Curtis Johnson Poet Rhyme

A Place I Once Knew-F

There was a large family,
who never needed sympathy.
They had some lacks and doubts,
but they never needed handouts.

There was a ragged house
with a real home inside.
There were strong brick walls
and solid floors of concrete.

One could complain of pain and go insane,
or board a bus, or maybe catch a fast train.
One could subsist and merely survive,
or become persistent and learn to strive.

There was much displeasure,
but there was stability.
There was respect for fears,
but there was security.

There was a sense of belonging inside,
but aspirations and longings outside.
There were adjustments for the seasons inside,
but an oppressive social structure outside.

There was the feel of family and warmth inside,
but an unrelenting bone-aching coldness outside.
It was not a place of pride to be from,
but one of plotting to get away from.

Most people from there are long gone.
It was never a good place to belong.
There was always music; usually blue.
Such was a place I once knew.

092521PS

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Andrea Dietrich September 26, 2021 at 10:43 AM Many parts of this are very positive and then I sense contradictions in a few other lines. All in all, this place you once knew sounds like your childhood home. I can relate because I was from a blended family that was dysfunctional and not very well off; however, the good tiimes I enjoyed there are some of my fondest memories. I enjoyed reliving this place you wrote about. Curtis Johnson September 26, 2021 at 12:33 PM Thanks Andrea, for your comments. The contradictions of 'the place' were as real as the place itself. Perhaps it was most defined by them. Blessings.