rusty old and beautiful

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mat james
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Location: Australia

rusty old and beautiful

Post by mat james »

rusty, old and beautiful


...and you asked if you could drive
my old blue ute.

Do you know how long
I have waited
to hear that simple request?
that simple pleasure
that funny little journey
in a beat-up ol' bomb of a truck
with a woman
who wanted to be there!

the fun
the silliness
the adventure
the simple joy
of valuing something quite worthless
rusty, old and beautiful
for what it is
and still does

beautiful
like the weathered face
(you say)
of an outdoor man
with dents and lines
rusted and beaten to character.

I loved that old ute
and I loved you
for looking
beyond that rusty blue.
Last edited by mat james on Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:11 am, edited 5 times in total.
"Without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart." San Juan de la Cruz.
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lizzytysh
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Location: Florida, U.S.A.

Post by lizzytysh »

This is great, Mat 8) . I have a thing for old pick-up trucks on dusty, country roads in summer, windows open. This also reminds me of a song written and sung by Julie Christensen, though I can't recall the title at the moment. It can be listened to on her site, though. You might want to find it. I think you'd enjoy it.

This is really effective in making the point of your poem:
that simple pleasure
that funny little journey
in a beat-up ol' bomb of a truck
with a woman
who wanted to be there!
I like all of it, really. Every bit of it's true. Refreshing.


~ Lizzy
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Boss
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Post by Boss »

I imagine an advert with some boring predictable bimbo-model draped over a shiny black BMW. Everything so fucking beautiful; so horrific.

And I think of your poem. Thank you.

In peace
Boss 8)
Bernard
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Location: Beyond the breakers, beyond the green deep, there I abide.

Post by Bernard »

Hi Mat,

A beautiful piece of work. Seamless. :D

Best wishes

Bernard
In light unbroken
Diane

Post by Diane »

Yes Mat, that is a beautiful poem. It puts me in mind of a time a few years back when I drove down to the coast in the wind and rain. You don't usually see anyone by the sea in weather like that, but a battered old muddy pick-up pulled up in the car park and a man got out with his two children. The kids ran along the beach, runnning from the wild tide as it surged, laughing, getting wet. I watched the man leaning against his old pick-up as he stood there in the rain smiling and watching his children play. And I have an idea why the woman in your poem loves your rusty old ute.

Thanks,

Diane
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lizzytysh
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Post by lizzytysh »

You don't usually see anyone by the sea in weather like that, but a battered old muddy pick-up pulled up in the car park and a man got out with his two children. The kids ran along the beach, runnning from the wild tide as it surged, laughing, getting wet. I watched the man leaning against his old pick-up as he stood there in the rain smiling and watching his children play.
That's a beautiful scene 8) .

~ Lizzy
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mat james
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Location: Australia

Post by mat james »

Lizzy, Boss, Bernard and Diane,
Thanks for the encouragement and stories. A poet needs a little affirmation now and then....
Diane, that was, as Lizzy says, a beautiful scene you painted for us. I'm glad I took you back there.
Boss, Bernard and I were in the back of a pick-up just up the beach from you. Lizzy was driving ! We all had fun in the Welsh rain .
Did you see us? :D
"Without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart." San Juan de la Cruz.
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lizzytysh
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Post by lizzytysh »

:lol: At first I thought, "He and Bernard know each other!?!" Well, someone's going to have to take over on the driving pretty soon because I like to ride with my feet on the dash :D .


~ Lizzy
Diane

Post by Diane »

Did you see us?
Mat, I didn't then, but I can now.

You put your feet up, Lizzy, I'll drive. How about we ask Mat and Bernard and Boss to recite some poetry whilst we drive up into the mountains in the rain 8) ?

Oh, hang on; first let's pick up that guy who I first saw on the beach with his kids. It looks like Switz ...

Diane :D
SWITZ
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Location: SEATTLE, WA

Post by SWITZ »

...oh sure I'll get in..!!! Some mad woman has been chasing me all day... :?
uh..? What are all those cigarettes doing between Lizzy's toes ?
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lizzytysh
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Post by lizzytysh »

SWITZ ~ What cigs? I remember how you are on these road trips, Switz :shock: . Beer and cigs... beer and cigs... I think the kids oughta ride up front with us.

Diane ~ thanks for taking over :D ... poetry from the back sounds like a good idea 8) , too. If we pass any carnivals, just keep going. If you slow down, we're liable to lose Switz.

Who's going to be first back there?

Let me know when you want a break, Diane. Once I've ridden like this for awhile, I'm fine :D . I'm not hearing anything back there, are you?


~ Lizzy
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Boss
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Post by Boss »

I've been to the centre
of this dry harsh land
and seen the Rock, the outback
- oh so grand!
The red sunset's vivid
as slowly oblivion fills the sky
the dry river's sleeping
above it the stars so high

I saw the shattering story
of a once nomadic race
who have fallen so low
just trying to keep pace
Not the Europeans of course
no, they're so full of dignity
it was the darker race
the man - Aborigine

How I looked on with sympathy
from my heart it was oozing
how I felt so ashamed
at their constant boozing
We brought them horror
come on, let's face it
for along with us
came all of our bullshit

The boy playing pinball
striving for top score
yet not even worrying
about the mud on his paw
The man drinking whiskey
realism fading away
he looks forward to one thing
his fortnightly pay day

Their hatred for us
is so justifiable
for what have we given
except our Bible
I see them in streets
littering the gutters
how awful I feel
that we close our shutters

How it must have been
a century ago it seems
no booze or unemployment
and with self esteem
Their past full of glory
their present so bleak
the future looks dark
oh how can we sleep?

I feel helpless for them
once proud with no nonsense
and I live with it by day
regret on my conscience
Forced from their lands
into our creed
our ways of absurdity
they're not our breed

Isn't there any light?
there must be some hope
will they resurrect
or will they cope?
No one can help them
least of all me
or maybe I can
how about we?



I wrote that when I was sixteen. Who is next?
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mat james
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Location: Australia

Post by mat james »

My Mystic Night


Above my desert cave
alone
having gazed upward
chasing past midnight
the Milky Way
on a clear, moonless and forever starry night
having spotted galaxies
starry clouds
having relished touching them
with my mind
in saturated joy
in beauty
in love with the fiery cosmic spraying night
of void and light

I spun 'round
raised my arms high
and sighed a lovers call

"ah! the universe and I"

and a downward shooting star
lightening bright
perfectly bisected
my Mystic night!
Last edited by mat james on Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart." San Juan de la Cruz.
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lizzytysh
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Post by lizzytysh »

What a great idea this was, Diane 8) ... and I love that night air.

Boss's poem has that driving into the mountains feel of seeing all that has gone before and his feelings about it. You were well beyond your years at 16, Boss. Your consciousness was and remains so clear:
No one can help them
least of all me
or maybe I can
how about we?
Mat's seems to literally be taking in our landscape. Thanks, guys 8) . I love this, Mat:
I spun 'round
raised my arms high
and sighed a lovers call

"ah! the universe and I"
Was that the sound of paper I hear? Yes... I think Switz and Bernard are leafing through their notebooks 8) .


~ Lizzy
SWITZ
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Location: SEATTLE, WA

Post by SWITZ »

Lizzy it must have been your idea to bring along all these cases of Watney's red barrel.. :D ..minus the German tourists...

Lost my job in the city
lost my witty kitty
now isn't it a pity
now I can't pay my rent
but you won't see me in a tent
cause I'm livin' on plastic...alivin' alivin' alivin'
Now I'm gonna go to Rome
throw the dog a bone
cause no place now is home
yeah I'm livin' this dream
peaches n' cream buyin' sight unseen
livin' where anything goes packin' my clothes
high steppin' stuttin' don't step on no toes
and I'm livin' on plastic
So when you read this letter
I'll just be light across the sky
unknown, unlisted, understanding that I'm
starting all over again
and I'll be livin' on plastic...alivin' alivin'



Craig


next....? :)
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