Joan Rolls
Joan Rolls
Nov 05, 2015
This poem is part of the workshop:

Storytelling in Verse (sempiternal): The Ballade

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Carpe Diem (Ballade Workshop)

Oh Rick was young, so full of hopes and dreams.
A boy, not quite a man, a son, a beau
A lad who lived for bikes and mates and schemes
He rode for life, for fun, to fly and flow
His light was bright, his heart was there on show.
So hard he tried to ride his ghosts away
A phantom freak behind the headlamps glow
the need to race, survive and seize the day.

So high in southern skies the moon did gleam
on Rick, who rode with peers and girls in tow.
In leather, boots and chains, a gang, a team,
this loyal bunch of kids with seeds to sow.
A life lived fast and full, not dull nor slow
No rules, no fear, no cares, no debt to pay.
One mind on fire so hot and deep below
the need to race, survive and seize the day.

A year it passed of days that sped full steam
when Rick had visions clear, of fate and foe.
He told his mum he wouldn't leave his teens.
So Rick, uneasy, feared the final blow.
A cloud so dark, that warned of storms to grow,
did drain his chi and made him numb and fey.
A fight for life, no strength, nor urge to show
the need to race, survive and seize the day.

In June he rode alone, no place to go.
A mile from home a crash did end the way
a gang so loved by Rick, did cease to know
the need to race, survive and seize the day

About This Poem

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

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: myall lakes australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: The lyrics of songs inspire me most these days

More from this author

Comments

Rula

Rula

9 years 5 months ago

touching and heartfelt. I think you've surpassed yourself with this ballade Joan.
Don't have anything to offer for improvement.
Well done!

judyanne

Congratulations, well done -

so sorry about your brother
it's funny, but i think we know our allotment...and the closer to our time we get, we have preminitions of sorts..... my son never said it outright, as your brother did, but there were hints....

Anyway, a great write
love judy
xxx

Esker

Esker

9 years 5 months ago

I have now moved into the look a chum..a mate..a bud had...a bros..he hit a moose.custom springer front end harley..died....we sat together at meetings....aa of course....sometimes you crack the throttle and dare god..fate..........I have friends who did this.....they lived....many did not.....U wish for people to get out there and dare life and others u watch and go...dreary me..I hope they slow down...somewhere I try to balance......but then you are left alive.....Great Poem...Ode to many! death is painful.......to the living...words not said....could have been more etc.....but we are human....values.ideals...etc....and we are not they....how they lived and live in their time!! that we have known them.....is something!! and too all whom know us!! we are heros to someone!!!!! imperfect....but beacons!! thank U

wesley snow

ridiculously proud of you. You have created a 14th century classic poem in its original form.

Think of it as music. When a musician plays a piece by Bach the intention is always to play it as he would have heard it. In its true, original form.
Sometimes it is the same in poetry.
Music has evolved as has poetry, but musicians still play Bach in his original form. So then should poetry.
Well done. Incredibly well done.

Esker

Esker

9 years 5 months ago

all us older ones..we got taught..
we are dying offf......but you know I hear the hip hop
the trance and its there....
the teen agers writing poetry for their
love lust interest
has all that...

we wre taught cetian things..and so it coes
goes

I do rlate....I see the effort in writing
I feel your heartset
and know here U are coming from

thank U