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Max Ehrman - Barbara Gorelick's Blog

About Barbara Gorelick

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I was born and raised in northern California in the land of the glorious redwoods. My father worked in the lumber industry and my brother and I had a simple but wonderful childhood. Off to the big city to become a nurse and all these years later I still am. I was married for many years, have 2 grown boys and 2 young grandsons..Jordan and Elliot. Me proud? You betcha..it truly is the best thing about growing older. On my own now and enjoying all that I can cram into my life. I love music.. am a life long member of The Friends of Jose Carreras..poetry and music are my loves.I am a technaphobe..so bear with me while I figure this all out.

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Max Ehrman

Blog Posted:10/23/2010 5:49:00 PM

Reading some of my collection of poetry this evening and came across a poem of Max Erhman's. He is best known for Desiderata..which means.."Things Desired"..if your not familiar with this poem..go to...
www.fleurdelis.com/desiderata.htm.
The poem that caught my eye though..is a tradesman and a POET..
I wish I could write like this..hope you enjoy..

a tradesman and a POET

" Do these things pay--these poems that you write?"
"Oh yes, so much I am almost ashamesd
Of my reward, so very great it is"
Then tell me why you are so poory dressed?"
" I did not know that I was poorly dressed"
"Indeed you are. And think of how you live.
You should have blooming gardens, houses grand,
If your reward is great as you have said.
I understand you live in three small rooms"
"And that is two too many, I'm afraid."
"You do not travel. Do you travel, sir?"
"Oh yes, I go each week into the woods,
And often sit upon the riverbank."
"You are not loved by any woman, sir;
And have you any children of your own?
" I love all women, every child is mine."
" Come, come, these poems do not pay, I know."
" Oh! yes, they pay me very well, indeed."
" Then what have you been doing with the pay
Recieved? Have you some secret investments?"
"Yes, yes! I have some secret investments."
" Oh! That is very different. Oh, yes!"

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Oleg
Borisov

Date: 10/30/2010 2:59:00 AM

Their attitude is urgent to this day. Profound lines. Good luck!

Daniel
Cwiak

Date: 10/28/2010 6:19:00 AM

I agree with Charles...it is there in every line. This would make an interesting subject for a contest on the soup in more ways than one. Good post. Dan C

Charles
Henderson

Date: 10/27/2010 10:02:00 AM

Oh! I was in Potter Valley a few years back. How close in that to red wood country?

Charles
Henderson

Date: 10/27/2010 9:59:00 AM

This is a very sneaky write here. I kept waiting for something that didn't come and when I read it again, it is there in every line. Thanks for a nice post from a classy lady. Considering the comments below me, I will check out "Desiderata" when I have a little more time. Good post- cgh

Diane
Locksley

Date: 10/25/2010 3:16:00 PM

Very intriguing!

Hgarvey Daniel
Esquire

Date: 10/24/2010 5:42:00 PM

Dear Barbara, I am goingto the site to read "Desiderata" I did enjoy this Write Love YOU...HG

Linda-Marie
Sweetheart

Date: 10/24/2010 6:44:00 AM

Awesome words Barb and thankxxx for sharing them with all of us today..luv.. will check out the link u posted to read a poem I have heard about for long time ... such brilliance in poetry of ages ago..luv..

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 10/23/2010 8:32:00 PM

Barbara, this is very hice but I still prefer Desiderata. I recall it from when it was made into a record. I don't know who was reading the words. I believe it was in the 70's. I read that link about the confusion with his copyright vs. others using his poem. It just made me even more confused. I have half my stuff copyrighted in chapbooks, but from what i just read, I don't even know how protected any of us are!!

Carolyn
Devonshire

Date: 10/23/2010 8:15:00 PM

My sister and her wealthy family need to read this and absorb the message, dear LNC. Not all "wealth" is measured in material goods. I love this poem!! Love you too, Carolyn

Debbie
Guzzi

Date: 10/23/2010 5:58:00 PM

Hmmm,accepting what we have as all we need is a rare gift indeed! Light & Love

My Past Blog Posts


Out Of Commission Date Posted: 3/29/2016 3:18:00 PM
Wow, Thank You! Date Posted: 1/12/2016 6:06:00 PM
A Bit Of Santa Humor.. Date Posted: 12/20/2014 8:21:00 AM
Clouds Completed.. Date Posted: 8/26/2013 8:12:00 PM
My contest..Im so sad... Date Posted: 8/25/2013 9:13:00 PM
Look Up! Cloudy Contest... Date Posted: 8/9/2013 9:06:00 AM
What the heck? WHY? Date Posted: 6/14/2013 10:21:00 PM
WHY contest finalized. Date Posted: 6/5/2013 2:34:00 PM
A new contest...Why? Date Posted: 6/1/2013 9:04:00 AM
Poem Date Posted: 7/19/2011 6:53:00 PM
River Runs Through It Contest Finalized! Date Posted: 7/3/2011 8:52:00 PM
New Contest...A River Runs Through It Date Posted: 6/26/2011 7:51:00 PM
Asking for Your Prayers Date Posted: 6/12/2011 8:13:00 PM
"Nobody Knows It But Me" Date Posted: 3/24/2011 3:26:00 PM
I Have A Headache Date Posted: 2/25/2011 6:07:00 AM
The Dance is Over Date Posted: 2/12/2011 9:24:00 PM
" DANCE" update Date Posted: 2/10/2011 10:47:00 AM
TIME TO GET OUT YOUR DANCING SHOES.... Date Posted: 2/3/2011 7:54:00 PM
Apology Contest Results In!!! Date Posted: 12/30/2010 9:57:00 PM
WOW! That was fast! Apology Contest FIlled Date Posted: 12/29/2010 4:36:00 PM
New Contest..Apology Accepted Date Posted: 12/24/2010 8:04:00 AM
TIME contest completed !!! Date Posted: 12/5/2010 11:11:00 AM
Time Contest Date Posted: 12/1/2010 11:59:00 PM
WHAT TO DO,,,WHAT TO DO! Date Posted: 11/27/2010 9:27:00 AM
TIME for a new contest..... Date Posted: 11/26/2010 9:01:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
5/21/2019	Summer Symphony	Haiku	animal,flower,
5/2/2019	Too Soon	Crystalline	angst,
4/20/2019	Natural Art	Rhyme	art,nature,
4/14/2019	He Walked the Plank	Limerick	humor,
4/14/2019	Well Dressed	Epitaph	humor,
4/5/2019	The Dandelion	Free verse	flower,
4/4/2019	Untouched By Man	Free verse	nature,
3/30/2019	First Date	Free verse	1st grade,age,dad,
3/29/2019	Spring Explosion	Haiku	animal,spring,
3/28/2019	Hands	Monoku	age,appreciation,
3/20/2019	Noise	Kimo	life,
3/15/2019	Spring Is In the Air	Rhyme	joy,seasons,
3/15/2019	Haiku- Weeping Willow	Haiku	nature,
3/11/2019	Hold Up the Sky	Rhyme	dream,sky,
3/11/2019	The Book	Rhyme	appreciation,books,
3/6/2019	Mesmerized By the Moon	Quatrain	imagination,moon,
3/5/2019	Dr Suess's Hat	Light Verse	animal,humorous,
3/4/2019	Shining	Lanterne	nature,
3/2/2019	Dying Peacefully	Tanka	death,peace,
3/2/2019	Potholes	Senryu	angst,conflict,
3/2/2019	Feathers and Pickles	Rhyme	humorous,people,
2/26/2019	Ghost Town	Rhyme	farewell,history,image,
2/25/2019	Haiku	Haiku	animal,nature,
2/17/2019	My Neighbor's Garden	Senryu	emotions,flower,
2/17/2019	I Dreamed of Peace	Quatrain	dream,war,
2/14/2019	Music To My Ears	Rhyme	life,peace,rain,
2/12/2019	Starry Night	Quatrain	beauty,introspection,sky,
2/8/2019	Winter's Musing	Quatrain	longing,winter,
2/4/2019	One Last Tear	Tanka	death,war,
2/3/2019	Keep Smiling	Than-Bauk	emotions,
2/2/2019	Blue Eyes	Crystalline	love,
2/1/2019	The River	Rispetto	how i feel,river,
1/29/2019	Timeless	Haiku	ocean,
9/30/2016	Lamentation	Tanka	sorrow,
9/20/2016	Cool Winter Morning	Haiku	nature,winter,
7/9/2016	Setbacks Conquered	Senryu	life,
7/3/2016	Summer Sounds	Free verse	seasons,
5/28/2016	Objects of Beauty- Glass Art Haiku	Haiku	art,imagery,
5/26/2016	Round the Bend	Tanka	feelings,how i feel,
5/22/2016	Summer Symphony	Tanka	summer,
5/19/2016	Enough- For Dr Seuss	Couplet	children,humor,
5/7/2016	Feeding the Ducklings	Couplet	appreciation,happiness,
5/5/2016	Into Nothingness	Tanka	memory,sleep,
4/23/2016	Dogs In Heaven	Couplet	animal,love,
4/13/2016	Sentinel In the Night	Quatrain	appreciation,courage,
3/20/2016	A Wish To Fly	Pantoum	dream,imagination,
3/19/2016	Wind Element	Alliteration	wind,
3/18/2016	It Was One of Those Mornings	Limerick	age,humorous,work,
3/16/2016	A Poet's Spring	Quatrain	poetry,spring,daffodils,
3/15/2016	Colorblind- For Contest	Monoku	imagery,time,
3/13/2016	Apologies To My Mother	Ghazal	introspection,mother,
3/9/2016	Breathtaking	Acrostic	introspection,nature,
3/9/2016	Cops and Robbers	Than-Bauk	conflict,humorous,
3/8/2016	Earth Element-California Gold	Senryu	history,
3/6/2016	It Went Up and Came Down	Couplet	childhood,growing up,
3/5/2016	Ordinary Orange	Tanka	color,
3/4/2016	Time Marches On	Tanka	time,
3/3/2016	Redhead	Senryu	beauty,
3/2/2016	Exercise	Footle	humor,imagery,
2/24/2016	Drowning- For Contest	Monoku	fantasy,imagery,
2/20/2016	Pure Water- For Contest	Monoku	water,
2/19/2016	The Thrill Was Gone-For Contest	Limerick	age,humor,
2/18/2016	Oh, the Life of a Pig	Couplet	humor,silly,
2/18/2016	From the Mountain Top	Senryu	inspirational,mountains,p
2/16/2016	With the River	Rhyme	dream,sorrow,
2/14/2016	Vacation In Costa Rica	Quatrain	beautiful,tribute,vacatio
2/10/2016	In the Deep-Contest	Haiku	beauty,deep,ocean,
2/10/2016	In a Perfect World	Choka	image,life,
2/7/2016	My Parting Gifts- a Piece of Advise	Quatrain	introspection,wisdom,
2/4/2016	Lost In the Haze	Tanka	dark,life,drug,
2/3/2016	Solitude	Monoku	poetry,writing,
1/30/2016	The Call of the Shore	Free verse	absence,how i feel,ocean,
1/26/2016	Magnum Opus	Monoku	beauty,music,
1/25/2016	Age Has Its Privileges	Dodoitsu	age,birthday,humor,
1/22/2016	Another Time	Villanelle	age,lost love,
1/20/2016	Listen	Tanka	introspection,
1/19/2016	An Epitaph	Monoku	beauty,
1/18/2016	Sunset Spectacular	Acrostic	beauty,introspection,suns
1/17/2016	The Colors of Winter -Repost	Crystalline	color,
1/17/2016	A Simple Pleasure	Quatrain	emotions,introspection,
1/15/2016	Be Wise	Dodoitsu	emotions,introspection,
1/12/2016	Into the Blue	Quatrain	baseball,imagination,
1/10/2016	Memories of the Sea - Repost	Sonnet	imagination,sea,
1/10/2016	You Have a Choice	Senryu	how i feel,introspection,
1/9/2016	Wonderful	Acrostic	children,humor,love,
1/5/2016	Wool- Not For Contest	Couplet	humor,
1/4/2016	Sedoku Contest- the Porch Light	Sedoka	love,mom,
1/3/2016	Grief - Repost	Acrostic	grief,
1/2/2016	New Beginings- a Shardorma	Verse	encouraging,inspirational
12/26/2015	Sunset - Repost	Choka	sky,,western,
12/24/2015	The Cost of Infidelity- For Contest	Light Verse	humor,
12/21/2015	Paradise On Earth	Acrostic	books,inspiration,
12/19/2015	Life Is a Puzzle	Tanka	introspection,life,
12/19/2015	Resolutions	Limerick	how i feel,humorous,
12/18/2015	Twinkle Twinkle Little Star- Repost	Quatrain	imagination,sky,
12/17/2015	Finding Happiness	Acrostic	happy,introspection,persp
12/14/2015	Class Reunion	Tanka	age,introspection,
12/9/2015	Special Olympics	Monoku	childhood,health,inspirat
12/8/2015	Hidden Pond	Tetractys	beautiful,water,
12/8/2015	Lets Play Ball	Quatrain	baseball,childhood,

My Photos

ps_dscf0029.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Ice Cream	Haiku	food,husband,love,nature,
Grove	Tanka	nature
The Laundromat	Tanka	life
Apples - Multiple Haiku	Haiku	food,funny
No Heaven Without You	Couplet	faith,friendship,hope,lov
No Guarantee	Rhyme	life,people
Roads	Rhyme	devotion,faith,hope,inspi
Midnight Feast	Haiku	nature
Pings	Haiku	childhood,holiday
Tanka Poetic	Tanka	life
November Pearls	Crystalline	nature,seasons
Man's Folly	Haiku	war
Crosswise-My Friends	Shape	friendship,on writing and
Eve's Apple Pie	Light Verse	philosophy,
Heart Song	Nonet	friendship,life,love
Tailored Words	Quintain (English)	introspection,love,on wri
Sunshinethunder	Couplet	imagination,naturesun,
Broken Branch	Haiku	hope,life,nature
You Are My Everything	Free verse	love,time,upliftinglove,i
Just For Fun	Light Verse	funny
A Moment In Death	Free verse	death,life,love,wife
Barbara Jean	Free verse	friendship,girlfriend-boy
Apple Blossoms	Verse	life
Murmuring Softly	Senryu	animals
Night Bird	Rhyme	lost love,romance,sadnigh
Forgotten North	Free verse
Dead Poets	Dramatic Verse	poets,

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Lisa Cooper	United States	Read
Joe Maverick	United Kingdom	Read
Mario De Paz	Italy	Read