All That's Left of the Old Man, Spoken Word and Poem

It is what comes from being rooted in one spot too long ...

All That's Left of the Old Man

Listen ...

there’s an eerie whine

under the rustle

the leaves given voice

the oak playing tricks

old men and their love of unnerving

the young and unsuspecting

it is what comes

from being rooted

in one spot for too long

boredom sets in

something wicked

              this way comes

the wind abets

his evil ways

grants an alibi

by pointing a finger

at his next of kin

but has the old man ever asked

who is really in charge

instead, he insists

no pictures, please

the oak hides in the shadows

but I have him in my focus

click, click, click

time now to retire

from the coming storm

the wind blows

a little too hard

             and it’s done

all that is left of the old man

his soul and wicked ways

is a captured photograph

All That's Left of the Old Man is published in Monsters, Avatars, & Angels available on amazon.com and through your local bookstores and libraries.

Author's Note

Monsters, Avatars, and Angels contains the short story series Demons, Harlots and Crones, which follows two generations of the Demeere family and its legacy of spite and envy. Included in the series is Demon in High Socks; Holler it out with Lemonade; the Old Lady, Her Plymouth, and Cockroaches; Sex in a Pan; and the Fire Crone and Stone Harlot. Also within its pages are more than a hundred poems exploring the darker side of human nature and its undeniable conclusion. Two Orphan Sparrows, the Devil is a DJ, the Last Striptease, Up From the Roses, and many more titles are found within. Ultimately Monsters, Avatars, and Angels asks the reader to look at the darkness found within herself and by facing it, perhaps go beyond.

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Pryde... the Wind will take us home to
where night and day are made into a place of peace
and love where hearts are gathered like Birds along
the River where prayers are rendered and often answered.
Age is not a State of mind... but a mind forever kind.
tenderly, Pat

[Pryde Foltz]

Pat, you are such a dear heart. Thank you:)

[Coyote Poetry]

This was so good. The verbal poetry was so good. I love your voice. You give life to the words. Thank you dear Pryde for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Pryde Foltz]

Thanks so much:)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Pryde.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Boredom is the bane of old age and the imp of all the ages. I grew up with mountain folks who truly knew how to terrify an innocent child with grisly tales. I never thought of any of them as "wicked" though. Perhaps they were a bit wicked but no worse than the brothers Grimm. The only wicked old man I remember was perhaps the town drunk who haunted the local woods and staggered the back roads. This was nicely portrayed and well written. I enjoyed. Bless.

[Pryde Foltz]

Thank you, Fabian. Indeed ... I think here at least, wicked can be thought of as in a playful tone. The old man will be missed:)

[Robert Trakofler]

Remind me to never let you take my picture... please:) Oh and by the way if you see my roots would you tell them I said hello. they tend to travel a bit and I can never find them... in truth, they are sorta annoying and I'm thinking they feel the same of me:) nice nice lines to be Pryde of

[Pryde Foltz]

Haha ... Thanks, Robert. That would make a good short story wouldn't it. The photographer who can kill with her camera. Spooky stuff.

[DAH]

Love this "to get old" theme.

Beautifully presented and nicely played!

Bravo,
DAH

[Pryde Foltz]

Thank you, Dah:)

[MomzillaNC]

Excellent reading! ✍🏻

[Pryde Foltz]

Thank you, Denise:)

[00000000000000000000000..]

Very deep and to the point of a life shouldnt had been. I have missed your words very much.

[Pryde Foltz]

Thanks so much, TP:)

[0000000000000000000000000000]

Welcome Pryde

[Lorry]

The whine in your first line was me, creaking and groaning as i got up from the bench beside the tree, knowing my roots, although aged, make sure i dont travel too far. Then i sat down again and built myself up to trying to move again, while dreaming of retiring, to bed, just as soon as i get over the exertion of trying to get my butt off that bench 😀

[Pryde Foltz]

Haha ... getting late here too. I am thinking you know the way. Thanks so much for the read and comment:):):)

[R.E. Ray]

So much flows through the mind after listening to your voice and absorbing the words and mood. I'm left with a sorrow, perhaps because I'm closer to an old oak than others. I think of the knots, broken and bare branches and exposed roots.. and the constant upward reaching into the boundless sky. I suppose when the feet are permanently planted, the spirit still lives, even if it grows old and bitter. Exceptional work, words written and spoken.

[Pryde Foltz]

Thank you, RE. I love that oak too. There is something to be said for a survivor:)

[R.E. Ray]

You're welcome, Pryde. Your poetry is a true joy.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

So great to see writing from you again, and you conjured up quite a mind altering piece. So many things can be taken from this. I think of the phrase "Idle hands are the devil's worksop." When we get complacent we can get bored and that could make us restless, and that can lead to doing stupid things.

[Pryde Foltz]

You said it. Imagine always having to stand in the same place all the time:) No wonder the tree has gone naughty:) Thank you:)