"A Connecticut Yankee..."

Presented on World Poetry Open Mic, 04/11/2015

Begins 00:43:25 into the file for those that want to hear.

 

http://www.worldpoetryopenmic.net/uploads/5/1/8/3/5183702/wpom-2015-04-10.mp3

 

 

 

Semper Fi to those that know

And good eve to all the others near.

Sometimes you know a person

And sometimes you remember things

No one else ever will…

 

"A Connecticut Yankee…"

 

I spoke with a Knight…

brave and bold

with 'dragons' to fight and slay,

fair maidens to rescue,

kingdoms to take and rule.

 

Proud! God, he was proud…

all the 'things' he was going to do,

places to go - sights to see,

people he knew or would know,

'thoughts' just raging in and through

his mind… his heart.

 

Such a soul…

man, such a soul!

A future, a life, a reason -

for living, for being,

for reaching beyond 'his' present…

all this and more.

 

He spoke with such passion,

such light and fire -

of simple things

and times…

when life was black and white,

meanings were allowed,

feelings - even those -

were right to have and hold.

 

He spoke with strength…

a deep devotion within

to what would be,

how it would be -

as he saw it…

the place of gentleness,

heart, caring, and so much else

in this …our world.

 

I saw him taken in my night.

Not a sound

nor star marked his passing.

Not a breath of wind

…not even a tear in memory…

 

I’ve lived to see his dream unfold

as time passed swiftly by…

fears and tears,

the grey-scaled living,

broken-hearts, bodies, minds and lives,

all the missing,

all the reaching and drawing back

empty fingers…

I wish he’d had his chance to cry

…as I have

 

Chris

Author's Note

feel free

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

reaching beyond the present is something many of us would like to do, because what is now is too scary...we want to avoid what is now...and yet what about the future?

is there something to look forward to?

and in this existence, how much do we matter? maybe to some, but will many just forget us so soon?
will we be a fleeting memory...

and not live to shed another tear for how things are in the world, or maybe a tear for ourselves, because no one else will.

[Chris]

who will remember the person we are? well said Jacob. Thanks man

[Roxie M]

Fabulous! Chris this is from the heart and it is strong and pure as the hero!

[Beccy]

Just listened to your poem. read with passion and it sounded like you were all enjoying yourselves.

Nice singing voice by the way. :)


Beccy.

[Chris]

Perhaps one friday you would come by and present as well? AND now that you know where the archives are you can come by and listen anytime.

[Beccy]

Hi Chris. Fascinating and richly crafted lines and the title had me straightaway thinking of Mark Twain, but then as I read further, the sentiments portrayed also spoke to me of a sorely missed, far more modern knight, who was so cruelly taken from this world.

Beccy.

[Marie]

Beautiful. Good people are taken from us, and we don't understand why.

[...]

Chris...this was so deeply thoughtful and heart touching