A Provoking Old Man (to learning)

Unmetered Quatrains

A Provoking Old Man

~ in homage to my Mentor ~

Upon deep reflection denoting my life's yore,
fain thoughts abound upon this day,
when once I as a youthful lad
entwined in callow, stripling play.

Crossed swords with an agedly-edifying gent …

a confusing infuser, masterfully skilled,
who found in me poor soil to sow;
yet, with great patience he turned and tilled.

Contradictorily specious character, He …
yet, his metamorphic imbuing I imbibed.
Nourishing with portions of fertile scorn,
consternating placebos he’d often prescribed.

My youthful vigor challenged his theme,
with which he ever boggled my senses galore.
Needled long after needling had ceased …
a sneer, a snicker, a silence -- how much more?

Ceaselessly effete triteness, lavishly applied,
bruised boyhood begged sincerely abstain;
for, what more than probable, evil hap
can this callously useless banter contain?

Though, the provoking jibes were most absolute,
the highest potent doses he contrived to give.
He persisted, alas, threatened my love for him,
that I might inherit the manly skills to live.

...From somewhere within all this confusion...

"I see you; I hear your angst, My Boy!"
(a low bell began tolling from ever so far),
"I feel you, I know you, the youth … and, one day
I will greet and toast you, The Man that you are."

Richard W. Jenkins

©2019

Author's Note

Artwork: Charcoal on light, treated canvas, by N.Bracker, courtesy of Pinterest.

Please, feel free to offer well-meant, constructive critique. : )

Reviews

[Lisasview]

Oh Richard,
How lucky am I to have come across your wonderful poem ...Your words would have meant so much to him.
Taking a short break from my own writing and I decided to read a few of yours.
Never knew you had a mentor and how fabulous that you did...because just look at the connection between the two of you ... even now.
I am one of the lucky ones to know you on Writers Cafe!
Thank you for sharing,
Lisa

[Richard🖌]

His name was Smitty....

He was a counselor for the Boys Clubs here in Houston, and held a Doctorate of Psychology degree … Norman H. Smith, PhD.
Without Smitty's guidance while growing up as a street urchin in Houston's northeast ghettos, a much larger number of us boys, most likely, would have ended-up in the living dregs of poverty and welfare, in prison, or six feet under, as have so many of my youthful peer.
Kismet is an amazing miracle … wouldn't you say, Dear Lady-Poet?

Thank you ever-so kindly and warmly for the special touch of your lovely heart.
"Pay-it-forward, M'Boy!" Smitty would always say when I thanked him. ⁓ Richard 🖌

[Lisasview]

I sit here, taking a break from my doing and redoing my Ballad, reading your wonderful response.
read moreI sit here, taking a break from my doing and redoing my Ballad, reading your wonderful response.
Made me cry...how fortunate you were to have him by your side.
One never knows what miracles might lie ahead of them. You and some of your friends were the lucky ones.
I grew up in Hollywood, California. Lost many friends to drugs, etc. I was on my own at 17 and my life was pretty tough...But I knew which road to travel...so, I too was one of the lucky ones.
(long story)
Lisa

[lightsong]

I thought this was about Your grandfather and obviously I was so wrong. I never had such a person or a Mentor in my life, basically it was always only me, but it was said that even some cruel people who You meant in Your life are there for a reason, for a lesson, I was reading until the six verse when it came to life with no doubt a truth that You might not even noticed it, You weren't less a teacher than he was, You taught and give him love and kindness even if he didn't show it, and from how You became now, from heavens he can see how correct You were and still are, to be loving and kind while still maintaining Your manly skills, You became a far better teacher than he was, and he would be very proud of You.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Light! : )
Though, I was very fortunate to have met this man and benefitted greatly from his tutelage during my formative years, it is with deepest humility I offer my most gracious gratitude for your bright praise and recognition of my humble teaching ability.

Bless you you with equal beauty and appreciation you've gifted me … with my warmest smiles 'n hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[lightsong]

You are welcome Richard✨ and all is but true~ Ghounwah* ;)

[Jade]

Your beautiful writes never cease to amaze me, this is most lovely Richard.

[Richard🖌]

Good mornin', Brandie 🌻
Great minds think alike … I was reading and reviewing You as you were reading and reviewing Me. : )
How lovely it is to see you first thing today, and how wonderful to receive your words of praise and appreciation.

Bless you for blessing me … happy smiles 'n hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Kesch (Finding Julia)]

this is such a touching write here, so very nicely written

[Richard🖌]

Hey, Kaede! : )
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, and for the nice compliment on this piece … glad you found favor in it.

Blessings! ⁓ Richard🍃

[Richard🖌]

Sorry, Dearest,
I certainly meant "Kesha". 🙄
I just got through commenting on Kaede's reviews, too.

Please, forgive, Sweet Kesha 🌼

[kitty]

Our sincere gratitude to the man who carefully taught the teacher! Though past and gone his memory will linger on and on! Glad you took heed to his words and listened well!

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Lady Kitty! : )
Yes, my sincere gratitude, too … his name was Smitty.
read moreThank you, Lady Kitty! : )
Yes, my sincere gratitude, too … his name was Smitty.

Blessings! ⁓ Richard🍃

[kitty]

Hats off to Smitty! may his words, and yours continue to bless our eyes and minds.

[Einstein Noodle]

quite the mix of linguistics Richard :) unique to be able to relate to the provoked and the provoker ... as a Dad ;} the Bible tells us not to provoke our children to anger Ephesians 6:4 ... hard to hold to that balance when children more often provoke our patience ... enjoyed the read .. can be taken in so many different situations .. but knowing you i see that the taught is now the teacher :))))
E.
ps. i think the charcoal is perfect

[Richard🖌]

Thank you most gratefully, Dean! : )
Your reviews always offer something of reward and value in exchange for an olde bard's earnest efforts to write for and please others.
Concerning the poem: I had no father figure and a mother ill-suited to raise three boys in the ghetto atmosphere where we lived.
One day I nicked an apple from a street vendor's cart when a firm hand gripped my wrist, and I looked up into the wise, calm, slightly amused eyes of a man I'd never seen. He was very old to a young lad's discernment (around forty, at least ... LOL!).
That moment began to build a relationship that would eventually waken my better man, saving me from the same fate a lot of my running buddies would one day meet … notably, dead or in prison.
The methodologies he plied me with were completely dictated by my own character, disposition, and actions ... he was, by nature, a very giving, patient, and tolerantly gentle man, whom I grew to dearly love, respect, and owe un-payable gratitude.
Unfortunately, before my ninetieth birthday he was mugged and killed for the eighteen dollars he had in his wallet.
His name was Smitty, and I miss him to this day.

Bless you, My Friend, for your kindness, encouragingly wise words, and always appreciated attention! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! what a story .. straight out of Dickens says i! so sad your Smitty did not have a chance to congratulate you through your many accomplishments .. especially in the Martial Arts .. without knowing anything about him other than what you shared .. i am pretty sure he would have been 100% behind you in it ... i am so surprised to learn of your youthful years and living wild in such a way ... God bless you Richard ... you should write you life story all in one book ;)

[Richard🖌]

I thought I'd already shared a bit of my formative years with you, Gene.
I never looked at it like a Dickens novel, but I can appreciate the parallels you see.
Smitty was a Phd in psychology, who worked for the City of Houston, dedicating his life to helping the poor, unfortunate, and destitute. Yes, it is a shame he never got a chance to see how a lot of us he helped turned out … and, your right; I think he would have very proud.
As far as writing my auto biography, I've had enough of Me, as I imagine many have … LOL!

Bless you, brother Gene, and thanks for sharing your always interesting thoughts and feelings! ⁓ RJ

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ... i realized right away that you did share some of that with me .. its another fine morning in the Ozarks sir .. top o' the mahrnin' to ya!

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Beautifully written, sir.
The emotion really speak,
Vividly expressing what it means.

Another part of this writing shows what true mentorship represent.

I really love this.

[Richard🖌]

Many thanks, Kay! : )
Your words in understanding, appreciation, and praise are more than ample gratification for my humble efforts to relate with and please my fellow and lady poet friends.

It touches me that you love it … many bright blessings! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[heavenscentgirl1]

A very beautiful heartfelt Tribute written in honor of your Mentor. I know he is/would be very proud of the Man and Master Poet that He helped develop. Richard, Your Fans also give Thanks to him . Thank you for sharing your words with us. Mj😇

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, too, Mary Jo : )
For your thoughtfully rendered words of appreciation and praise … just think what I'd have been like without the guidance of Smitty.

Big hugs and happy smiles! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[heavenscentgirl1]

You are Welcome ~ it’s always my sincere pleasure to read your words Richard. Thank You again for sharing them. Big
Hugs and Blessings to you . Mj 😇

[heavenscentgirl1]

I thank ‘ol Smitty so much for the patience and guidance he shared with you. I know he is still smiling down upon you with his Blessings and appreciating each & every beautifully writ piece of Poetry you share with us Richard. I believe that Smitty is still guiding your pen as the words flow from your mind onto the parchment . Richard, does Smitty have any Printed Poetry that you could share? Warm Hugs & Blessings to Smitty and to you My Dear Man. mj😇 🤗

[Richard🖌]

Though,
Smitty was known to write poems of his own, Mary Jo, but he was my life mentor, rather than my poetry teacher.
Did you know he lived on Van Molan Street, only a couple of blocks south of you, and three houses west of Bauman Road?
It is nice of you, the things you said of Smitty and I, Mary Jo, but he may well be looking "up" smiling upon me … LOL!

Thank you, sincerely,
Richard 🍃

[heavenscentgirl1]

I did not know that he lived in the neighborhood but am glad that you had connected with him. Take care and have a good day Richard. Big Texas hugs to ya!
mj. 😇

[Rye]

such a deep intriguing write here, I really enjoyed this, it hols depth

[Richard🖌]

A very n ice review, Ryanna,
Thank you very much.