Richard Lamoureux Poet Free verse

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 September 12, 2016 at 11:58 AM Congratulations Richard: Such an incredible concept. Reminds me of the saying, "Walk a mile in my shoes. SuZ

Agnes Krampe September 8, 2016 at 12:29 PM Congratulations, Richard. I love the line "I hear the tapping of his soul".

Poet Destroyer A September 8, 2016 at 10:57 AM Richard, Congratulations on your awesome win. Stop by my blog "Tonight I will Write" and enjoy your win. Always & Forever ~LINDA~

Roger Horsch January 28, 2014 at 9:30 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 January 28, 2014 at 9:43 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 January 2, 2014 at 9:07 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 January 2, 2014 at 11:50 PM Thanks Donna, you are always so nice to me.

Andrea Dietrich December 25, 2013 at 11:30 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 December 26, 2013 at 1:20 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 December 25, 2013 at 4:36 PM Worth remembering. Thank you for sharing Richard Lamoureux December 25, 2013 at 4:49 PM Thanks for commenting Scott. I hope you are having a inice Christmas Day.

S.Jagathsimhan Nair December 25, 2013 at 5:09 AM Congrats on the win, my dear friend. This one is a beauty.Thanks for your time on my work!! Richard Lamoureux December 25, 2013 at 9:20 AM It was my pleasure.

Debbie Guzzi December 24, 2013 at 6:12 PM Congrad's on your win. Happy Christmas Eve. Light & Love Richard Lamoureux December 25, 2013 at 9:21 AM Good morning and Merry Christmas.

Abdulhafeez Oyewole December 24, 2013 at 8:26 AM Big congrats to you on your winning poem. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Richard Lamoureux December 24, 2013 at 9:34 AM Thanks so much AO. Merry Christmas to you as well. Abdulhafeez Oyewole December 24, 2013 at 8:27 AM ...in advance.

Dr.Ram Mehta December 24, 2013 at 12:16 AM Enjoyed your beautiful write on a portrait of a poet and congratulations on the win, Richard Richard Lamoureux December 24, 2013 at 12:53 AM Thanks Dr. Ram.

Joseph May December 23, 2013 at 6:10 PM There is great depth and insight in your words Richard...congrats on your win Richard Lamoureux December 23, 2013 at 9:15 PM Thanks Joseph.

Gautami Phookan December 23, 2013 at 1:05 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 December 23, 2013 at 3:31 PM Thanks so much. I am honoured you chose my poem. Merry Christmas

Jackie Ortega December 18, 2013 at 3:03 PM this was an amazing read for me! IT IS SO VERY TRUE!! Richard Lamoureux December 18, 2013 at 4:28 PM Thanks Jackie.

Shadow Hamilton December 8, 2013 at 5:18 AM deep thoughts Rick clothes but disguise us. super pen Shadow x smile hug Richard Lamoureux December 8, 2013 at 8:17 AM Thanks Shadow.

Monterey Sirak December 5, 2013 at 8:33 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 December 5, 2013 at 8:55 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 December 4, 2013 at 9:24 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 December 5, 2013 at 8:56 AM I agree Donna, over the years that has brought me much pleasure.

Andrea Dietrich December 4, 2013 at 3:42 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 December 5, 2013 at 8:58 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 December 4, 2013 at 5:30 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 December 4, 2013 at 7:22 AM I am pleased, thanks Tim. Tim Ryerson December 4, 2013 at 5:31 AM Go directly to my favs, do not pass go...

Joseph Sergi December 3, 2013 at 6:28 PM Richard an outstanding poem we should never judge a book by its cover a moving work Richard Lamoureux December 4, 2013 at 7:26 AM Cool, talent runs in the family. Joseph Sergi December 3, 2013 at 8:41 PM Yes Richard he is my uncle Richard Lamoureux December 3, 2013 at 6:30 PM Thanks, are you related to Ralph?

Ralph Sergi December 3, 2013 at 1:55 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 December 3, 2013 at 6:12 PM Hi Ralph, thanks for the inspiration, I have properly recognized you contribution at the end of my poem.

Painted Hunter December 3, 2013 at 10:43 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 December 3, 2013 at 6:14 PM Aww thanks Caleb, coming from a master writer such as yourself I am honored.

Charmaine Chircop December 3, 2013 at 10:02 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 December 3, 2013 at 10:11 AM Sometimes wearing another's clothes helps us appreciate all that we have been blessed with. Richard Lamoureux December 3, 2013 at 10:11 AM Thanks again for another thoughtful visit. Charmaine Chircop December 3, 2013 at 10:04 AM in my teens i meant oops..Good morning to you too : )

Eileen Manassian December 3, 2013 at 9:57 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 December 3, 2013 at 10:09 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 December 3, 2013 at 9:23 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 December 3, 2013 at 9:34 AM I.....I might do that... ;-) And you're VERY welcome sir! Richard Lamoureux December 3, 2013 at 9:33 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.