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About This Poem

American Flag

.




                                       American flag
                                       in a triangular case
                                       honoring grandpa
                                          the dexterously folded 
                                          Japanese Origami




Just in case
Irony: an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected. 


.

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  1. Brown Avatar
    Carol Sunshine Brown
    Date: 11/15/2012 11:37:00 AM
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    Congratulations on your well deserved win in Su's "Tanka-The Pivot" contest Ruben. Love, Carol
  1. Galinta Avatar
    Leonora Galinta
    Date: 11/13/2012 9:53:00 AM
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    My hearty congratulations my dear friend, Ruben! love/hugs, LG
  1. A Avatar
    Poet Destroyer A
    Date: 11/11/2012 10:49:00 AM
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    Ruben, congrats in the tanka contest :-) always~ pd
  1. Dietrich Avatar
    Andrea Dietrich
    Date: 11/11/2012 10:47:00 AM
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    LOVED it. Big congrats though I would rather have seen it on a top ten and not an HM list.
  1. Crous Avatar
    Suzette Crous
    Date: 11/10/2012 12:52:00 AM
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    Congratulations on winning an Honorable Mention in my contest, TANKA - THE PIVOT, Ruben. The Origami was a powerful conclusion to a magnificent write. The irony was not lost on me. Love, Su
  1. Lamoureux Avatar
    Richard Lamoureux
    Date: 11/4/2012 6:14:00 PM
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    I do so enjoy an ironic twist. Was grandpa at Pearl Harbor?
  1. MacMillan Avatar
    Cyndi MacMillan
    Date: 10/22/2012 8:37:00 PM
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    Big eyes, here. Yes, the irony. Your tanka reads with the eye-mind view of haiku. Can I say that? Maybe I should just say that I liked the observation. I was going to write Orange tonight. Instead I'm reading and hugging friends. They are all so warm and snuggly. I snuck up behind you and gave you a reverse bear... I'm okay... just a bit sad and giving myself a v8 slap for not being more mature and leaving well enough alone. I'm becoming predictable. Shite. LOL. xoxo
  1. SweetHeart Avatar
    Linda-Marie SweetHeart
    Date: 10/19/2012 10:53:00 PM
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    RUBEN U R FOREVER AMAZING ME WITH PROFOUND POETRY AS THIS AMERICAN FLAG LUV .. A POIGNANT VISUAL AND EXCELLENT FOOTNOTE ..
  1. collins Avatar
    kathryn collins
    Date: 10/19/2012 9:03:00 AM
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    I am in awe of your word art and inventive mind. More more! love, Kathy
  1. Goller Avatar
    Erich Goller
    Date: 10/18/2012 8:36:00 AM
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    American Flag indeed, a very heartfelt expressed Tanka , I enjoyed reading it ,God bless you, Erich.
  1. Bordner Avatar
    Justin Bordner
    Date: 10/17/2012 11:28:00 PM
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    Clever - life is replete with beauitiful paradoxes Ruben - J.A.B. %
  1. Susan Avatar
    Black Eyed Susan
    Date: 10/17/2012 10:01:00 AM
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    another gem! you should write more of these! it's awesome forwards and backwards :)
  1. Dietrich Avatar
    Andrea Dietrich
    Date: 10/17/2012 8:04:00 AM
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    very creative, Ruben. I think you are great with this form.
  1. bauer Avatar
    ilene bauer
    Date: 10/16/2012 3:09:00 PM
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    an unexpected and very creative ending to a poignant poem - nice one!
  1. Grisetti Avatar
    Joann Grisetti
    Date: 10/16/2012 12:28:00 PM
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    This is a terrific tanka, both because it works both ways and you have an excellent pivot, but it also honors Japan the originating country of the tanka and also maybe where Grandpa fought. Cannot wait to read your haiku.
  1. Williams Avatar
    David Williams
    Date: 10/16/2012 11:42:00 AM
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    Ruben this is one of those poems that instantly hit you in the face with a teriffic image, well done ....has the writers block passed?...David
  1. Kendrick Avatar
    Sara Kendrick
    Date: 10/16/2012 10:28:00 AM
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    Great work..Yes, it is amazing how the soldiers fold that flag..Enjoyed reading this one today..I know that you are a proud grandson of that respected grandfather..Thanks for stopping by..So my Tanka is not a real Tanka by strictest rules?..The statement that I am a talented poet was very uplifting..Sara
  1. O. Avatar
    Ruben O.
    Date: 10/16/2012 8:40:00 AM
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    It sounds better backward! LOL!
  1. Aechtner Avatar
    Chris D. Aechtner
    Date: 10/16/2012 7:56:00 AM
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    Well done, Ruben -- you wrote a strong pivot into the irony. Just to see, I removed 'the' from 4th line(in my mind lol)and read your tanka from bottom to top. It still worked nicely.

    O. Avatar Ruben O. Date: 10/16/2012 8:36:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Im glad you like it, Chris. I dont think I need "the" either... I'm going to keep it until Suzette's contest is finish.
    O. Avatar Ruben O. Date: 10/16/2012 8:36:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    finished
  1. Gorelick Avatar
    Barbara Gorelick
    Date: 10/16/2012 7:39:00 AM
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    Beautiful work Ruben..BG
  1. Sivey Avatar
    Russell Sivey
    Date: 10/16/2012 7:06:00 AM
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    This is a special kind of irony my friend! I really enjoyed this write as my grandpa was in WWII himself, he was one of the older ones in the war, but he was there with them and when he died they gave grandma an American flag too, folded just the same. What an incredible poem you have written Ruben! Fantastic piece, Great Work!!
  1. Lindsey Avatar
    Catie Lindsey
    Date: 10/16/2012 7:02:00 AM
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    wonderful imagery, Ruben. A touching poem. hugs, Catie :)
  1. poet Avatar
    kash poet
    Date: 10/16/2012 1:41:00 AM
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    Wow!!Excellent!!