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Wild Poetry Forum » ~CREATIVE VISUALIZATION~ (Light Critique Forum) » For those of you that might have misundertstood about New Orleans « Previous Next »

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SplinterGroup
Advanced Member
Username: splinter

Post Number: 896
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 8:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Lady of the Delta



I didn’t know her as Daddy did
upright, proud regal again
half a century and a little more
since Butler and his occupying “men”
had gone home.
No longer virginal,,,,,,, not an ingenue
but healed and strong, if a little worn
still vital, vivacious, warm. Healthy.
Loving fun lovers love.

I knew her in the nineteen sixties,
love beads, protest marches,
a need for peace afloat above all
the psychological, philosophical, creative,
and psychoactive explorations.

Like any good mother she put
blood, muscles, tendons, and skin
on my bones.
Taught me how to walk,
painted her elegant Mediterranean
accent onto my talk,
a live and living tattooed reminder
of where I had come from,
my roots.

I went back years ago.
Left broken spirited
at seeing her ghetto-ized
hollow eyed
harlem-ized
pimps, whores, drug demons
gun thugs and gang graffitti on the streets

Too much pain
----- the pustules and the levees break
and her Mother in comes to claim
that pitiful body.
Yes.

Wash it.
And anoint it, wash away the dried blood
and the scabs, the oozing filth pockets.

Still,,,,,, be still for a little.
Listen. Wait.
She will wake and shake off that tattered snakeskin and ressurect herself.

Again.

By God, Yes! one more time again.


Jim Doss
Senior Member
Username: jimdoss

Post Number: 1894
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 12:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Alan,

I can't say enough good this about this poem on New Orleans.

Best lines for me were:
Wash it.
And anoint it, wash away the dried blood

I like an open-eyed look at things (good, bad and otherwise) and you have provided it here. Along with hope for the future.

Jim

My books are available at http://www.lulu.com/jimdoss.
Visit Loch Raven Review at http://www.lochravenreview.com.
Anastacia Donovan
Valued Member
Username: sulis

Post Number: 123
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 1:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

I know you are talking from a true sons heart. I know she will abide as all mothers do forever changing and always the same. It is a mother's way.

Sulis
Gary Blankenship
Senior Member
Username: garyb

Post Number: 4894
Registered: 07-2001
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 4:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Anyone who says do not rebuilt does not have a clue. It would be like not rebuilding Charleston, Boston or Manhatten.

The city may wear a difference face to be safer for the next, but it must come back...

A fine tribute. And I'll wage more pleasing to the author than the one before.

Smiles.

Gary


The new, August FireWeed is ready for you to read. Go in through http://www.mindfirerenew.com/
to get to the issue in a click or two.
M. Kathryn Black
Senior Member
Username: kathryn

Post Number: 2743
Registered: 09-2002
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 4:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Just wonderful, Alan. When I went there I loved it and I hope to love it again.
Best wishes,
Kathryn
Emusing
Moderator
Username: emusing

Post Number: 1809
Registered: 08-2003
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 6:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Alan this was a painful read. The metaphor goes deep into the heart of the poet. This is why I would not attempt a poem on this subject. It's the duende that only a real citizen of the soil can sing.

E
Mudcat Miller
New member
Username: mudcat

Post Number: 49
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 4:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Great, gritty imagery, straight from and to the heart. Only hesitation is the last line, which struck me as a bit too chirpy, but maybe that's just me.
Kathy Paupore
Senior Member
Username: kathy

Post Number: 2521
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 6:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Alan, enjoyed your view of New Orleans. Rightly so, sometimes things must be cleaned and bettered. Well written.

:-) K

michael julius sottak
Advanced Member
Username: julius

Post Number: 1652
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 6:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

Doc, this is fine... as a triolgy, completes this series... and only you could deliver such a fine tribute.... you need to send these to a press in NO... are perhaps, more viable in Baton Rouge.

the series with this as the conclusion has everything I'd hope to see from the greatest poets

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