Soul of a Poet Life of a Child

He thought himself a poet
Destined to live this lie
He wrote the words that no one reads
And the world would pass him by

For he had no education
He could barely read or write
But still he wrote his simple words
His spelling never right

Eighty years old he's seen it all
Though he seldom understands
Forced to live a simple life
A life that fate demands

He writes his poems everywhere
Even on the back of a cereal box
He sleeps all day and writes all night
In his underwear and a pair of socks

A fall when he was three years old
Left his brain a little slow
For eighty long years he spoke as a child
With a mind that wouldn't grow

The soul of a poet and the life of a child
He wrote what he felt inside
He smiled as he wrote his simple words
As his heart was filled with pride
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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12
Taylor Avatar
July 7, 2010 at 5:26 PM
Congrats on your 4th place. Great, job Buddy. Ralph
Hero Aka Hero-Wilson Avatar
July 4, 2010 at 5:23 PM
Congratulations on being featured this week! Rhonda Hero
Gorelick Avatar
July 3, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Congrats on your feature this week..simple, I like that it poetry..both in content and form..wonderful achievement. Bg
Lee Avatar
July 2, 2010 at 10:22 PM
This was refreshingly different. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your win! :) -Grace
Johnson Avatar
July 1, 2010 at 8:53 PM
Congratulations on this wonderful poem written with an understanding heart. And on your win.
Steward Avatar
July 1, 2010 at 3:18 PM
congrats on a sad but great poem featured. hope to read more......jodie
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
July 1, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Congrats on the featured write. Vince
Kendrick Avatar
July 1, 2010 at 6:19 AM
Sad...Glad that your work was presented on homepage this week..For I might have missed if it had not been..Sara
Mehta Avatar
June 30, 2010 at 8:27 PM
Congrats on the 4th place win
Culverhouse Avatar
June 29, 2010 at 8:28 PM
congrats today!!
Brown Avatar
June 29, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Congratulations on your terrific poetry being featured this week Larry. Love, Carol
Austin Avatar
June 29, 2010 at 7:30 AM
Speaking as an 80 year old, I say that often the poems spoken most simply are the best. Congrats on this selection. Love, daver
Dietrich Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 9:48 PM
I'm seeing now many in the winner circle that are not autobiographical, so I guess I misunderstood and assumed it was a contest about ourselves. Is this someone you know then? He sounds very sweet. LUv, Andrea
Dietrich Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Great poem, Larry. Congratulations. Not knowing you really well, i am curious if it is based on yourself or someone else. In any event, I really like this kind of poem. LUv, Andrea
Sweetheart Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 7:53 PM
Congrats Larry on your featured pome this week on the Soup.. excellent choice to share.. with luv from the "Sweetheart" in Hawaii..
Cwiak Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Great write and a well deserved win! Dan C
Fisher Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Larry - what a wonderful piece it has gone straight to my favs, many congrats on your well deserved feature this week - rgds Janette
Freeman Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Congratulations Larry, on your # 4. agape, Moses
Adeite Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Hey, this is a wonderful piece; enjoy the honor of having your poem being featured this week. Please, keep your pen alive and keep up the great work!. You are great! this is kind of a masterpiece! Love, ~Adeleke.
Brown Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Congratulations Larry on your win in Paula Swanson's contest "Fill In The Blanks" Love, Carol
Kohls Avatar
June 28, 2010 at 1:06 AM
very nice read...great expression throughout really liked the phrase... "forced to live a simple life a life that fate demands" so true............................good stuff!
Murphy Avatar
June 26, 2010 at 9:01 AM
very nice love the title good luck in the contest and have a great weekend faleshia
Gorelick Avatar
June 24, 2010 at 6:06 PM
I am a lover of simplicity in poetry.. Being cryptic and long winded doesnt do it for me..I appreciate this write. BG
Taylor Avatar
June 24, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Great entry, Larry. Awesome story. Best of luck. ...Ralph
Conway Avatar
June 24, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Awe-inspiring poem Larry, Blew me out of the water!~Tirzah~
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