ungainly man
sloped shoulders
where he sits
packing slips are scattered
a cylinder for a head is bent over his work
two whirls in the short-cropped hair exposed upward
are like two clocks gone mad at odds with each other
there was the trucker who wrongly took him for Baby Huey
"good day, Mademoiselle" he jeered in the doorway
"good day, Mademoiselle?
...I'll shit ya' a Mademoiselle" came flying back in his face
like rock salt and bacon fat
sometimes the children arrive at work to see daddy:
the two year old angel with an imp in her eye
and little Marc-Antoine
eyes fixed
silent as a sphinx
Mario
when the women walk by his desk
they put a gentle hand to his shoulder
and he smiles to himself
Author notes
...ainsi est la vie.
In a list
A contest entry
- Such is Life by just mercedes.
4000 points, ended December 3, 2008, 37 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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great characterization. I can picture this man and kids and came back to read it again; it fascinated me.
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This was a very interesting write and i like the way you set the whole thing out. You'll have to tel us a little about this gentleman. Such a tender write with the children, and especially when the ladies touched his shoulder....that was a good touch. Sounds like he has a heart of a lamb but there lurks within the braun of the king...perhaps a fox. Well written indeed.
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heart of a lamb...braun of the king...and a bit of a fox, sounds like Mario!
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This is a great slice of life, shown with such empathy I feel honoured to have been made aware of Mario. Thank you for this fine entry.
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who's mario? i wish i would write more. i sliced my finger at work today. see you soon xxx
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Mario is the guy at "reception de marchandise" at work...I son.t think you know him.
How many stitches in your finger?! -
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i never heard of him. i cut my cut on wednesday
its healing fine though. you have to come eat a salad soon! xxx
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LOL great write.
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children at work.. that part... i adored.
i giggled at the 'ill shit ya' part
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Captivating...
Beautifully written...well crafted...a slice of life poetry...Mario...les enfants...the co-workers...all live and breath in this scenario...maybe Marc-Antoine has the silence of the sphinx in his eyes as he is weighing up the weight on his daddy's sloping shoulders...the thoughtful man who gets lost inside concentrating ...who is a lamb until pressed and then becomes lionesque...I adored the descriptiveness of the hair...the whirls akin to crop circles circling different directions...much like life...one needs work to fund lifestyle...yet at work one may feel is this living...the women being tender as they pass by seemingly seek to offer a comforting there-there it's ok...we understand...and Mario smiles to himself...maybe he is too proud to seek such validation but values it when it is given without being sought out...this man that has learned to the souls of others by what their eyes reveal and to hear others whether or not they speak...
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Interesting! The imagery is excellent and you have the eye of the artist. Well done.
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love this page from the book of a life.. the last of it so dear.
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Ah such is life and so beautifully portrayed here too, i see somethings jump out at you quite well, i thoroughly enjoyed this.
C
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