"The Class Evolve" (A poem by tame)

May 31, 2003 | tame

[tame]

After years of walking the streets of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seatle (I traveled lot in my job) I finally decided some time ago to write some words about the different worlds seperated by a couple of blocks.

For instance, in Los Angeles I've often walked along the path of a business district filled with suits, ties, and optimism. As I kept walking I suddenly found myself in skid row where the homeless--the hopeless-- cover the sidewalks. I've written and recorded a song about this but I'll save that for some other time.

Come to think of it, my uncle who was a railroad engineer (he was known as the "railroad philosopher") wrote and recorded a similar song--country/western-- titled "You've got to understand that a railroad man is just a lucky employed hobo".

But for now, I'll stick to my "poem" (I've always hated that word) Titled The Class Evolve:

Two blocks away, a different world,
ivory tours, cards of gold.
But on this block--this hemisphere--
all "life" seems to disappear,
for the souls who line this block
there is no "living" over here.

Strange to see the class "evolve"
with both worlds having yet to solve
corruption in the human heart.
We are so close, though worlds apart.

[tame]

Hope you don't mind my little venture, but I thought I should publish it on a major web page for documentary purposes.

[tame]

F.Y.I.

[tame]

Hope you don't mind, Jim.

Luis, I know you're into poetry.

[tame]

Hi:-)

[tame]

Hi, goldi! I thought since you found Peter Faulk to be sexy then you might like my poem. Juuuuuuust kiddin :o)

[cherry_bomb88]

That's really deep, tame. Nice job. Maybe one day I'll put some of my stuff up here.

[tame]

Maybe one day I'll put some of my stuff up here.

Well, you sure better! I know I'm makin' it difficult for you to leave on your trip, but you have outside e-mail!

[Radix]

I sure do miss Coteblanche and the Poetry Branch

[SAMWolf]

Not bad,tame. Lot better than I could do.

[Polycarp]

Very well done, tame. I've experienced the same thoughts each time I boarded an airliner in Miami and flown 1 1/2 hours to Haiti to do medical missionary work there.

Mother Teresa said the slums in Port au Prince Haiti are the poorest place on earth, with no exception.

And its only a 1 1/2 hour flight from the riches of Florida.

God will judge America harshly in matters we never think of or fail to or refuse to grasp.

[ST.LOUIE1]

We are so close, though worlds apart.

How true! Very good, tame, thanks for the ping. : )

[tame]

Thank you for your kind words:-)

[tame]

God will judge America harshly in matters we never think of or fail to or refuse to grasp.

I believe you're correct.

[tame]

Not bad,tame. Lot better than I could do.

Oh, give it a try:-)

[tame]

I sure do miss Coteblanche and the Poetry Branch

I'm not familiar with that. What is it?

[Salvation]

A lot of meaning beneath those words!

[tame]

A lot of meaning beneath those words!

I hope their beneficial.

[goldilucky]

That was some thoughtful poem you did. I've been downtown L.A. to the skidrow area and I 've also been to downtown Chicago area round Rush Street, downtown Milwaukee, Atlanta, Minneapolis, St. Paul. I've traveled to many major city areas except for NYC. Someday I'll go there. I'm got the city in my blood and it'll never leave me.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Strange to see the class "evolve" with both worlds having yet to solve corruption in the human heart. We are so close, though worlds apart.

I like this very much.

[gcruse]

Two blocks away, a different world,
ivory tours, cards of gold.
But on this block--this hemisphere--
all "life" seems to disappear,
for the souls who line this block
there is no "living" over here.

Strange to see the class "evolve"
with both worlds having yet to solve
corruption in the human heart.
We are so close, though worlds apart.

You didn't ask, but here are my thoughts.

Going two blocks away, then making a larger
step to the hemisphere reflects the difference
between the northern and southern hemispheres,
[btw, should 'tours' not be 'towers'?]
which is largely a matter of affluence.
The 'life' that disappears is wealth.
Corruption is alien to neither hemisphere,
as it is a human trait, not an economic one.
The first and third worlds, which reside side
by side only at the US-Mexican border, are
worlds apart, no doubt, for reasons
greater than corruption and wealth.  The
poem stops short of solutions for characterization.
Its message is descriptive, not proscriptive, and
 isn't a powerful as it could be.  Just IMHO.