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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.

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

Comments

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

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

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.

author comment

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.

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

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

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

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!

author comment

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.

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

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

author comment

..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.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

This group happened to be boys. But, I take your point:)
Do you think Evelyn will give me my money back for the Brooklyn Bridge?

author comment

...is Evelyn?
.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

Some elderly woman should or shouldn't trust.

author comment

Congratulations! Great poem, tho' I'm not a fan of the author.

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

Thanks for your kind words and open mindedness.

author comment

Thanks for reading and responding

author comment
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