The Artist

[ucicare]

Occassionly I like to post something that is serious and goes against the flow. (that means it does not have a reference to body waste or genitalia.)


The Artist

Butter the bottom, then one side, tap it to the line.
Row upon row, end to end, as long as the sun will shine.
Center the bubble every foot or two, hope the line stays plumb.
Repetitive, tedious monotony, the heart and mind grow numb.

“Mason” they call the white boss, who watches over the crew.
“Labor” they call the black man, who makes the line run true.
Genius obscured by the medium, Labor stands in the heat alone
Mortar heaped on his pallette, this artist paints with stone.

But think he does as he labors. His mind is numb, not dead.
Brilliant he is, the artist, with his body detached from his head.
Quickly the walls grow skyward, Labor’s thoughts outpacing his hands
Dreaming the dreams of the gifted, as he builds the castles of man.


Barry

[Checkmate]

Is this an original barry?

[ucicare]

Is this an original barry?

Yes. I wrote it last week.

Barry

[MEDICVET]

damn, that's pretty good!

[ucicare]

damn, that's pretty good!

Thanks for the comment.
Writing poetry balances me out. I did all the macho man crap when I was younger, and now I am trying to be a little better rounded. I have written a bunch of stuff, but this poem is probably one of only two that I really like.

The other one I like is here - http://www.cerebrals.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=2092


Barry

[MEDICVET]

that poem is okay, but I like the one you posted here a lot better. and that is a pretty cool site, too! think I might check it out. I am still a little wet behind the ears as far as message board sites go, and have only recently begun to 'spread my wings' so to speak, from the site I first began posting on and explore other ones.

[ucicare]

that poem is okay, but I like the one you posted here a lot better. and that is a pretty cool site, too! think I might check it out. I am still a little wet behind the ears as far as message board sites go, and have only recently begun to 'spread my wings' so to speak, from the site I first began posting on and explore other ones.

Be careful. I am in therapy for forum addiction. The only cure is to cancel your connection to the internet.

Barry

[MEDICVET]

hon, I love the net because I also suffer from acute agoraphobia (at least its' not ugly, but 'a cute' ;):D 8) ) and rarely can leave the house.

The net is better than reading or TV as it is more interactive, so a 'forum addiction' ain't that bad a thing for me.

and it's cheaper than crack. ;)

and I also have this severe disorder that most folks will already readily acknowledge. I make incredibly bad jokes and puns. Actually, I like to laugh at myself, thereby beating everyone else to the punch. ;)

[Checkmate]

Is this an original barry?

Yes. I wrote it last week.

Barry

Nice work. I enjoyed it. Very thought provoking.

[mia]

hon, I love the net because I also suffer from acute agoraphobia (at least its' not ugly, but 'a cute' ;):D 8) ) and rarely can leave the house.

The net is better than reading or TV as it is more interactive, so a 'forum addiction' ain't that bad a thing for me.

and it's cheaper than crack. ;)

and I also have this severe disorder that most folks will already readily acknowledge. I make incredibly bad jokes and puns. Actually, I like to laugh at myself, thereby beating everyone else to the punch. ;)

How long have you been suffering from agoraphobia? Are you getting help with it?

[MEDICVET]

Most of my ptsd symptoms, which I believe agoraphobia is a part of that, came in 1997 when going through chemo. The cancer went away the first time, (and the second too, thank God, been cancer free since 2000!) but the ptsd symptoms that began for some reason when the chemo did never went away. Eventually I got on social security disability, and a VA pension.

I do take some meds, but nothing is very effective against the agoraphobia. Some days are okay and I can leave the house and go shopping or swimming at the lake or what have you, other days I can't even leave to check my mailbox. There not much rhyme or reason to it unfortunately, which makes it impossible to keep a job and pretty danged hard to plan shit too. But my family is understanding about it for the most part, although needless to say there are times when they get a little impatient with it, which is entirely understandable.

[mia]

It is absolutley possible to live a complete and fulfilling life while experiencing extreme bouts of anxiety. I will post the titles of some very interesting books which I know have helped a lot of people. It is wonderful that you have such a supportive and understanding family! I know that a lot of sufferers feel guilt about their illness, but most people at some point in their lives will experience a heightened degree of anxiety or depression. It is just unfortunate that for some people it lasts that bit longer. I know people who have lived with these conditions for many years unable to comprehend that their life could return to 'normal'. And it did!Understanding anxiety is the first step in controlling it, I am sure you are very aware of all this, but there is one thing that I have heard repeatedly from these people and that is that they are so happy to have their lives back and they are so sad for the years that were controlled by their fears. I will post the names of these books later on today

[Dr.Roboto]

interesting, but you prolly should change the black man part to "brown" man cause we all know how shit gets built down south. still good tho

[ucicare]

interesting, but you prolly should change the black man part to "brown" man cause we all know how shit gets built down south. still good tho

True that.

Barry

[whipone]

I like the detached head.

[Your Friend]

That is a nice poem Barry. It does make one think about what people may be thinking about. Are you a writer?

[ucicare]

That is a nice poem Barry. It does make one think about what people may be thinking about. Are you a writer?

I am a wannabe writer. I have worked on several books, but have never finished one. One goal in life before I die is to publish something.

Barry

[MEDICVET]

whipone likes the detached head in the poem...gee, I wonder why? :roll: :roll: :roll:

Barry, people are going to talk..I too am an aspiring novelist..

but then again, the same could be said of a LOT of people~!

but if you and I are ever published then we will be part of a smaller set of PUBLISHED writers..then people will REALLY begin to talk! :lol:

[Dr.Roboto]

That is a nice poem Barry. It does make one think about what people may be thinking about. Are you a writer?

I am a wannabe writer. I have worked on several books, but have never finished one. One goal in life before I die is to publish something.

Barry

publish your patiens(SPELLING?) medical records, im pretty sure it would be interesting to read your observations about the freaks that you come incontact with on a day to day basis. im pretty sure you meet some wierd folks

[ucicare]

whipone likes the detached head in the poem...gee, I wonder why? :roll: :roll: :roll:

Barry, people are going to talk..I too am an aspiring novelist..

but then again, the same could be said of a LOT of people~!

but if you and I are ever published then we will be part of a smaller set of PUBLISHED writers..then people will REALLY begin to talk! :lol:

Schmed has some original writing that is pretty good. I think he could write well enough to be published. Nursey is really good too, but she is so bizarre everything she writes would have to be published with a disclaimer from the publisher.

Barry

[ucicare]

publish your patiens(SPELLING?) medical records, im pretty sure it would be interesting to read your observations about the freaks that you come incontact with on a day to day basis. im pretty sure you meet some wierd folks

I think they would put me in jail for publishing client records. Probably not going to do that.

Most of my cases are sad, not interesting. People with emotional and mental problems get in horrible messes. I had a client call today from a rehab program, and she was pitiful. The State had terminated her parental rights, and had placed her two children up for adoption.

She is really a nice person, but she goes competely nuts about every 90 days. Gets wasted, rides around in cars, wrecks, gets arrested. Happened about 10 times.

I like the girl. I breaks my heart that she can't get her act together.

Sometimes I hate my job. Today is one of those days.

Barry

[Dr.Roboto]

in reality its her own fualt, if she cannot contain her own loss of selfcontrol who can? although i dont think the state should have much control of the fate of her only children in such a matter. as is it wasnt them who brought the children into this world. although if people knew what kind of power parts of the gov. had im sure they would not apreciate the power that was given to them. i understand the basic ideology behind their decision but its is not up to a faceless orginization to determine that, although who can honestly make that decision? this is a topic of constanly moving battle grounds and should be widley debated for some of its past practicese. maybe subconsisly she wants some sort of pity and seeks attention? i dunno, metal problems are possibly one of biggest pandoras boxes any one can open due to a multitude of complex mix of upbrining, hormones, emotions, and miscilanious variables within the idea of life.

[MEDICVET]

ucicare, btdt with that too.

Saw where I was going some years back and checked myself in for a rehab. Of the ninety some women with me when I was there (give or take, some left, some 'graduated', some came in) I was only one of TWO self referrals..

and the other was a female vet too. Odd coincidence. She is a pretty good friend now, and we email regularly. The others were all there to get their kids back (social services or DCS referrals) or to stay out of jail (court ordered).

I didn't drink or use drugs for almost two years after I got out. Then I went on a full blown 'relapse' Felt so guilty about losing my two year chip over drinking that I went all the way with that one. After my coupla days binge, I went back to the 'program'. When I moved, I stopped going to meetings, and just decided to have a few beers now and then, but to not feel guilty, just didn't engage in the whole picking up a new chip for every beer thing. I also discovered an organization called Moderation Maintenance which more fits me, and am part of that.

But I can appreciate where yer coming from. My daughter was going through some counseling when she was fourteen..stopped aobut a year and a few months later. The counselor was sad to know he wouldn't see her anymore, but knew there were others in more dire need, so he had to let her go. The counselor she saw is a really decent guy, and works at a lower pay scale than I know he could just to be able to help those in the most need. Periodically, we send things like newspaper clippings of some of her shining moments, like being part of winning a 'mock trial' fccla competition, and being in flags and her flag team taking first place in their regional competition, and a small note just to say thanks for everything and let him know that there are success stories and he has made a difference to at least one person.

Some people rarely know about the 'success stories', and those they have helped because if the help isn't needed, they just don't hear from them again, ya know? It's a shame, but true. As a Christian, I am sure you can relate the story of the ten lepers that were healed to that. ;)

[MEDICVET]

Dr. Roboto, I too think that 'children's social services' or whatever else they call them in whatever state HAVE FAR TOO MUCH POWER.

A hundred or so years ago if someone had come to a farmer and tried to take away his kids for whatever reason, that person would have been met with a shotgun, and the local sherriff wouldn't have done shit about it. Today the police work in conjuction with these people, and I don't think it's always a good thing.

I have seen BOTH extremes of the foster care system personally in my life. I have seen kids returned after a few days to a home with their bruises still fresh, and I have seen cases where their may be a relatively minor thing that sends kids away from their parents where they are caught up for an unfairly intermeniable (sp?) time.

It is my firm belief that both these little tin gods of chidren's services and the IRS need to have people run for office. I think if they were in ELECTED AND NOT APPOINTED positions, there would be far more accountability, and if a record of poor decisions were presented by an opposing candidate and used for election campaigning fodder, than it would be a big step on curbing their unanswerable and unchecked powers.

[ucicare]

in reality its her own fualt, if she cannot contain her own loss of selfcontrol who can?


You are right. Nobody can make anybody do anything. It all comes back to personal choice and responsibility.

She had a very abusive Father. Not an excuse, but I still feel sorry for her.

Barry