Finding Leo

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You wrote this poem about finding Leo... You found yourself... When we met someone like Leo and just not pass them by... Their stories take the blindness out of our eyes... No matter how far they have fallen in the eyes of the world... Or how much pain they have suffered... They take time to hear you... I am glad Leo had time to listen to you.... Even if it was over a Dollar... And a few Beers... I am sorry you lost your friend... Great write and lesson for all of us... BrokenWordsPoet.... James...

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Sunday, September 06, 2009 (12:25:39)

Thank you, my friend, your words have had a profound affect on me. Very astute of you, yes I found more than just Leo. You choked me up a little…thanks ever so much.


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My heart fell at the end, I'm sorry for your loss of a good friend! Sounds like he was jewel.

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:30:47)

Thanks, he was a dust covered pearl ripped from his shell.


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An exceptionally well-done and beautiful eulogy to your great friend. Too often we pass by opportunities and events with: "Eh, I need to do this first..." without pausing to reflect on that stranger we always see but never take the time to really speak with as a person. There are a few amazing folks we meet in our journey in life that hold up a mirror to us, make us reflect on it all, and I've often found that even when I'm washing away my sorrows down at the bar I've found another lonely figure to drink a pitcher with and suddenly neither one of us are alone. Great write, Ridge. -- j.

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:34:01)

I walked by him many a year and tossed him a little something - to relieve me my own guilt I suspect, so I was glad he asked me why always a buck. I'm glad I we met. Thanks for you comment - I raise my glass to you!


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very touching poem and what a nice little story it was - heres 10 for leo

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:36:06)

Thank you - If Leo were here, he'd laugh at your 10 and tell you how long it would take him to drink it. Given our banter, I would tell him that it would take him half that time, becuase I would drink 5 of it. Thanks for the smile (from both of us).


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this was so beautiful
the tale of a friendship
10 ,,,

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:37:56)

Thanks Libs - friendships come to us in so many ways, so thank you for yours.


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a fantastic poem-
thankyou for sharing your experiences so eloquently.
i feel as i too had gained and lost a friend, all in the space of a few paragraphs.
reminds me a little of my intermittent friend mark.

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:40:59)

Your comment means a lot to me. I have trouble writing rhyme, so for you to feel the poem as you did is quite rewarding to me. As for Leo, he'd giggle like a madman, scrunch up the paper and tell me to stop being sappy. He loved that word - sappy. Thanks again!


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Ridge, Such memories shall hold you dear, Beautiful and touching. dAVE

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:41:37)

As always, Thanks dAVE!


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sorry for your loss. beautiful write. 10 for the both of you!

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:42:49)

I gained me from him than I lost, but thank you just the same. Thanks also for you comment and sharing in my experience.


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sweet write......taps the soul.......stimulates the spirit or what ever life force/enrgy one happens to believe in................rondo

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (05:44:25)

Thanks rondo, your comments are always well received.


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I like this a great deal. its all about the content for me. don't take this the wrong way, but I'd really, really love to see a re-write without rhyme, just to see how it frees up the story.
just to clarify, mate, I'm not saying it needs a re-write, but as its impacted me in a big way, I guess I want to hear more of the story- I use rhyme all the time, and I know how it can sometimes reduce or hold back a story, I just have this feeling that as the story is so powerful, the device of rhyme holds it down a bit.

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, September 07, 2009 (07:44:41)

I am not taking you wrong at all, in fact I find your honesty refreshing. I usually do not write in rhyme, but given some of my conversations with Leo, I thought it most apropos. He was a huge fan (as am I) of Robert Frost, with our favorite being “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” I printed it out and gave it to him one morning and he carried it with him all of the time. Anyway, I thought given this history trying to rhyme would make him smile wherever it is he may be. He would delight in it I’m sure, even if it were horribly written ( know you are not saying that). With that said, perhaps I will try to write it differently. In my usual unhinged manner, free of technical and academic restraints. Your comment is so very welcomed and appreciated, thank you for it.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.


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Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by lordfuznut on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 (07:51:03)

cool. your welcome. thanks for the background. that Frost poem is awesome, like a celebration come lament of the temporal.


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Ridge,
What masterful, poignant write you have here- for me, it is written beautifully, as it conveys the sense of loss and gratitude all at once....
I saw a story on the news about a fellow who would share a park bench with a homeless man. They started discussing books, he lent him books and then passed them along to other homeless, and thus, a bookclub for homeless was started and began changing lives...all it takes is one open heart-
Rhoda

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 (21:34:08)

Thank you, indeed all it takes is an open heart, but I also found that it takes a degree of courage. Thanks again, as always it means a great deal to me to hear from you.


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Beautiful write, Ridge... Ain't it amazing to find a friend, a real human being inside a brown paper wrapper of dispair... Especially poignant, he empathized with everyday stress as well. Very well done, Mary Ann

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 (21:35:41)

Thanks Mary Ann, your approval always makes me feel warm. To answer your question - yes, it is amazing and even a little more when it is so very real.


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Excellent write! Very moving about the nature of humanity.

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 (21:36:10)

Thank you so very much!!


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Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by butterflyzrfree on Thursday, September 10, 2009 (08:49:16)

I can't believe that this really happened to you! That makes a big difference! Wow!


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A moving story Ridge. Though hesitant to make contact with people, to often all we do is sympathize, thinking there is little more I can offer and I haven't got the time. Aren't you glad he caught you off guard that day with a that dare. I'm glad you could still hear him, some people grow deaf to their requests. You discovered the man beneath the visage and he befriended you. I'll drink to that . - Mike

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Friday, January 15, 2010 (01:12:57)

Mike - although I am pretty well smashed as I write this...thank you Bro, for you get where I am coming from!!


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You did quite well with the rhyming. .. Thanks Ridge.

Re: Finding Leo (Score: 1 ) by Ridge on Monday, January 25, 2010 (06:14:20)

Thank you very much.


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