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JLY
Posted on: Jan 27 20, 19:03


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Daniel,
Well done and very topical, you didn't spare the rod and therefore it had more of a sarcastic bite to it.
JLY


  Forum: Fixed Form and Rhyming Poetry for Critique -... · Post Preview: #152643 · Replies: 8 · Views: 21,400

JLY
Posted on: Feb 26 17, 18:25


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Lori,
Thank you. I had a topsy turvy year and I need to get back to writing.
JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #146399 · Replies: 7 · Views: 11,736

JLY
Posted on: Feb 25 17, 20:04


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Larry,
Thank you. It is not a true story, however, some of the images are ones that I observed.

I always polish up these challenge poems because I find the words are often restrictive and I replace some of them to make it better in the end.

JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #146378 · Replies: 7 · Views: 11,736

JLY
Posted on: Feb 24 17, 13:51


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Daniel,
Thank you; it has been a very busy year. My wife has had many health issues; we sold our house and moved into a smaller home and time has just slipped by.
Hope to be back active again as I have managed to write quite a few things.

JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #146354 · Replies: 7 · Views: 11,736

JLY
Posted on: Feb 24 17, 07:16


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Denis,
Free verse becomes you. Like Daniel, I too am waiting for the next episode in what could be a great series about you and your lady love.

JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #146352 · Replies: 4 · Views: 9,673

JLY
Posted on: Feb 24 17, 07:05


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Maureen,
I enjoyed how you used the word mask. It was a smooth read and it took us on a journey through your main character's lifetime.

Well done,
JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #146351 · Replies: 4 · Views: 9,750

JLY
Posted on: Feb 24 17, 07:00


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Dreams, Alive and Well

The beach was eerie, as still air lingered,
in full darkness, no stars could be seen,
only a lone moonbeam sparkled on high
where ocean avenue met street eighteen.

Its been twenty years since love peaked,
on a burgundy blanket we became one,
baring our bodies and baring our souls,
emotions taxed, promises never to be undone

What the night knew, it wouldn't divulge,
the sounds of silence deafening for us both,
fear of letting go was a mask we wore,
in the damp sand we etched a faithful oath.

Recollections of her snip at my consciousness;
What became of that high school queen?
Her steel gray eyes and auburn hair,
continue to emblazon each and every dream.

Words used (in order of appearance): star, sparkle, twenty, love, burgundy, tax, mask, recollect snip, steel
[center][/center]
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #146350 · Replies: 7 · Views: 11,736

JLY
Posted on: Feb 12 17, 11:44


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Daniel,
Well done in a brief but sensible manner.
JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #146100 · Replies: 7 · Views: 10,147

JLY
Posted on: Mar 4 16, 19:14


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Lori,
Thanks. I have had several second chances and I appreciate each and every one of them.

JLY
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  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #142742 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,925

JLY
Posted on: Feb 15 16, 07:14


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Merlin,
Thank you. I am getting on in years but I have been reconnecting with some wonderful friends of my past and these experiences have been very rewarding and the inspiration for much of what I currently write.
JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #142439 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,925

JLY
Posted on: Feb 15 16, 07:12


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Dear Luce:
Thank you. I drew from my youthful memories to find a theme that I could wrap around the required words.
JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #142438 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,925

JLY
Posted on: Feb 7 16, 15:08


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Larry,
Thanks. She is real and just as lovely as she was back then.
JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #142314 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,925

JLY
Posted on: Feb 5 16, 14:52


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Larry,
This was a fun read and I really enjoyed your description of the heart pills. It was a fun diversion on my snowy day.
JLY
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #142271 · Replies: 2 · Views: 2,333

JLY
Posted on: Feb 5 16, 14:49


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BACK IN TIME

We were classmates back in time,
yet strangers without a glowing voice;
paths never crossed, eyes never met
surely not by design, not by choice.

In comforting circles we traveled,
hoping to keep us safe and secure;
each day we chased citrus sunsets
over horizons superficially obscure.

Often puzzled by embryonic emotions,
where did we fit, where did we belong?
We slipped while scaling highest hills,
fell short, some decisions a bit wrong.

Professed promises seldom realized,
frustrations a part of finding our way,
faces tinged with magenta complexions,
just a part of infatuations gone astray.

Trying too hard to find a confidant,
to lift our spirits, support and inspire;
why didn’t we take a chance, reach out
share a smile with one we most admire.

Words used (in order of appearance); class, glow, choice, chased, citrus, horizon, hill, profess, magenta, inspire
  Forum: Weekly Challenges -> Acropolis · Post Preview: #142270 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,925

JLY
Posted on: Dec 1 15, 07:49


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Daniel;
I am always amazed by your ability to create these eye-pleasing forms. Sometimes it is the format that takes center stage, but in this case it is both the content and form that stand out for me.

Well-done.

JLY
  Forum: Fixed Form and Rhyming Poetry for Critique -... · Post Preview: #140578 · Replies: 18 · Views: 7,876

JLY
Posted on: Nov 12 15, 18:34


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Daniel,

Thank you.

JLY
  Forum: Monthly Challenges -> Pandora's Box · Post Preview: #139874 · Replies: 3 · Views: 5,416

JLY
Posted on: Nov 5 15, 08:53


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LIFE IS A TAPESTRY

A time for giving, a time for reflection,
Thanksgiving is when we share affection;
today and every day, rejoice by living,
a time for reflection, a time for giving.

Life is a tapestry, forever brightly hued,
a gentle nature evokes a friendly mood,
but a home provides a caring chemistry,
forever brightly hued, life is a tapestry.

Don’t watch the clock, listen to your heart,
savor each cherished memory a la carte;
compel yourself to stand tall, take stock,
listen to your heart, don’t watch the clock.

Don’t wilt to fear, take one more chance,
hold her in your arms for one more dance;
peer in her eyes, whisper softly in her ear,
take one more chance, don’t wilt to fear.
  Forum: Monthly Challenges -> Pandora's Box · Post Preview: #139708 · Replies: 3 · Views: 5,416

JLY
Posted on: Nov 5 15, 07:56


Ornate Oracle
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Antony,
I offer you a warm welcome. We appreciate and respect differing topics and points of view and I look forward to reading your postings.

JLY
  Forum: Introduce Yourself · Post Preview: #139706 · Replies: 3 · Views: 6,119

JLY
Posted on: Nov 5 15, 07:53


Ornate Oracle
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Mike,
Welcome aboard. I too am old, pushing 68. I also have varied interests and I believe you will find MM to be a friendly place to hang your hat.

JLY
  Forum: Introduce Yourself · Post Preview: #139705 · Replies: 7 · Views: 8,414

JLY
Posted on: Nov 5 15, 07:51


Ornate Oracle
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JJ,
Welcome. I think you will find that we offer several areas that will compliment your writing style.

Looking forward to your future postings as we all strive to improve our writing abilities through interactive comments that are positive and constructive.

JLY
  Forum: Introduce Yourself · Post Preview: #139704 · Replies: 6 · Views: 8,118

JLY
Posted on: Apr 21 15, 07:45


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The One That Got Away

Did you ever have that one relationship where you knew it was just perfect from the start and nothing could go wrong, but for whatever reason it didn’t work out and it haunted you over time?

Take a trip with me back to the mid-seventies. I was adrift, had no one special that I was involved with and a friend of mine threw me a lifeline. I was given the opportunity to go on a blind date and I accepted the offer. My experiences with blind dates had been mixed but I was an open-minded person and wanted to take a chance. I double dated with my friends Bob and Carol and we all went together to my date’s house to pick her up.

We were on time and my date was punctual as well. Thankfully there was no uneasy feeling trying to carry on a conversation with a family member I hadn’t met before. As soon as Emma came to the door, my jaw dropped and I felt a rush of euphoria percolate my senses. She was absolutely gorgeous and she had the warmest of smiles, not forced or put on, just bright and cheery. I felt an instant connection but I didn’t want to seem too eager or aggressive. I had learned several times that first impressions can go awry and the person behind that enticing façade is not necessarily the one that will later become a true, caring companion. I learned many times not to judge a book by its cover, or a woman by a pretty façade. Some of the best relationships I ever had were with those women who initially didn’t enthrall me but over time I would find out those hidden qualities that were sensual and enduring.

Emma had long flowing, golden blonde hair which framed her large gold hoop earrings. She clearly stood out in our group of four. Bob, Carol and I were dressed neat and casual as if we were going to the movies. Emma had on a tight-fitting dress that had a colorful sheen to it. She had a striking resemblance to Rita Hayworth’s character in the film Salome. Her high heels went well with the dress but seemed like a dash of formality when paired alongside our relaxed loafers. Perhaps she wore the heels because she wanted to appear taller. Emma was five foot four without heels and I was six foot one without high heels as well.

Emma was a casual acquaintance of Carol’s and perhaps the two ladies talked about the evening but it seemed like there were mixed signals. One was geared up for dancing; the other was ready for the picture show.

We went to the Stanley Warner Theater on Rt. 4 in Paramus. At the time that was our area’s multiplex theater. It showed four movies! Today, the one that is closest to my home shows sixteen! Bob and I did the correct thing at the time and we gave up our desire to see an action flick and deferred to selecting a “chick flick.” Strangely I cannot remember the name of the movie. I pride myself on remembering every little detail of my past. I can tell you the most insignificant facts and happenings of my youth: my home phone number, high school locker number, song titles, TV shows, sports trivia, old girlfriend’s birthdays; but that was one time when it was a blur. I can remember the scent of Emma’s perfume, Charlie, but the movie we viewed remains a mystery. Was I watching the screen in front of me or was I just gazing all night long at this lovely beauty to my right?

The conversation in the car to and from the movies was punctured with laughter. Nothing was forced. It seemed like every topic or comment elicited an easy going response. We all went for a bite to eat and I drove Emma home. I remember we sat in the car and talked for quite a long time and we both concluded that a second date would be a sure thing.

We followed all of the traditional dating rituals and every phone call was a pleasurable part of our romantic journey. Emma was one of those gals that looked equally as lovely in a pair of old jeans as she did in a “Pretty Woman” red dress. At the time we dated she was employed as a model for Playtex in Paramus. That saying, “you can’t judge a book by its cover” accurately described Emma. She was nothing like the persona you saw. Emma’s magnetic appearance was just that, but nothing more. Under the surface, she was a casual, girl-next-door, kind of person. She was not the type to use her attractive charms for any advantage. It was almost as though she felt cursed by them.

Despite the good times, there was always an underlying dramatic element. I could never understand how the most attractive women would embrace such duress. You would think they could have their pick of any man but yet their choices always befuddled me. Always lurking as a divisive force were her bad memories and experiences with other guys. As close as we would get to each other, Emma would pull the other way. I never could figure out her tentative nature. She never seemed to put forth the effort. I would get frustrated and make some stupid comments and there would be arguments that precipitated a cooling off period.

When I was sick, Emma took care of me and when the stars were brightly aligned and the moon was full, she was a starlet all aglow. She enjoyed the finer things in life but she was probably more at ease when she was at her Uncle’s farm in Pennsylvania. Family was always important to her and Suzanne was very close to her sister, brother and mother.

Emma at the time made me feel special. We have all been there. There are people we meet and date who are above the rest. They have some intrinsic quality that captivates us. It could be an attractive, physical quality or it could be an emotional thread that pierces our heart. Oftentimes I used poor judgment when dating. Rarely did I find that comforting connection. I always seemed to misread their signals and didn’t clearly perceive the nuances of their body language. I would either be too giving and generous to the ones that cared the least and too ambivalent to the few that truly beguiled me with amative embraces.

I distinctly remember one of those magical moments when my romantic dreams came to fruition. It was a hot, humid and sticky Saturday night in July of 1975. The streets of New York were quiet and empty. It was Emma’s birthday and we celebrated it at one of the idyllic restaurants of that time, The Ravelled Sleeve on First Avenue. Emma was stunning in a summery dress. Her pretty, natural features were never masked by gobs of makeup. I tried to look cool and collected but no matter how hard I tried, the combination of the summer heat and Emma’s radiant smile left me in a perspired state. After dinner while we strolled along, I felt like my life was grand, just like those lyrics from My Fair Lady that resonated in my euphoric consciousness:

“I have often walked down this street before
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before
All at once I am several stories high…”

After having experienced the thrill of walking on air, I was thrown into a darkened abyss. At the time I never could rationalize those polar opposites. The slightest disagreement would result in expressions of cold resentment and a cooling-off period. I would seek advice from my closest friends. They were of no help. They offered no support and their perspectives were contradictory to what I wanted to hear from them. In particular, my friend’s wives were catty and injurious in their comments to me about Emma. She no longer wanted to be in the company of my friends because she accurately sensed that she was not perceived in a good light. I was torn. I chose to be with Suzanne rather than to be in a social setting with my closest friends.

I put all of my energy into this relationship but it never seemed to result in the fulfillment of any ecstatic fantasies. I always seemed to be one step ahead in my emotional thought process. We were never on the same page. I deluded myself into thinking I would be experiencing all of those pent-up idealistic dreams that I had harbored for so many months.

It was Emma’s decision to break apart for the final time. Rarely does one part on good terms, because if one were on good terms one would not part. I continued to hold on to the belief that you never lose by loving, you only lose by holding back. In retrospect you just never know true happiness until you have truly loved and you will never understand what pain really is until you have lost the one person that filled your heart with joyous enchantment.

  Forum: Short Stories & Chapters for Critique ->... · Post Preview: #137165 · Replies: 0 · Views: 4,206

JLY
Posted on: Feb 27 15, 07:23


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Jerry,
Thank you for stopping by. I was in Arizona once and I enjoyed the visit. At my age, my brittle bones just don't like the cold weather anymore. I think it is time for me to move.

JLY
  Forum: Fixed Form and Rhyming Poetry for Critique -... · Post Preview: #136741 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,505

JLY
Posted on: Feb 26 15, 14:12


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Syl,
Thank you very much. I did print this in color on pretty paper and I presented it to my wife along with a vase of red roses.

Poems are a good way to show one's love and I am glad that your Carlos shared his feelings with you.

I enjoyed writing this one, it was truly a labor of love.

JLY

  Forum: Fixed Form and Rhyming Poetry for Critique -... · Post Preview: #136738 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,505

JLY
Posted on: Feb 16 15, 10:52


Ornate Oracle
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Lori,
Thanks. Those of us who live in the Northeast are all praying for warmer weather. It was 2 when I went out this morning at 7 and it is only 4 now at 11. It looks like the cold weather will be here all week.

Stay warm if you can.
JLY
  Forum: Fixed Form and Rhyming Poetry for Critique -... · Post Preview: #136695 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,505

JLY
Posted on: Feb 14 15, 18:09


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Snow,
Thank you. My wife truly enjoyed it as Valentine's Day of 1981 was the day we had our first date.
JLY
  Forum: Fixed Form and Rhyming Poetry for Critique -... · Post Preview: #136686 · Replies: 8 · Views: 4,505

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