THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

In the interests in broadening our horizons, this section is devoted to verse which falls outside the parameters of rhyme and metre, such as blank verse and free verse. Registered users are welcome to post their original works here.
Post Reply
User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Mon May 02, 2016 6:17 pm

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM ... Maureen Clifford © The ‪#‎ScribblyBark‬ Poet
sydney street.jpg

On the corner there is an ornate lamp post
a relic of earlier times - a distant glimpse
of what once was
when people were more gracious
time less hurried
before motorways became the accepted norm
and the combination of slippery roads
and wet bank holidays
began their natural cull.


Bank after bank of tulips reflected in the lake
like the winking tail lights of cars
red and amber, red and amber
and in the ambient light ....
the spring colours, the old houses, the ornate lamp post
offer a moment of sweet relief.


But the price of freedom does not come cheap.
Gold coins are fed into the gaping maw
of a gangster standing on wall to wall axminster.
There's safety in numbers,
but the numbers never come together.
The kings don't congregate here - or work for good.
They are lazy loafers
that spend their days aimlessly reeling about.


The bar fly - glass in hand
swipes idly at the condensation on the bar
making pink puddles as it mixes
with the red dust coming in.
He is standing on the bottom rung of the ladder now.
The lowest of the low - brought down by his addictions
to booze and gambling ... nowhere left to go.

***
On the corner there is an ornate lamp post
a relic of earlier times - a distant glimpse
of what once was.
It sheds its light over a mound
of putrid road kill
alongside the winking lights
blue and red, blue and red
as slowly the warble of the sirens
playing a final dirge, sink into silence.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Neville Briggs
Posts: 6946
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:08 pm
Location: Here

Re: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Post by Neville Briggs » Mon May 02, 2016 8:23 pm

I see what you mean Maureen. To live without hope is no life.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Tue May 03, 2016 5:07 pm

Thank you Neville - for some people life becomes incredibly difficult.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Terry
Posts: 3287
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:53 pm

Re: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Post by Terry » Wed May 04, 2016 12:13 am

Very, very descriptive Maureen.

Total Freedom, so few ever really find it, and even if they do they gladly exchange it for - WHAT.

Terry

User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Wed May 11, 2016 8:35 am

Thank you for reading Terry - I sometimes wonder if all of this drug abuse is an escape for people who really think that their life has no hope or promise of a better future.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Post Reply