Richard Lamoureux Poet Pantoum

White Cane

He walked down Goverment Road West
With a white cane, in shaking hand
Wearing Stevie wonder glasses
People called him the pop bottle man

With a white cane, in shaking hand
At the time he seemed old to me
People called him the pop bottle man
Searching the alleys for his treasures

At the time he seemed old to me
Frail in a menacing sorta way
Searching the alleys for his treasures
Bottles he spotted a mile away

Frail in a menacing sorta way
Us kids all stayed away from him
Bottles he spotted a mile away
I wondered why he carried a white cane

Us kids all stayed away from him
Until that day I took a chance
I wondered why he carried a white cane
Curiosity got the best of me

Until that day I took a chance
That man had been a mystery
Curiosity got the best of me
When I asked him why he smiled at me

That man had been a mystery
A lonely guy wandering the street
When I asked him why, he smiled at me
I handed him my bottle, he said thanks

A lonely guy wandering the street
Wearing Stevie wonder glasses
I handed him my bottle, he said thanks
He walked down Goverment Road West

I watch

Pop Bottle Man
Doing his blind man shuffle
When he sees a bottle 
he moves towards it with ease
Dancing with glee 
a spring in his step
More fluid than a summer breeze

He can see at twenty paces
Eyesight crystal clear
Through dark glasses 
I watch him peer
Collecting his bottles
In plastic bags
The treasure that he holds so dear

Pop Bottle Man
His cane for protection
Illusion is the game he plays
What some see as crazy
May not be the case
If you take time to study his ways

For Gautami's Sketch a  Character Contest.

I was inspired to write more after the Pantoum because of Drakes Comment.
written by Richard Lamoureux on October 23, 2014.

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Jeff Connelly November 14, 2019 at 2:17 PM This is WONDERFUL Richard!!! The second time I read it out loud. It's like a jazzy beatnik poem. It reads like how the Pop Bottle Man walks so musically. A great random find from all your poetry for me. Thanks.

Freddie Robinson Jr. June 19, 2017 at 1:59 PM Jaw dropping poetry, Richard. And a bonus to boot. You got the poetic chops, of that there's no doubt. Powerfully emotional riveting Pantoum. Great poetic art this character sketch be. Love always. Richard Lamoureux June 20, 2017 at 7:55 AM Hi Freddie, I appreciate your visit. You are a bright spot in my day.

Monterey Sirak November 9, 2014 at 8:17 AM I see this one is a winner! Your character sketch is wonderful. So much of how we each appear to the world is illusion. Richard Lamoureux November 9, 2014 at 11:03 AM I'm glad you got to read this little piece of my past.

Brenda Meier-Hans November 4, 2014 at 10:44 AM Back with my congratulations Richard. I like it more every time I read this.

Dr.Ram Mehta November 3, 2014 at 7:47 PM Wonderful character sketch, congrats on the win, Richard

Jan Allison November 3, 2014 at 3:38 PM dropping back with my congrats Richard:-) Hugs jan x

Maurice Yvonne November 3, 2014 at 2:11 PM Congratulations on your well desrved win Richard.

Justin Bordner October 27, 2014 at 3:02 PM Bottles are a fascinating metaphor for that which can contain the substance of life; perhaps the man is collecting vessels of life. I admire the moral, to study another person is to study oneself Richard. "Government Road West" is also very intriguing, reminds me that the word government translated from Greek means control of the mind. A sophidticated write my friend. J.A.B. Richard Lamoureux October 27, 2014 at 3:17 PM Thanks Justin, I appreciate the thoughtful comment.

Paul Callus October 27, 2014 at 8:58 AM Your Stevie Wonder character makes for a captivating read, Richard. When we were young we used to collect empty bottles and exchange them for a penny each. I knew of another man who collected pieces of wood and then sold them to the baker. The pantoum form has been very well tackled. Congrats on this being chosen as POD. // paul Richard Lamoureux October 27, 2014 at 9:23 AM Thanks Paul, much appreciated. I remember a bottle of pop costing a Nickle.

Timothy Hicks October 26, 2014 at 10:47 PM Hello my friend! Sorry I didn't respond sooner - been busy. I replied to your comment on my poem Us Vs. Them. Hope you had a great day :)

Gary Bateman October 26, 2014 at 5:39 PM Richard, Very well-conceived and very well-done!! I enjoyed the theme of the poem which was, of course, highlighted by your mastery of the Pantoum poetic schema. I know that the "Pantoum" and the "Villanelle" are two that I've planned to experiment with along with many others too. Your poem here has inspired me to step up my experimentation even sooner!! An obvious "7" from me and this one's a FAV too. Congratulations are in order for "Poem of the Day" here!! Cheers and Best Wishes, Gary

Cherl Dunn October 26, 2014 at 11:11 AM Richard, love how you have repeated the verses in this one building right up to a great ending, I will be thinking about this guy for a long time, great flavor of pop in this poetic work, cheri Richard Lamoureux October 26, 2014 at 5:00 PM Thanks Cheryl, you always leave such uplifting comments.

Verlena S. Walker October 26, 2014 at 8:43 AM Congratulations Richard on poem of the day... Verlena Richard Lamoureux October 26, 2014 at 10:28 AM Thanks Verlena.

Jan Allison October 26, 2014 at 7:43 AM what an incredible picture you portray of this man Richard - you tell a great story - many congrats on poem of the day and good luck in the contest:-) Hugs jan xxx Richard Lamoureux October 26, 2014 at 7:53 AM This was a pleasant surprise this morning. Thanks Jan. hugs Back to you.

Tim Smith October 26, 2014 at 5:00 AM Congrats my friend on being showcased. Richard Lamoureux October 26, 2014 at 7:54 AM Thanks Tim.

Anne-Lise Andresen October 26, 2014 at 4:29 AM - A wonderful poem, Richard - Congratulations to today's poem - really deserve !!! - // Anne-Lise :) Richard Lamoureux October 26, 2014 at 7:55 AM Aww thanks Anne Lise! ;0)

Maurice Yvonne October 26, 2014 at 3:47 AM Back Richard To Congratulate You! This is a great choice for Poem Of The Day!

Eve Roper October 25, 2014 at 11:10 PM Richard what a wonderful writes, I love how you traveled the lines of this poem, with a good conclusion:) eve Richard Lamoureux October 26, 2014 at 7:58 AM Thanks Eve, I'm pleased you stopped by.

Maurice Yvonne October 25, 2014 at 5:47 PM This is a classic. Excellent! I am going to fav it for my collection.

Verlena S. Walker October 25, 2014 at 5:21 PM Wonderful write Richard... It should do well in the contest... Rated 7 - Verlena! Richard Lamoureux October 26, 2014 at 7:56 AM Thanks for the seven Verlena.

Andrea Dietrich October 25, 2014 at 2:37 PM this was really cool how you did yet another poem. I think I like that second one even better too!! Both are a great description of this unique individual! Richard Lamoureux October 25, 2014 at 5:19 PM Thanks Andrea.

Liam Mcdaid October 25, 2014 at 5:20 AM wow excellent piece of writing love the imaginary in this Richard Lamoureux October 25, 2014 at 8:27 AM Thanks Liam.

Russell Sivey October 24, 2014 at 10:06 PM I have to admit your Pantoums have outshined any of mine! You are doing excellent here with this masterful poem my friend! I have missed your works while I've been away! I've been in school and it has taken all of my time, but I have a few days here that I can give some time to all of my friends and share some Halloween cheer! My favorite time of the year! I really enjoyed reading your tremendous piece here this evening! You have written an exquisite write Rick! Great Work!! Richard Lamoureux October 25, 2014 at 8:31 AM Russell! What an unexpected pleasure, so nice to have you back. Check out my Humble pie poem, i wrote it while in a Halloween state of mind.

Timothy Hicks October 24, 2014 at 5:11 PM I thought it was cool how the pace changed after the pantoum. Not as somber as first thought - but spry and chipper. I guess looks can be deceiving. Best of luck on the contest! Richard Lamoureux October 25, 2014 at 8:35 AM Indeed they can. Thanks for the visit Timothy. Also thanks for the luck. Between your luck Eileen's luck Catie's and Brenda's luck I should have it made.

Tim Smith October 24, 2014 at 4:11 PM Great story...We had a guy come up to the park every night after the mens softball games and collected all the aluminum cans...After two years of doing this he had enough money to buy a car..A subcompact but his ways paid off. Richard Lamoureux October 25, 2014 at 8:40 AM In our little town we had several, Mr Mac, Irma with bobby socks and Mink Stole, Sachel and of course Pop bottle man. Good for your guy buying a car, impressive!

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