Daver Austin Poet Free verse

All These and I Today Are One

ALL THESE    AND I    TODAY    ARE ONE

All these    and I    today    are one
Two blocks
The neighborhood
Supermarket    flower shop    bakery    music school
Drug stores    creamery    burger stand    Baptist church
Restaurants    stationery shop    Emerson School    dime store
Filling station    alley-garage    theater    apartment houses
Downing Street    16th    Colfax    many trees    and many houses

Is to value childhood pleasure    happiness    naïve,
This child    in later years,
From habitual convenience    bound?

The solemn English horn of memory
Reviews it all    in minor key

I urge you see
A child’s dissolved personality,
See him surely    slowly    integrated,
Become a part of street and trees,
Mingling with the axle grease,
As well the milk and cheese

While dying of mere summer games,
Played out through years of yearning for lost times,
A crowd of ghostly voices call
By unexpected means
Through the veins    AND
Surely do they course my veins
As    blood    congested
Races in reverse

Old neighborhood’s    almost    too much a part of me –
Walking    running    skating    SHOUTING!
The infinite as boundary

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James Foulk August 19, 2011 at 9:32 PM a great write, enjoyed. I'm leaving soup because we have to do away with the internet. may be back later. thank you for commenting on Farewell for now Soupers.

Elizabeth Wesley August 1, 2011 at 9:31 PM Loved that "horn of memory" line. A wistful trip into the past and told so well.

Andrea Dietrich July 29, 2011 at 2:01 PM oh, so this is Denver!! Gosh, I was picturing the good old midwest with this one. LIfe is not Mulberry anymore, is it?

Carolyn Devonshire July 28, 2011 at 3:18 PM Your "crowd of ghostly voices" crying out at the sumer games of yesteryear gaveme chills, Daver. Our personalities are formed by the activities and encounters wehave in youth. How sad that theold neighborhoods disappear. Thank your for this journey back to childhood days, my friend. Love and blessings, Carolyn

James Peranteau July 28, 2011 at 11:12 AM And I mean wow ! Awesome write dear poet ! I ammmmm filled with fond mems when I read this, 'for the second time sir ! Wow....this write has the awesome flow of a true poet ! Have a wonderful journey Dave ! Much love, james

Judy Ball July 27, 2011 at 10:43 PM This is truly excellent and cleverly done. The imagery here is gret. Can see the children as the grow up and are truly marked by their experiences. The adult personality is formed by the experiences of the child. Great job here. God Bless, JB

Andrea Dietrich July 27, 2011 at 10:32 PM this is a pleasure to read, Daver. And what an interesting closing line. You did not live all your life in that same town where you live, did you? it fits very much the personality of someone who never leaves home. Glad to see you put up a new poem. YAY!!!

Zzzzz Zzzzz July 27, 2011 at 2:48 PM A vivid portrayal of an indelible part of you. The streets and buildings of my childhood are etched deeply in my mind also--even though some of those places no longer exist in the real world. Regards, Robert.

Doris Culverhouse July 27, 2011 at 2:07 PM Hi Daver!! you are in a reminiscent mood I see. Enjoyed reading your thoughts.

Elizabeth Wesley July 27, 2011 at 1:58 PM Love the minor key part. Isn't life in that state today? This has a sadness to it of past times that sounds like a part of you. I did enjoy your words so much Daver and don't think of you as an "Old Dog" as you say. I have a different picture. :)

Carol Sunshine Brown July 27, 2011 at 1:48 PM Thank you for sharing your wonderful poetry today Daver. I enjoyed reading it and will be back again soon to read more. Love, Carol