetic mentoring that I've received from those accomplished poets like yourself. Thank You, Thank You, and Thank You again. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Midnitesun, Childhood memories are so precious and I'm so very happy that my poem inspired some moments of reflection for you about a weeping willow from your past. Thank you for sharing and God bless you. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
LeeJ, Well, I'm very happy that you stopped by too and let me extend a cordial welcome to you that you are most welcome to stop by again anytime. Smiles. Let me also say that I am very pleased with your most kind response. Thank you, my friend, thank you. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Paul, Thank you. I appreciate your reply. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Sunshine, Smiles. I'm very happy to see your name appear here on this post and that you have chosen to keep this one. You've been a great encouragement and friend to me from my beginnings over at Spiritual Journeys #1. Smiles. Thanks again and God bless. -Bob |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
 Excellent Write! JL  |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I absolutely loved this Bob, and as my best friend's name was Willow, I have kept this one in her keepsake book, hope you don't mind? It is a typical "Lighthouse" poem, offering that beacon of though you always shine on your readers. Waste not a second ~ Carpe' Diem |
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skyshine
since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058Beneath the northern stars |
Sadly touching....loved this!  ~sky I hope someday you get the chance to live like you were dying.... |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
JL Thank you for the "Excellent" reply. I do appreciate it. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Sharon, Absolutely. You know I'm always eager and willing to share and I do think that it's an honor to have my poem be a part of your friend Willow's keepsake book. I appreciate that you think that I'm being a beacon here. Your comment is very kind. Thank you, my friend. Thank you. -Bob |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
sky, Thank you. I agree that this poem is quite melancholy. I'm glad that you loved it though. God bless. -Bob |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
Exquisite Bob. You have used your words luxuriously and they shine. I love weeping willows. Vagabonds too. |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
Kate, Me too. Me too... I love 'em and I loved your reply. Thank you very much and God bless. -Bob |
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