Richard Lamoureux | + Follow Poet |
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I'M Different

I want to be part of something
but not that
It’s never been that
The loud boisterousness
full of life
Ideas strongly held
traditions
family
Because you said so
Uncles who said so
“That’s what this family believes”
After all
“it’s always been done that way”

Marry young
Have kids
“Kids are the most important thing in the world!”
I know, I know
don’t get me wrong
I love kids
Kids are great
God and family are great
“Work hard”
“Play harder”
“Eat what’s on the table”
“A real man can handle his liquor!”
“One more drink,
let’s celebrate!”

My heart might be wired wrong
It beats a half beat 
or a quarter beat beyond yours
Or maybe It’s a bit slower
I don’t know
but I feel my heart beating
I hear it calling to me
I know its questions
I know what it calls out for
I need to seek my answers
I know you are deaf to my quiet outspoken ways
We have no rhythmic synchronicity 
Our words and Ideas don’t mesh
I want different and fresh
It’s a big big world
I don’t think it’s a mess
You want more
You think what I want is less
The things I desire 
I wish you would bless


So, I made my way out into my possibilities 
Waited for my time 
never afraid of responsibilities
Because family was still important 
You gave me that
Yes, like I said
kids are great
really great!
I know you wanted me to 
wished and prayed I would
marry a nice Portuguese girl
that I would have lots of kids
My blood 
your blood
family is blood

I know you thought 
you could never fully love
completely love her girls
Yes, they are my girls too
They are our girls
But you did
I thank God you did 
I cherish those times

Yes, like favorite uncle said
“Anthony is different”
I know I am different
I’m happy I am different
I like the life I have built
The life my love and I have built
Still I like the ways we are the same dad
I love the way you worked with your hands
I love the feel of wood in my hands
I love that I wonder what you would think of what I build
Part of me wants to feel you are proud of me
Craves your approval
not just the things of my hands
but for the life I have built
Because after all we are both builders...


I was inspired to write this piece after spending an evening with friends. By sharing part of their lives a true bond was forged.

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Patrick Nigros Date: 12/7/2018 10:58:00 PM beautiful Rich... Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 12/10/2018 11:16:00 AM Thanks Patrick.

Vladislav Raven Date: 10/24/2018 5:07:00 PM Hi Richard, this poem engages from beginning to end. You at your best as always. I always love the creative way in which you put forward your poetic thoughts. Your talent always shines through my friend. I always love the content of your work. Have a wonderful Thursday. Your friend always....Mike. Login to Reply

Darlene De Beaulieu Date: 4/23/2018 2:34:00 PM Hello Richard, this was very nice of you to do this for a friend. have a nice day my friend. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/22/2018 8:55:00 AM Thanks Darlene.

FJ Thomas Date: 3/21/2018 10:32:00 AM May all those and they're enriching differences be blessed. This was very enjoyable and relatable Rick. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/22/2018 8:59:00 AM Thanks F.J. ;0)

Muhammad Imtiaz Date: 2/26/2018 1:11:00 PM Very deep and profound write....... i like these unique lines : "I need to seek my answers I know you are deaf to my quiet outspoken ways We have no rhythmic synchronicity Our words and Ideas don’t mesh" Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 2/26/2018 6:32:00 PM Thanks Muhammad, I wrote this piece for a new friend after he shared pieces of his life with me over a meal and glass of wine.

Freddie Robinson Jr. Date: 2/16/2018 9:11:00 AM A gripping, emotional bond oozing from your cultural primordial ink, Richard. A grand human treatise of pioneering humility. Forge on, my creative genius friend. New paths virgin traveled upon, with ancient lessons to carry the wagon weight of knowledge on. This was such an invigorating read ... ty for sharing a slice of your life w/us. Your friends and family are blessed to have an intrepid soul like you in their midst. Aurora bright write. Love and more love always. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 2/16/2018 9:49:00 AM Thanks my friend.

Joe Maverick Date: 2/5/2018 1:31:00 PM Hi Richard, I see a great deal to relate to and other parts to mull over, I really enjoyed reading this piece' Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 2/5/2018 2:02:00 PM Thanks Joe, I appreciate the visit.

Faraz Ajmal Date: 2/3/2018 9:14:00 AM A very deep and beautifully written poem, I really enjoyed reading it Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 2/5/2018 2:02:00 PM Thanks Faraz.

Joanna Daniel Date: 2/2/2018 7:55:00 AM A deep poem, Richard, with great meaning:) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 2/5/2018 2:06:00 PM Thanks Jo.

Maria Williams Date: 1/30/2018 9:04:00 PM A really profound write Richard,one that I can identify with also. It is so important to get a parents approval, and yet keep our own identity at the same time. Your poem provides food for thought...Maria Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 2/5/2018 2:07:00 PM I agree Maria but not one at the expense of the other.

Eileen Manassian Date: 1/26/2018 12:26:00 PM Read some of the commentsl and got a deeper understanding of this piece. Different...yet somehow the same. Food for thought. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 2/5/2018 2:07:00 PM Tell me more.

Becca Teagan Date: 1/23/2018 4:08:00 PM I think this is about needing our parents approval, and at the same time wanting to be ourselves, no matter how different we might be. If I'm right about this, I feel this way too, in my family. We always want our parents to be proud of us, or at least feel like we belong. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/23/2018 5:10:00 PM Yes even when we think we don't care their opinion matters. Thanks for the visit Becca.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 1/23/2018 3:45:00 PM I enjoyed reading your response to me down here on this one, Richard. Look forward to seeing a new poem from you soon. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/23/2018 5:11:00 PM Nothing has caught my mind in the last little bit. Thanks for the visit.

Debbie Guzzi Date: 1/22/2018 7:44:00 PM Finding ones self is a lifelong task and you have made that very clear, to love anyone else one must love oneself, thanks for writing this Ricahrd! Light & Love Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/22/2018 8:14:00 PM Thanks Debbie for the great response to this piece.

Leanne Lovejoy-Burton Date: 1/22/2018 12:37:00 AM Different to me is truly "Special". Dysfunctionality in families is very common. It is usually hereditary. I think the words that are the most poignant here, are the last five lines of your poem. Richard, you write with depth and empathy, that would reach out to a large majority of people in today's society. Thank you for sharing via insight of your friend's experience. Login to Reply Leanne Lovejoy-Burton Date: 1/22/2018 9:43:00 AM The world abounds with broken people, this is true. From some of the darkest cracks and times in lives, rise all sorts of shining lights. Some of course, do not make it through to Light.Thank you, I shall check your "Broken People" poem out. People in all walks of life fascinate me; the ones that interest me the most though, are the broken. Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/22/2018 8:18:00 AM After I wrote my last book I found out from so many people how dysfunctional their backgrounds are. You might appreciate a piece I wrote called “Broken People” thanks for your visit and thoughtful comment.

Judy Ball Date: 1/21/2018 4:55:00 PM Beautiful Richard. Very poignant. I too was always told I was different and was treated differently. I never really felt like I was an accepted member of my family. My best friends always had four legs and a tail. A very beautiful piece my friend. God Bless. JB Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/22/2018 8:14:00 AM It’s good that all us “different” people can add flavour to the soup.

Harry Horsman Date: 1/21/2018 12:51:00 PM Oh so powerful this, Richard, i found it hard to conform, as a only child i was told i was unusual, i do see thing differently now, and now again i've just read this wonder. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/22/2018 8:13:00 AM I too have been different but I hope in a good way. Thanks for your kind comment.

Alexis Y. Date: 1/20/2018 3:07:00 PM WoW! Richard, I must say your title alone caught my attention. Because I felt "different "for most of my life. But as I started to read I saw a deep and powerful poem appear in front of my eyes. As always good job:-) Alexis Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/20/2018 4:12:00 PM Thanks Alexis, what a nice thing to say.

Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 1/20/2018 7:25:00 AM Our world is built stone by stone, year by year, century by century, millennium by millennium and each one of us builds on te foundations the previous generation has laid! To be different in a better way is fine but to be different and destroy what has been built is not fine! A gigantic poem with a lot of food for thought my friend, Richard! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/20/2018 7:56:00 AM My friend like many children rebelled against some traditions but in the end still placed a high value on family, still maintained relationship with his family. He didn’t marry within his race or have his own children, he adopted his wife’s. They all found a way to mesh and the foundation was not dismantled. Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/20/2018 7:50:00 AM Yes I agree and I also disagree. For me I grew up in a home that was abusive, my dad’s family was also abusive. Secrets needed to be kept, appearances maintained. Substance abuse was normal. An overly sexualized environment. But for the Grace of God that would have been my world.

Susan Ashley Date: 1/19/2018 9:34:00 PM A powerful poem Richard that is so deep, emotionally honest and heartfelt. Such intimate intensity of thoughts and feelings you've penned from your friend's perspective - a beautiful and expressive write that I truly enjoyed! Warmest wishes ~Susan Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/20/2018 7:58:00 AM What a wonderful and thoughtful response to my poem. Thanks.

Anna Hopper Date: 1/19/2018 8:17:00 PM Oh wow! This is pretty intense! Not your story, huh? I never would have guessed. Incredible! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/20/2018 7:59:00 AM Thanks Anna, i’m Pleased by your reaction to it.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 1/19/2018 2:13:00 PM - A poem with honest thoughts, Robert - I feel the words coming deep from the heart - A wonderful writing ! - hugs and happy weekend :) // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/19/2018 4:02:00 PM Thanks, Anne-Lise. I am writing from my friends perspective. I'm glad it feels real. Hugs Richard.

Judith S Date: 1/19/2018 9:08:00 AM Gosh this is beautiful!! ... and thought provoking Richard. Staying true to yourself and your beliefs isn't always easy where family expectations have a strong influence. It was extremely engaging. A great write!! ~Judy Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/19/2018 9:45:00 AM Thanks a Judy, I’m pleased you enjoyed this piece.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 1/18/2018 7:58:00 PM This is a very engaging poem, Richard. A long one that kept my interest. I see you used the name Anthony but it felt autobiographical, so it makes me wonder about that or if you just have a nicname Anthony. I think this is a poem many adult children (and not just males) can relate to. Here is a line that really stood out for me: you are deaf to my quiet outspoken ways (this feels like me talking to my husband sometimes) Love the ending and how you related to you both being builders. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 1/19/2018 8:46:00 AM Good morning Andrea, I took on the persona of my friend after he shared his thoughts and feelings. I modified his name and removed his wife’s name to insure their privacy. In order to tell his story parts of me are inserted. The line you like is how I feel sometimes.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 1/18/2018 7:54:00 PM Regarding a recent remark you made on one of my poems, the person gave me a fairly decent comment today! Let me see this new poem of yours now. Login to Reply

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