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Ba Ba Bad Shepherd Boy

Watery eyed thoughts came,
Zap! Pow!  a short circuited brain.
Inward turned burned ocular pain,
too many thoughts to restrain 
I’m a cheap sheep making my mistakes again.
Smell my seared wool going down the drain.
Ba, ba, blackishly wishing I was right as rain.

Words accessed by my fingertips
help to quicken my sheepish heartbeat
Yet I bang on my keyboard, DELETE, DELETE!
Ripping out digital scores, sheet by sheet.
Never once listening to what  other sheep bleat.
Instead I feel my brain draining
as my barnyard thoughts are straining
I can’t  translate what they’re saying.
It sounds to much like blah blah complaining.

I’m watching you fake shepherd boy,
black sheep never sleep
into the darkness we’re destined to creep.
Sad sadistic secrets you’ve burdened us to keep
So we push our charred thoughts way down deep,
as we travel paths dangerous and steep.
Within the silence of the lambs,
you devilishly relish hearing us weep.

While I admire fleece as white as snow.
I’m not inclined to go where those sheep go.
Their path leads to your fictional rainbow.
They’re not safe just because they travel slow.
The True Shepherd wouldn’t lead them to and fro
I listen to my uneasy queazy feeling 
and exit your proverbial row.
I wish I could stop them too
but, ba ba ba, to the slaughter they go.


For Wow Me Poetry  Contest entered August 26, 2019.

Written August 21, 2019

Re-entered in John Hamilton’s N/A contest

Copyright © Richard Lamoureux | Year Posted 2019

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Susan Ashley Date: 9/30/2019 6:45:00 PM The creative way you express your thoughts through your deep and compelling poem amazes me, Richard. Artistic imagery enhances your thought provoking piece. Congratulations on your wonderful win. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/1/2019 7:36:00 AM Thanks Susan, much appreciated. Hugs Rick.

Lonna Blodgett Date: 9/27/2019 12:35:00 PM Loved your sense of tenacity and trepitation. It poses an exciting punch!! Lonna Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 9/27/2019 6:22:00 PM Thanks Lona.

Hello There Date: 9/26/2019 10:11:00 PM Congratulations, Richard! :) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 9/27/2019 8:04:00 AM Thanks HT hugs Rick.

John Hamilton Date: 9/26/2019 7:30:00 PM Hey Rick glad to see this one at the top, hard to believe it didn't make the cut in another, oh well every judge has their own criteria, congrats! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 9/26/2019 8:42:00 PM Thanks John, much appreciated.

Hello There Date: 9/14/2019 9:46:00 PM What a deep and intense read... You definitely pulled away from the pack with this piece. So many don't realize it's okay to be different and have your own unique way of thinking and doing things. They travel along sheepishly, afraid to step out of line, forgetting there was ever another choice. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 9/26/2019 9:02:00 AM Great comment.

Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 9/4/2019 2:28:00 PM Hello Richard, yes the sheep eventually go to slaughter. Then new ones are born again a recycle of life. have a nice day my friend. Hugs. Darlene Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 9/26/2019 9:03:00 AM Thanks and a big hug.

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 9/2/2019 1:14:00 AM A poem with heaps of imagination and a story related which is a WOW. I have faved this poem Richard, as the depth of it is breathtaking and your creativity is great. Sad line 'ba, ba, ba to the slaughter they go' - I can understand why there are so many vegetarians in our world! Hugs, Jennifer. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 9/2/2019 8:03:00 AM Thanks Jennifer for your expressive comment. Hugs Rick.

Jeff Connelly Date: 9/1/2019 8:19:00 PM Wow Richard very powerful indeed. Particular lines that I particularly loved were the idea of a fleece white rainbow (I've used an albino peacock, and a rainbow in a black and white movie); and certain words like "proverbial" and the "fake shepard boy", as well as others. I feel a tension of possible bouts with religion. But either way; a totally solid piece of poetry with a lot to be said. Thank you Richard. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 9/1/2019 8:29:00 PM Thanks for dropping by Jeff. Great comment. Blessings Richard.

Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/26/2019 8:27:00 PM Hi Gershon, I didn’t see a soup mail. Login to Reply

Gershon Wolf Date: 8/26/2019 8:21:00 PM A 'Dolly' of a poem, Richard! Amazing... as well, amazing that this wasn't one of the ten best in the contest. Oh, well. No accounting for taste whatsoever. Grand poem, sir!! Best wishes, Gershon (Soup mail, please) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/26/2019 8:23:00 PM On my way to read soup mail.

Vladislav Raven Date: 8/25/2019 3:56:00 PM Hi Richard, I have read this one a few times now and it is your usual excellence. The words flow and the deep thoughts come through. Once again, this piece does show your creativity. A deep and creative write Richard. Loved it from beginning to end. Words so true. A fave. Have a wonderful evening. Your friend always....Mike. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/26/2019 8:42:00 AM Thanks Vlad. :0)

Paul Callus Date: 8/25/2019 3:02:00 AM This is excellent, Richard, deep and thought provoking. Black sheep or ugly duckling...both live for what they are and what they believe; different, maybe, but at least they are not brain-washed. a fav ~ Regards // paul Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/26/2019 8:43:00 AM Thanks Paul, well said.

Besma Riabi Dziri Date: 8/24/2019 8:59:00 AM A WOW poem, indeed! I kept reading and reading.. deeply appreciating the beauty of your poetry! You make your reader reads up to you, trying to decrypt your inner feel and profound thoughts.. Your poem is captivating.. it lends itself to many a reading! Even though a reader fails to unveil the mystery of a work of Art, the contentment and the charm of reveling in an artistic beauty is immense! Another fave! My warmest regards and blessings. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/26/2019 8:45:00 AM You are kind Besma.

John Hamilton Date: 8/23/2019 2:55:00 PM Truer words never spoken, too bad there are so many baaaad shepherds out there, but they do sport their rolex's well don't they? Fleecing the sheep is big business these days, oh what the Fine Shepherd must be thinking! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/26/2019 8:46:00 AM So true, and so many lining up for the privilege.

M. L. Kiser Date: 8/22/2019 1:24:00 PM A powerful statement. The blind leading the blind. Our world is in limbo now. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/26/2019 8:50:00 AM Much appreciated. ;0)

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 8/22/2019 6:11:00 AM We got so many more sheep then leaders, so many people afraid to think for themselves, that is a crying shame, Your poetry hits home dear Richard. Wish I could express it so eloquently as you did. Have a great day . Hugs. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/22/2019 8:52:00 AM Good morning Pixie and thanks for such a thoughtful comment.

Joseph May Date: 8/21/2019 9:01:00 PM A well woven write Richard.. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/22/2019 8:54:00 AM Ha ha, just trying to put my wool to good use.

Linda Milgate Date: 8/21/2019 4:49:00 PM clever poem!! love the last part too often to the slaughter they go. just the entire poem so clever. Hope we can stop those sheep from environmental disaster. Login to Reply Linda Milgate Date: 9/8/2019 10:15:00 PM Very true Richard, very true. Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/22/2019 8:55:00 AM Thanks Linda, environmental, social and spiritual.

Heidi Sands Date: 8/21/2019 1:21:00 PM Good one Richard. The second stanza, had me laughing. Interesting poem :) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/22/2019 8:56:00 AM Thanks Heidi.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/21/2019 1:12:00 PM - The black sheep is not bad Richard, it's just different ... you have to be proud to think differently ... it's a privilege ...your writing gave me this deep thought :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/22/2019 8:57:00 AM Thanks Anne-Lise. Hugs Rick.

Vijay Pandit Date: 8/21/2019 11:22:00 AM I found the depth and essence of you write in the final stanza..While I admire fleece as white as snow. I’m not inclined to go where those sheep go.Their path leads to your fictional rainbow. So wise and so true! An excellent original creation, Richard. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/21/2019 11:34:00 AM Thanks Vijay.

Gordon Mcconnell Date: 8/21/2019 10:40:00 AM Rather amusing piece Richard really enjoyed this and loved your superb rhyme and flow. Blessings, Gordon Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/21/2019 11:04:00 AM Thanks Gordon.

Tom Cunningham Date: 8/21/2019 10:20:00 AM Haha, the delete button on my keyboard is well worn. Tom Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/21/2019 11:05:00 AM Mine too.

Brenda Chiri Date: 8/21/2019 10:09:00 AM Rick your poetry never fails to tell a story! And I love your stories!;) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/21/2019 11:05:00 AM Thanks Brenda, hugs Rick.

Sandra Adams Date: 8/21/2019 9:58:00 AM this was a witty and fun read from your pen...of how many times this black sheep has hit delete, delete, delete as well! Great poem and flow Rick....i adore this one :) hugs Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 8/21/2019 11:06:00 AM ;0) thanks and a big hug back.

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