Friday, November 12, 2010

On The Road Again

And we're off! But before we hop aboard, you just have to join Willy while he wails about our trip! Take a look at this American icon if only to get a gander at Porter Wagonner's sparkly suit! Then ride with us on these bumpy roads less traveled.



Here we go...

The Bug

Poetikat

Muse Swings

Jeanne Iris

Dave King

altar ego

Jinksy

Helen

Rachel Fox

swiss

Stafford Ray

120 Socks

Liz 

Carolina Linthead 

Peter Goulding
 
Enchanted Oak

Totalfeckineejit (our fearless leader)

Weaver of Grass 

Various 

annell 

Titus 

Dick Jones
And here's my ticket. Don't even ask...

LAZARUS

Did you pull the cloths around you,
holding on for all you had?

Did you try to stop your ears
against the swarming in your head?

Did your bending knees creak
when they hit the cold stone slab?

Did your papery feet quell
when they stood upon that  floor?

Did your eyes regret the light
that poured in through the vacant door?

Did you hide your irritation
at arising from your bed, or

Did your parched throat croak a plea
to simply let the dead be dead?

30 comments:

  1. Hi Karen. Thanks for your kind comment on Robert Frost's Banjo. Your Sunflower poem, below, is particularly fine and so suited to the season. The worm's view, the crow's view, the poet's view. Well, we have the whole winter ahead to think on these things.

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  2. That was great fun! I like Willie.

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  3. Dana - I couldn't write it. Well, I did, but it was too confessional, so I don't have the nerve yet.

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  4. Or it would, if the link worked!

    http://pens-poems.blogspot.com/2010/11/poetry-bus-for-15th-november.html

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  5. Ask what? I loved this. It really made me think that maybe if it hadn't been for his sisters wailing so much he may have preferred the rest. You made me see him coming back alive and in my strange world that is the best kind of poetry giving me an image I never thought upon before.

    Nicely done Karen.

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  6. Lazarus? Hmmm- Do love the first lines
    and there was a split vote depending on the last answer- Thanks.

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  7. Third time lucky perhaps - I'm wasting lots of tickets! HERE

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  8. Wonderful take on a unique prompt!!!

    Mine ticket to ride is at http://woonietest.blogspot.com

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  9. Have just read the prompt - shall soon be at the bus stop.

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  10. Is it just me..I'm finding some of the links to the other poems (from the post) a bit sticky.
    x

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. I don't understand the link system, so click on name beside the old grey head if you want to see a road limerick. Some people are born to suffer so why not you!

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  13. Love this Karen! I've always had a problem with 'The Prodigal Son' and of late Lazarus has been bothering me too. I like how you've dealt with it!

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  14. The repetition works well with the twist in the final stanza. Powerful stuff.

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  15. Clever piece, Karen. Love how it flows off the lips and the ending. Brava!

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  16. Okay, wonderful woman, I'm finally at the bus stop - http://stammeringpoet.blogspot.com/2010/11/two-roads-forkin.html

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  17. Hello my favorite poets in the whole wide world! I'm on steroids and powerful and I can't talk without exclamation points!
    Your interrogation of Lazarus grips me. How do you write so succinctly in the rhyming form? Each word is a bon mot, nothing lilts off into a singsong. The questions you pose... I like what Walking Man said.
    Here's my ticket:
    I’m being assaulted here!
    or if the link is wonky: http://chrisalba-enchantedoak.blogspot.com/

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  18. excellent, and yes, that last question, good one

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  19. Hi, Guys and Gals! Thanks for joining the ride! I must apologize for the problems with the links. I had unexpected weekend company, so I had to sneak off to post your poems. I think I have things all cleared up now.

    About Lazarus, too -- The prompt was actually inspired by the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who went out on a limb to see Jesus. I started thinking about Zacchaeus' choice of coming down from that tree so that Jesus could stay at his house. He chose a road untraveled by tax collectors, as did Jesus in hanging out with sinners, etc. This got me thinking about others in the Bible stories who had a choice -- the woman at the well, the good Samaritan, and, eventually, Lazarus. What if he didn't want to come back? Did anyone ask HIM?

    Anyway, I've probably told you more than you want to know. The truth is, I started writing a confessional poem about choices but it is toooooo personal and I just couldn't go there, at least publicly. So...you get an old dead guy who played a pivotal role in HIS story. Did he want to? Do any of us really choose our paths?

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  20. the lazarus poem is pretty bleak, love the last two couplets especially, v unique take, thanks again for driving.

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  21. Yeah, I think many of the dead probably like it that way.

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  22. Poor Lazarus. I feel bad for him here.

    Thanks for the comment this morning!

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  23. hey, it is Susan at Stony River' birthday, someone told me......?
    go wish her happiness!
    an amazing take from an ignored voice! I was told to take a new piece on being a woman "cuckold" from all viewpoints....into 3-4 poems.
    Di

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  24. Karen
    I loved you putting history into a poem.
    I think the last is correct, and I think that's why Jesus wept.
    He knew
    wonderful piece
    and I looove Porters coat!
    cept for the time george jones peed on it
    Love~rick

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  25. Thanks for riding along on the bus this week and taking us down your various paths. I feel greatly honored to have made the acquaintance of such fine poets. Long live the Bus! Long live the TFE, poet and promoter extraordinaire!

    As for Lazarus, I think we'll put him back to bed. :-)

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  26. I know it's nearly next week, but I'm here! Panting.

    http://titusthedog.blogspot.com/2010/11/late-for-bus-not-my-choice.html

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  27. And I like Lazarus. Form and intent beautifully melded.

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  28. A fascinating take on the Lazarus story, reflecting both on narrative and symbolism. Powerful and provocative. It suggests a number of similarly inclined projects - Pilate, Barabbas, and, of course, Judas.

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