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The Old Prospector, the Crazy Old Fool

The Old Prospector, The Crazy Old Fool

Folks said that nasty fool is a damn old bat
times the bastard knows not where he is at
Rumor is he lives in shame for murdering a man
eats lizards and snakes, drinks from rusty can

He eats snails, claiming it slows his pain
wore a sombrero, his umbrella for the rain
Chewed on his grubby food lightning fast
swore hell was his garden if it only last

Claimed he slept on a pleasant cactus bed
had genius ideas always running in his head
Knew the earth was only alien hunting ground
had hid every strange thing he ever found

On cold nights slept naked as he could be
swore it put better leaves on his tree
Always used a large rock for his pillow
ate boiled bark from his weeping willow

When asked how he knew this earth was flat
said, if were round I not be where I am at
Kept a rattle snake for his waking alarm
declared it to be a friend doing him no harm

Yet when he passed on they soon did find
not all was crazy as all hell in his mind
For hidden under his massive cactus bed
buried deep were 700 bars not of lead

Gold this old timer had been finding there
his crazy act was to keep all thieves unaware
Gold mine hidden underneath his shabby shack
tunnel underground to rocky hill outback

Lawyers found that he had a grandson at Yale
claimed to be an orphan was his tale tale
He had paid that boy's way into a great life
making sure the kid experienced no strife

His hoard tallied out to be five million bucks
mine still producing hauled out by trucks
Town-folks all were shocked and so damn amazed
this old man they had thought to be so crazed

In his will he left a note for his tombstone,
Hell with you fools, my old tired ass is gone!
I had fun seeing what dumbasses you all were
my trick playing you ALL caused a big stir

Grandson put the biggest tombstone on his grave
wrote a best selling book on how gramps gave
Exposed the bias of the arrogant fools in town
folks laughed so hard they couldn't put it down!

Robert J. Lindley


Note: Poem is loosely written on the life of an old man about my former home-town, an old man  they all called "Crazy Jim". 
One day, I talked to crazy Jim, he stopped acting crazy walked about town with me a teenager explaining all about the places and people for the last 40 years there. Not a single crazy word did the man utter. 
As we arrived back where our walk started he shook my hand and said, son I knew your dad well, he was an honest man, a good man. 
Then he walked off jabbering, back into his act...
Later when I told people about it all -none of them believed me... 
I learned that people will absolutely refuse to accept when they've been played for fools. Will prefer to keep believing the lie..

Copyright © Robert Lindley | Year Posted 2015

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Jan Allison Date: 4/30/2015 2:45:00 AM People are SO quick to judge others where the truth can be far from what they actually 'see' on the surface - a BRILLIANT piece of poetry - your comment at the end makes it an even more remarkable a story - Hugs jan 7 xx Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 4/30/2015 9:21:00 AM Oh heck I dread to think how people perceive me then lol:-) Hugs jan xx Robert Lindley Date: 4/30/2015 8:04:00 AM My father always said, there is far more to a book than just its cover! Outward people may look shabby or crude but inward they are pure gold with a heart of gold. One must look inside a bit to see the true person!! And when reading others poetry one gets that glimpse. Tis' one of the reason Poetry is so very great, such a great Art IMHO! Jan Allison Date: 4/30/2015 7:41:00 AM I love the fact it is a true story - I know of a lady who literally looked like a tramp but she was a multimillionaire! Hugs jan xx Robert Lindley Date: 4/30/2015 7:40:00 AM Thanks my friend. I almost didn't tell what inspired the poem but my muse, that ever persistent muse of mine, beat on me until I wrote it down and added it to the poem! I swear , I must have the most stubborn poetic muse on earth! lol

Arthur Vaso Date: 4/30/2015 12:34:00 AM Ok I will also add a work of Art! Cheers Login to Reply Robert Lindley Date: 4/30/2015 7:37:00 AM Thanks, much appreciated my friend!

Arthur Vaso Date: 4/30/2015 12:33:00 AM Robert, what a story, the poem is a masterpiece no matter what it is based on, however your notes only make the poem that much more juicy. This is an A and a Fav, and not only that, I will show this to a few friends who I know will be thrilled to read this poem! Login to Reply Robert Lindley Date: 4/30/2015 7:36:00 AM Thanks my friend. I had hoped this would give people cause to pause and think about others and being more compassionate in that . The teenage kids always pestered old man Jim and he'd hit at them with his walking cane! I had never ever pestered him and look how he responded to me when I approached him asking , how are you doing today Jim? After that day he'd come by me and nod his head and smile. The other kids he treated the same way as always because they treated him the same as always, by throwing at him, cursing him and laughing at him. Years later my mother told me he came home from the War(WW2) injured, shell shocked.