~by Gregg Rowe~
Even a small person can change the course of the world!
-Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Looking at my wedding finger, I stared at the emptiness
Our symbolic significance of a society's stares
Really, a man of your age is not married yet?
Did they declare, as they glared at the bare finger
Over and over I thought, then realized all these years
From the age of twenty-four I have had a life partner
To some this is shocking, but to me my reality
HIV became my lover, a journey of trials and tribulations
Everyday I glance at the gold band now on my finger, a constant
Reminder of the empowerment I endeared
In dealing with my chronic illness and living --
Now after twenty years I have come to the conclusion:
Gold of circle that I placed upon my finger
Signifies that I am lord of my ring
Author notes
rebel angel
4. write an acrostic for you AP name
I know it may be difficult to read this because of the background, but this background was made for me by a member of AP while I was in the hospital and I rarely use it, only for special writings so I plaese ask that you bear with me and highlight the poem for easy reading. gregg 
Written December 17th, 2004
In a list
- HIV and AIDS • next in list
- Mending My Muse • next in list
- The Honorables • next in list
- Winnie Learns the Alphabet (Acrostics) • next in list
- Course: Poetry and The ABC's • next in list
A contest entry
- Ladida by PurePassion.
500 points, ended March 27, 2006, 3 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 35 of 35
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This is really good! i loved the way you used lord of the ring(one of my fave trilogies), and used as a sign of pain, love, wedding band...really good! but you forgot one thing in the rules, which option you picked! although it is obvious i still would like you to put in as fairness for other contestants! thx and good luck!
xoxo
~~Danni~~ -
First I'd like to say, Thanks for sharing this awesome personal write. The name is perfect, as is the background. It's deep, real and sorrowfull. May God bless you as continue to grace us with your art . Bob aka Paggles
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I love this. Truly, it's inspirational. So many people can learn from you and your tribulations. Thanks for sharing with us. Great write!
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It was no bother for me to highlight the content of the poem and the comment area Gregg. I would never want to miss the sentiments written here. This poem made me go to your author page, steal that ribbon again, and place it on my page with my heartfelt sentiments. I am glad you find solace in the gold band on your finger that symbolizes infinity. The circle never ends, and your constant battle, no matter how weak you feel somedays, is an example for us ALL. Blessings and love to you my friend, and that dildo can replace my foot anyday! LMAO
Renee ♥ -
HI Gypsy: It has been a long time since I have seen you online, or times when we missed one another logging in, so I am so glad to see you back if only for a few minutes and hope that everything is well with you and life is not dealing you any hardships that you cannot handle. Gregg &hearts:
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Excellent piece Gregg. I wouldn't change a word of it. Again you have a way of speaking volumes, so strongly that the words go into the eyes and etch into our hearts and souls as you read them. Reality slaps you in the face, it makes you think, to see and wonder. It makes you take notice that the little things in life that we take for granted are indeed importants and the little annoyances, well... they just really are not. I can honestly say that reading your work has brought a new perspective to myself, I am a very open minded person in general and you each time seem to expand it in a way I can not possible explain to you. Thank you for being you and sharing your world with us. Hopefully all will hear what needs to be heard when reading your works. Ok, now I'm going to cry, so I must move on, but I will say this...you are a wonder my friend, a true wonder! I am blessed that you touched my life. Hugs, Gypsy
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wow this is soo sad and powerful.
Sounds like you have been through alot. It's a nice thing though to be able tio write baout it.
You did a really good job with this.
I like this alot
Good job
Danielle~ -
A beautifully scribed explanation. Truly this shows not only strength, but perseverance to overcome some of the largest obstacles many of us will never have to face. So Lord of The Rings you shall forever be...
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Hmmm, this fit well mentor with your screen name. And all this time I thought it had to do with The Lord Rings.
Seriously, some of us never marry because of complications along the way not cited or planned for in advance like many of us do so naively in youth.
sighs I had it all planned out. I was going to be a wrestler when I turned 18. I was going to marry Jeff Hardy TNA Wrestler I was going to start having children at 21. I was going to medical school, and try to save lives. Life just doesn't work out as you plan.
I am not a wrestler. I am passionate writer. What was I thinking?! I wasn't going to marry that ugly man.
Well, I am babysitting now. So all good their. Plus, I see how doctors, nurses, and medical students mistreat patiences during chronic illness. Let just say I am bitter towards a lot of medical profession, since my father didn't survive his illness because of malpractice.
Anyways, good write here mentor. I enjoyed it, and you also had me thinking. I think my name fits perfectly. Muses! stares goofingly at her cheap pop Oooh, I made a funny.
Cheers!
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i salute you, man! my first time to read a bio in a poem...you know most people do not understand the freedom enjoyed before marriage...as regards many people wondering why youre not married after 27..lol and i was more or less coerced into settling down ..not that i didnt want to..original write..great really
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Great poem Lord of the rings... You paint you bio in this poem very well... Best of luck in the contest to you... And this background is just wonderful.. You are really luck to have such loving friends around you... Keep writing..
Lonely~
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absolutely inspiring. beautiful poem. love the ending. a great job with writing this. was well worth the read.
Blu -
Your a wonderful poet. I only wish that i had that much love, but I dont.
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Amazing
Wow you as a poet ..........you are truly amazing and a true real thinker. I am only 14 so I have a long way to go to get your standards and I think I never could. This is amazing! -
First of all, I would suggest changing the font color, as it is hard to read. On another note, this was an interesting acrostic and I am also a fan of Lord of the Rings. Thanks for entering and good luck.
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I enjoyed your write. I loved the background (your friend did an excellent job for you while you were in the hospital. I hope all is well with you). I know you will be a contender for moving into the next round. I try to go through the poems when I have so many like in this contest and try to eliminate half of them. Then I continue the process until I'm down to the winners. I want to thank you for entering my contest. Keep pen in hand and the ink to paper.
ThePoetAmuse -
tht's an awesome pice of art
and i adore this movie..its awesome just as ur talent
made me speechless
keept he show on rolling and pause it cos am getting the popcorn and soft drink for all
wish u best
speechless foreverago
farewell
little sousou -
Looking at my wedding finger, I stared at the emptiness
Our symbolic significance of a society's stares
Really, a man of your age is not married yet?
Did they declare, as they glared at the bare finger
im diggin it keep pening my keyboard has problems i'll write a better message when i get that taken care of -
I love the story behind your name and I think it's very clever. I too am a large fan of Lord of the Rings! Keep it up!
~Ss -
Another amazing poem, you deserve more than this applause Great write, so sad but excellently written. Your illness is sad but at least you have such amazing talent to share, my friend.
Good write, good luck in the contest
All the best in the future,
Pozo
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very powerful write
Gregg, you are certainly on a roll my friend for which I am glad to see, you are slowly getting there. Thank you for explaining the reason behind your name, it's very interesting to know how you chose it. Good luck Gregg~Love~Joan 
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And I also meant to write that the background is beautiful
x -
Oh wow... I cannot convey over and over how brave I think you are. You have become married to a disease that you unwittingly contracted and has continued to dictate your life, and I think that is amazing...
I also think that the last line shows a little bit more about your pen name then just the J.R.R Tolkein books/movies
Well done
x -
Dear Gregg,
As I have already said in an earlier comment or message to you,
most people would have drowned beneath the mental, physican and psychological pressures that have weighed on you for most of your life. The fact that you still have your chin above water and are surmounting these shows that you are Lord of much more than your Ring. Good luck in the contest. Applaud.
And thanks, buddy, for the kind comment about me on David's column. Sincerely appreciated. Best wishes, regards, Hugh. -
I really liked this, it made me think, it brought the feeling home really and made give thouight to a subject i often dont think enough about very very good
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I don't know Mr. Gregg ... there just seems to be something about you. Some people are neither familiar with victory nor loss; they hardly really live. And then there are those like you: obviously acquainted with both, and I'd say the ultimate victory is yours. Some people live long, healthy lives, and yet never really live. But as you bear your curse, you use it to truly live; you intertwine it with your meaning. Very admirable.
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wow... i realy love this poem... when i read the title it caught my interest... but this just amazes me.. great job.
cat~ -
This was great and I am so sorry for your lover!! that is terrible i really loved this poem tho u have a great write here keep writing and hope everything turns out okay
God bless.
Merry Christmas happy hanukia
Joshuacrisel -
Sounds like you have a similar theory to my own. I oftentimes say that I wouldn't change things in my life because I wouldn't be who I am. Although our situations are different we are of like minds. I commend you for that. I don't think I would be as strong given the same issues as you.
This is a great poem, I love the background too.
Today you have given me reasons to pat myself on the back for moving forward. If I knew you personally I'd give you a big hug for that and for being so brave.
Good luck to you and please take care of yourself. I really do admire you.
~Destiny~ -
9.2/10
Creativity: Absolutely stunning. I thought your name existed simply because you liked the movie. Now I see the deeper significance -- and I understand how deep-rooted the meaning is. 9/10
Innovation: You juxtaposed HIV and marriage together. Who would've thunk? 9/10
Technique: Beautiful technique: Crisp sentencses. Thought provoking structure. I also think you have the power of brevity. 9/10
Readability: I was captivated and in awe of your work. Wow! This is an excellent example of something supremely readable. 9/10
Emotionality: I was struck in the core of my being. You really know how to write something gut level. 10/10 -
I love this...At first I thought you were actually engaged or something but then I realized you were talking about HIV. I love poems like these that make me think one thing and then I realize it's something else. I'm sorry for what you have to go through and I love the whole idea behind your AP name.
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An interesting concept, to be sure. Good work. Keep it up.
- Malificent of Forbidden Mountain - -
My best friend told me that she has never wanted to change a thing about herself, because then she wouldn't be the person she is today. This makes it clear in this poem to me, and from nighttiger's comment. Beautiful piece, very meaningful. Definitely impacted me.
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~Jess~ What would I do without you tonight! Stupid meds, can't even spell my own name right. Thank you for catching that, will go back and change the word. Gregg
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Gregg this is wonderful... but the acrostic is off because of the second line. Even though your life partner is horrible, it has also been a blessing because you have made a difference in people's lives by your actions and words.
Wonderful acrostic hun
~~Jessica
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