MARCH CONTEST (favorite book)

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God Bless You Mr. Rosewater

I met a guy in college who stole a bilge pump from
Kurt Vonnegut.
He and his friends pulled the young men’s prank.
I loved the story because I love Kurt’s writing.
It was so exciting to absorb the irreverent tales
of the characters that filled his books.
My forming mind appreciated the path
That was rejected as odd
that Mr. Rosewater
walked in his own stride.
I concluded that,
with the help of this book,
there is more than one way to
survive here.
I arrived here
because I took the exit
that said
God Bless You Mr. Rosewater.

About This Poem

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Country/Region: SC

Favorite Poets: What Was Once the Largest Shopping Center in Northern Ohio Was Built Where There Had Been a Pond I Used to Visit Every Summer Afternoon by Mary Oliver. , Chapter Subtitle in Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner Chapter Title: If Only... Subtitle: you may find that having is not so pleasing as wanting. This is not logical but it is often true., Rumi: Tending Two Shops

Comments

Edna Sweetlove

5 years 3 months ago

Sadly, the reference...

...to anyone called Rosewater is lost on me. Maybe a footnote would elucidate?
.

Miserably Happy

5 years 3 months ago

Sadly

Kurt Vonnegut book. Suffice to say it touched my heart, and was absurd and funny and tragic and not like anything I had read before. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Eumolpus

5 years 3 months ago

Vonnegut

we played softball together in Sag Harbor for years. I remember much of his many books, just can't remember the narrative of this...I remember the character's name. That's the risk with writing a poem like this...a limited response, for those who are more familiar with the subject.
Sadly his works are not mentioned daily as they once were. Glad you're still into him.

Edna Sweetlove

5 years 3 months ago

PS:...

What's a bilge pump amd why would anyone steal one?

Miserably Happy

5 years 3 months ago

Vonnegut

Softball, how cool is that. I had my honeymoon in Sag Harbor. I appreciate your comments. I'm satisfied with the small audience. The "awakening" Kurt supplied is a cherished memory. I would have liked to have met him.
Thanks Eumolpus!

Eumolpus

5 years 3 months ago

Hi

yes my summers were spent in Sag Harbor for 30 years, I lived in NYC. Vonnegut was active in local literary events. Once I read with him in an all night read of Moby Dick at the local bookstore.
In baseball...we put him in right field.
a fun guy to be with. smoked too much,as I recall.

Miserably Happy

5 years 3 months ago

Bilge

Edna, a bilge pump pumps water out of boats. As to why steal one, boys will be boys.

Edna Sweetlove

5 years 3 months ago

I knew what a bilge pump was, I suppose...

..but I thought they were not very portable, more of a permanent fixture in a large boat. And what a sexist assumption that only "boys" would steal one - I'd have you know that females, and especially elderly ones, are just as dishonest as anyone else.