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Monday, March 6, 2017

The Other Side of Me (a poem)

By Roger Owens















He moved down the sidewalk of 25th Street like a battered little boat, rudderless against a strong current
Bobbing and weaving

Just a little
And I could see the ravages of drink and drugs on his dark, once-noble face, almost Egyptian in countenance
As if Adbel Nasser had gone on a bad bender, his enormous nose seeming to cut the unseen waters
Poorly, unlike his contemporaries,
Who swam in the pounding heat with the grace of fat fish going with the current.
He alone appeared troubled by it, a vessel as surely off course as any plying troubled waters, ever.
And I thanked him
Just a little
Not so much himself, but those others like him
Who had shocked me from my own similar destruction these many years passed.
And I thought how odd, and sad, that some will survive and some perish, and
Would it always be so, some win, some lose? Or
Would there ever come a day when we all
Sailed calm seas into the bright sun?
But no, I decided, of course not. Of course not.


Copyright © 2017 by Roger Owens
Roger Owens is an old hippie surfer boy from Brevard County, Florida, a businessman who studied psychology and literature and loves to travel, fish, and read. His hobbies include politics and writing.

12 comments:

  1. Loved your poem Roger. I've ran against the tide a lot in my life also. I wonder why I'm still here while others have gone from this life.

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  2. Wonderful imagery Roger: it hit me visually as well as emotionally. Very moving poem.

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    1. Thanks Eric. One of those vivid images which stick in the mind. I can still see him like it was yesterday.

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  3. A very creative and moving string of emotions. They say words are only about 7% of human communication, but I believe it to be greater then that with you. Very well done!

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  4. Roger, the first time I read this poem, I thought it was good, but now that I've read other readers' reactions, I realize it's even better than I thought!

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  5. Well done, Roger, well done...very moving, very evocative..felt like I saw him too. So glad you are gettin go your stuff out there, am looking forward to reading more

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  6. As mentioned before wonderful imagery and a subject matter that really hits home for many of us. Bravo Roger and congratulations on your your first published piece. I look forward to many more my friend.

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    1. Thanks Martin according to the blogmeister Himself, two more are coming up for distribution. The short story has just been submitted.

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  7. Welcome to the most interesting collection of some of the best people you will ever read on the Internet. I knew you would fit right in!

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    1. And my heartfelt thanks to you sir for the invite. Perusing the blog has already given me several hours of pleasure, so much good discourse and art to read and enjoy.

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  8. To all whom it may concern, Moristotle did not monetarily recompense Bob Boldt for his moving endorsement of the "Co." that surrounds and supports Moristotle. Moristotle only hopes that Bob's lavishing his praise on this august company was somehow its own famous reward.

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