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Another Man's Clothes

I wonder Who I might become If I wore another man's clothes If I thought his thoughts Dreamed his dreams Lived his heartache Felt his insanity Walked along his razor's edge Would I Understand Empathize Digest his pain Rise above his circumstances Would I realize how easy my own life has been Perhaps I could search through his pockets Look for answers Remove the tie from his neck that strangles Rip off the clothes that make the man Return his sanity Free him from the labels sewn on yesterday's promises Or I could walk A bit longer Search a bit deeper Discard my own misconceptions Feel his peace Think different thoughts For he is more and less than me He has danced and loved in exceptional ways And as I walk and wear his shoes I hear the tapping of his soul I become Aware It is not him Not me Not anyone That can save us From ourselves Yet we are changed In inexplicable ways By wearing Another man's clothes I chose this one for your contest because I feel as a poet I put myself in other people's clothes all the time. I like the premise of this contest and I hope this gives you a glimpse of who I am. Richard Lamoureux Submited to Linda's contest written in early December 2013

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Suzanne Delaney

Date: 9/12/2016 11:58:00 AM

Congratulations Richard: Such an incredible concept. Reminds me of the saying, "Walk a mile in my shoes. SuZ

Agnes Krampe

Date: 9/8/2016 12:29:00 PM

Congratulations, Richard. I love the line "I hear the tapping of his soul".

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 9/8/2016 10:57:00 AM

Richard, Congratulations on your awesome win. Stop by my blog "Tonight I will Write" and enjoy your win. Always & Forever ~LINDA~

Roger Horsch

Date: 1/28/2014 9:30:00 AM

This is a wonderful poem Richard, I have trouble wearing another mans clothes. It is very hard to wear my own. But to help understand ourselves we must learn to understand others. A great poem my friend. If I hadn't put myself in another mans clothes then I would not be who I am today.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/28/2014 9:43:00 AM

If you wear the clothes Jesus has prepared for you, you will be adorned in splendor. Sometimes we forget we are not of this world. Thanks for commenting.

Donna Jones

Date: 1/2/2014 9:07:00 PM

I love this poem Richard....we really can realize how fortunate we are by being aware of other peoples problems....and receive blessings by joining them in celebrating their accomplishments and joys...just awesome..congratulations

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/2/2014 11:50:00 PM

Thanks Donna, you are always so nice to me.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 12/25/2013 11:30:00 PM

the First place poems were mostly AMAZING, just like this one. It's no wonder mine was so low haha. Mine is in the silly way the Soup's poetry form bio says to do them. I think the free verse style ones are the BEST ones.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/26/2013 1:20:00 AM

Personally I really liked yours, you gave us an honest look at yourself. I thought it was one of the better entries. I am partial to your writing and can't think of anything of yours that I haven't liked.

Scott Howard Myers The Gypsy King

Date: 12/25/2013 4:36:00 PM

Worth remembering. Thank you for sharing

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/25/2013 4:49:00 PM

Thanks for commenting Scott. I hope you are having a inice Christmas Day.

S.Jagathsimhan Nair

Date: 12/25/2013 5:09:00 AM

Congrats on the win, my dear friend. This one is a beauty.Thanks for your time on my work!!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/25/2013 9:20:00 AM

It was my pleasure.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 12/24/2013 6:12:00 PM

Congrad's on your win. Happy Christmas Eve. Light & Love

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/25/2013 9:21:00 AM

Good morning and Merry Christmas.

Abdulhafeez Oyewole

Date: 12/24/2013 8:26:00 AM

Big congrats to you on your winning poem. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/24/2013 9:34:00 AM

Thanks so much AO. Merry Christmas to you as well.

Abdulhafeez Oyewole
Date: 12/24/2013 8:27:00 AM

...in advance.

Dr.Ram Mehta

Date: 12/24/2013 12:16:00 AM

Enjoyed your beautiful write on a portrait of a poet and congratulations on the win, Richard

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/24/2013 12:53:00 AM

Thanks Dr. Ram.

Joseph May

Date: 12/23/2013 6:10:00 PM

There is great depth and insight in your words Richard...congrats on your win

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/23/2013 9:15:00 PM

Thanks Joseph.

Gautami Phookan

Date: 12/23/2013 1:05:00 PM

Congrats Richard on your fantastic win! You did a great job here, I was so impressed reading this... Thanks for your participation,, G

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/23/2013 3:31:00 PM

Thanks so much. I am honoured you chose my poem. Merry Christmas

Jackie Ortega

Date: 12/18/2013 3:03:00 PM

this was an amazing read for me! IT IS SO VERY TRUE!!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/18/2013 4:28:00 PM

Thanks Jackie.

Shadow Hamilton

Date: 12/8/2013 5:18:00 AM

deep thoughts Rick clothes but disguise us. super pen Shadow x smile hug

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/8/2013 8:17:00 AM

Thanks Shadow.

Monterey Sirak

Date: 12/5/2013 8:33:00 AM

You are at your masterful best here my friend. You see beyond the surface to what is really needed in this world. I have always been told to never judge a man until I have walked a mile in his moccasins, but I have never heard it explained so well.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/5/2013 8:55:00 AM

You are sweet Monterey. Thanks so much, as poets we have the priveledge of wearing many people's clothes. Sometimes we are draped in Kingly burlap.

Donna Jones

Date: 12/4/2013 9:24:00 PM

We are changed by wearing another's clothes...loved this Richard....fav for me too..to read again and again...just being aware of our surroundings and watching is a good start...awesome poem..

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/5/2013 8:56:00 AM

I agree Donna, over the years that has brought me much pleasure.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 12/4/2013 3:42:00 PM

wow, I agree with Becca.AMAZING. you have touched on a very important aspect of being more than just human. But rising to the level of trying to see another man's way of being!!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/5/2013 8:58:00 AM

In today's society it seems to be a lost art. Many seem to be self focused. That's why the world is in such great need of poets.

Tim Ryerson

Date: 12/4/2013 5:30:00 AM

'For he is more and less than me' is my favorite line among many...In my humble opinion, this is the best I have seen from you my friend...LOADED with wisdom and insight...I'll be thinking about this one for a long time...

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/4/2013 7:22:00 AM

I am pleased, thanks Tim.

Tim Ryerson
Date: 12/4/2013 5:31:00 AM

Go directly to my favs, do not pass go...

Joseph Sergi

Date: 12/3/2013 6:28:00 PM

Richard an outstanding poem we should never judge a book by its cover a moving work

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/4/2013 7:26:00 AM

Cool, talent runs in the family.

Joseph Sergi
Date: 12/3/2013 8:41:00 PM

Yes Richard he is my uncle

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/3/2013 6:30:00 PM

Thanks, are you related to Ralph?

Ralph Sergi

Date: 12/3/2013 1:55:00 PM

Hi Richard: Speaking of "Collections", this is definately a collectors poem using another man's clothes as a metaphor 'for living someone else's life. BRAVO! I'm collecting this one.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/3/2013 6:12:00 PM

Hi Ralph, thanks for the inspiration, I have properly recognized you contribution at the end of my poem.

Painted Hunter

Date: 12/3/2013 10:43:00 AM

There's so much here on the surface and below it. So much that all I can say is...masterful. I loved every line.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/3/2013 6:14:00 PM

Aww thanks Caleb, coming from a master writer such as yourself I am honored.

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 12/3/2013 10:02:00 AM

I love each line but there was a particular line 'to be saved from ourselves'..This line touched me in so many ways..and to think with someone elses mind.Many times when I didn t yet drive iy teens.I used to be on a bus and think between myself about the other people's life and thoughts.Re our changes..yes We can wear another man s clothes or We can be happy of what We re wearing and appreciate who We are.Your words are powerful and profound.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/3/2013 10:11:00 AM

Sometimes wearing another's clothes helps us appreciate all that we have been blessed with.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/3/2013 10:11:00 AM

Thanks again for another thoughtful visit.

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 12/3/2013 10:04:00 AM

in my teens i meant oops..Good morning to you too : )

Eileen Manassian

Date: 12/3/2013 9:57:00 AM

Richard....I'm with Drake...I didn't know where you were going with this....You know I'm partial to your terzanelle, but I have to admit...this must be one of your ABSOLUTE best. It's....It's very different...VERY NOT YOU! I like it. I like the way you have expressed yourself in such an unpredictable way....."Free him from the labels sewn on yesterday's promises." How? How did you come up with that? SPLENDID! FAVING! DAH...like...what's new, Eileen??? ;)

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/3/2013 10:09:00 AM

I was thinking of all the name brands labeled on people's clothes and how we believe the promises that are attached to those labels. Also those labels give us false impressions of who those other people are as well as give us false ideas of who we are ourselves. Wow all that from your one question!

Poet Tacito

Date: 12/3/2013 9:23:00 AM

I totally thought you were going to go somewhere else with this, based on the title. This was wonderfully expressed! The veritable "walking in another's shoe", greatly expanded upon. Fantastic!

Poet Tacito
Date: 12/3/2013 9:34:00 AM

I.....I might do that... ;-) And you're VERY welcome sir!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 12/3/2013 9:33:00 AM

You should write a poem based on where you thought it was going. That would be an interesting project. This poem virtually wrote itself. Thanks for commenting Drake.