Question Home

Position:Home>Poetry> Have you ever learned a lesson in less than the time it takes to stand back and


Question: Have you ever learned a lesson in less than the time it takes to stand back and learn!?
He was old and dumb
“dangerous…”
“…to be avoided”
a drunkard a fisherman
he lived two cabins down the hill
where giant rock spiders made holes
like snakes and plotted in the dark
of a buzzing Ozark night!.

You are alone on the dock
the orange foam floating
hot in the deep green lake
of your father's past
he is a black man
with a weathered voice that speaks
deliberately
he puts a rooster tail on your line
and you are frozen with wonder
his hands are rigid and used
his fingers cracked with life
an ash from his cigar hits your shoe
you wonder if you should run
from his skin and his eyes
but he has been quiet
and he has been old and black
you know you will not forget him
you bank the memory without blinking
you remain flat-footed and weary
in your little boy pose
he casts the line
the mighty bass leaps
at you!
You have never seen
such life
from this lake you are hooked
the fish is hooked
you have been embodied
by a mean and bad and black old man
on a cove in a lake
near the end
of your youth!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Yep, he learned, as did I!. I also learned by the side of an ancient black man with a !.22 single shot rifle!. He taught me how to call the squirrels down from the tall pines to a height they were easier to hit with his short little rifle!. I now call them down from the trees to feed them peanuts and watch them play!. George and Gracie like to play tag in the big magnolia tree in the front, and Dennis and Doris like the oak out back!. So far, they are the only 4 I can tell apart enough to name!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I actually live in the Ozarks and you would be suprised!.!.!.or maybe you wouldn't!.!.!.!.to see this sort of thing take place all of the time!. And it is such a shame that children are taught to hate based on skin color when older people of all races have so much wisdom and knowledge to offer us!.

I liked this one Darlin'!.
ThanksWww@QuestionHome@Com

DMag, I have run out of superlatives to use for your postings!.!.!.and my eyes too weary tonight to go look new ones up!.!.!.you know how your writing touches me, be merciful, make me say no more!!!!

To answer your Q!.!.!.I'm pretty thick, it usually takes me a long time to learn a lesson!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Our home was like the United Nations down in SC,mexicans,blacks and whites all got on just fine!.I never have understood racism t'all,just makes me sick!.Thank you sir for the morning poetry to enjoy with my coffee,have a great day!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I see this as beautiful! Oh to be young and innocent and inspired by the smallest of things!. Things that once a young man, are so easily forgotten!. They are put to the side for bigger and better, or so it would seem!Www@QuestionHome@Com

This poem illustrates our ingrained fear of difference!. I think our species is wired to be suspicious; it was a survival instinct!. We need to overcome our DNA through conscious use of reason!.

An extra-special story/poem!Www@QuestionHome@Com

i like the fishing concepts but seems a tad bit racist, i dunno, thats how i perceived itWww@QuestionHome@Com

Noveliscious!.

Thought I'd try a bit of literisciousness!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Transcendent!Www@QuestionHome@Com

He also learned that race doesn't matter!. ?Www@QuestionHome@Com

This is very nice!.
It's good to see this side of you, once in awhile!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i remember the ashes
and hands!.!.
this was great Mr D!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm scared!Www@QuestionHome@Com

we learn many lessons at the grizzled hands of the old and wise!
beautiful?Www@QuestionHome@Com

niceWww@QuestionHome@Com

i learned a lot from older people!. no matter what color they are they are all my teachersWww@QuestionHome@Com

We had a home where any race/religion would be welcomed to stay a while!.That one aspect set me free from racism early!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

what!?!?!?!?!?!?

SLAP HANDS!!!! ^5Www@QuestionHome@Com

we continue to learn, thank goodnessWww@QuestionHome@Com