EXCAVATIONS IN A BANQUET ROOM
When asked was I ever in jail in Splunge MS
I found a bushel of gratitude at the irrelavancy
To the common good and never drew a breath
Before inviting balloon thoughts worth of tales
Into the salad course along with falling crumbs
Of wondering looks down that table soon fading
In the light of feedlot dawns, cottonfield blisters
Tales of seven day trips on mule-wagon cotton
Chuckles in entree serving cheap matinees
Drooping down regret holding communion
Over-filled glasses seeping away opinion
Of all the blue lost watches
And the found gold links.
MEMORIES CAN FREE US IF WE EXCHANGE THEM FREELY
WE MUST EXCHANGE THEM FOR OUR ASSUMPTIONS
WE MUST TRADE THEM FOR OUR DELUSIONS
WE MUST TRADE THEM FOR OUR REGRETS
WE MUST TRADE THEM WITH NO VALUE ADDED TAX
WE MUST TRADE THEM WITH NO EXPECTATION OF RETURN
WE MUST TRADE THEM WITHOUT A CHANGEPURSE
WE MUST TRADE THEM IN THE MARKETPLACE WITHOUT GATES
MEMORIES CAN FREE US WHEN WE FREE OTHERS.
granbee 
Nov 19, 2011 @ 05:45:29
memories are what hold us together And they are what keep us going.. For we take nothing else with us when we pass from this realm.. We take only that which we have kept inside our hearts.. ..
Nov 19, 2011 @ 22:42:01
Sue, what would I do without your input? Truly, what is kept within our hearts is the only reality, actually, even here on this side. Except we must live through some very hard lessons, usually, before we truly accept this reality. Thank you so much for input, Sue: I depend on YOU!
Nov 20, 2011 @ 02:19:15
I am new to your poetry having just followed you here from Becoming herself. This is a very striking poem, even at a first reading and even not quite comprehending your style yet. I hope you keep writing beyond 2011. This is one way of not hiding your “talent” in the ground; you are investing it with the bankers when you put it on the internet, though you can’t always see the interest accumulating.
I lived in Alabama when I was a child, 12 and 13 years old, in Mobile, and before that near Jackson, MS. And I am also a grandparent (grandfather is my case) and gardener. To me, writing is boiling down everything I have got out of life and trying to make as much sense as I can. I think you may be doing the same thing, and doing it well.
Nov 22, 2011 @ 04:11:55
Carroll, (that is my father’s first name!), I grew up near Jackson (between Utica and Crystal Springs in Bear Creek community). My son was born in Mobile when we are there with Army Corps of Engineers sub-contractors. Thank you so EXTREMELY much for your affirmation. Yes, I certainly WILL be writing far past 2011, as I have a great outline and some partial chapters of a novel going. My sustainable writing work time has now extended to about 5-6 hours per day, with only a couple of very short breaks. Believe it or not, when you totally absorbed by what you are writing, you are completely unaware of time passing! All the VERY best to you, Carroll. Keep blogging and writing! Thank you so much for your comments on this initial contact at my site!
Nov 22, 2011 @ 08:51:12
Very true, when you are absorbed you hardly notice the passing of time. My time is rather interrupted usually so I don’t often tire myself out in writing. I admit I am jealous you are writing a novel. I had always wanted to write fiction, but I lack the kind of imagination that takes. Poetry is as close as I get; otherwise my writing is all non-fiction.
I got the name Carroll from my mother’s mother’s maiden name. And my middle name, Wyatt, is my father’s mother’s maiden name. Anyway, I am glad to have made contact with you and look forward to your future posts.
Nov 23, 2011 @ 03:54:32
Carroll was a surname in my my father’s mother’s mother’s family. There are still some sort of cousins of ours in Carrollton, MS(go figure!). Carroll, try thinking of ALL your writing: comments, posts, memos, reports, letters, poems, essays: WHATEVER as all pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of a novel. I believe you will find the themes, activities, character types you most care about appearing, at least indirectly, in almost everything you write! Try scanning it ALL in to one big document and write transition sections between each part without moving the order of any of the parts. I think you will be most amazed!
Nov 23, 2011 @ 11:37:22
You know it is interesting to me how many times the Lord commands His people to remember something in the Bible. Sometimes memories are a terror. Sometimes they are a comfort. You have got me thinking either way.
Nov 24, 2011 @ 03:29:04
Soulwalker, I am gradually learning (now that I am totally white-haired!!) that the comforting memories WILL arrive in time to help heal us with understanding of the terror-inducing memories!