What Some Boys Do

Wow!

I really enjoyed this. Beautifully painted.

Yes.*

am sending this to my nephew*

Fave, Robert. Today, I'm reading this lovely, so touching piece as a prayer for folks no longer with us.

Robert. I know people say things have changed. But the reality is they change so slowly. Keep writing.

Fine, brave resonant piece. *

A lovely piece, Robert. Fave

Some boys. ;-) xoxo

Seriously good. The animosity on the school bus still haunts me at 24. Everyone is so tender.

I love this. It's so, so tough and ends so beautifully.

Thanks so much, everyone! All of your comments and faves mean a lot.

Pain(t)fully beautiful! I love that harsh contrast you've captured...

star

From the heart Robert! Reverence and respect. *

Robert I really like this... I think I was one of the kids who wouldn’t bully, but I wouldn’t have opened my mouth in another kid’s defense either. Fog that this piece makes me sad and sorry.

Mysterious and moving and beautiful the way the mother's words are brought in.

So LOVE this! Truly from the heart and soul! It's exceptional, Robert. Brings up so many emotions at once! But most of all LOVE for this boy! This pure spirit with his LOVE for his grandmother! A thousand favs ***********************************

A beautiful poem, Robert.

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All of your comments are blowing me away. Thanks does not do them justice.

Love the boy, his mother, the grandmother. Just...love. *

Tina, LOVE you! Thanks sweetness.

wow. sooo good.

(especially love 'face flung') *

Great work.*

Thanks so much Penny and Gary!

Fantastic work, Robert!

Thanks Theo!

Brilliant poem, Robert! One of your very best.

Thanks for the invite, Robert and this poem means so much, has so many deep and profound implications without ever forcing them on the reader. Your subtle touch is amazing here.

Nice to see you here, Mike! Thanks for the comments, they mean a lot to me.

Walker- you are too kind! Thanks.

you got a lotta class in your art. thanks for sharing. rock n roll.
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Bud, you're the best! Thanks so much.

Love it! Meaningful message.

Thanks a ton, Martha!

i felt this one, robert. just lovely.

Stephen, your comments mean the world to me. Thanks!

Absolutely superb. Wonderful writing. Incredibly important.

I am sending the link to everyone in the world. And a few in the afterworld who sat on that bus.
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The best poems are the ones you can feel, that stay with you for a day or more. This one was a gut punch in the solar plexus that doubled me over and left a bruise.

So well captured, all of it. Hit me in the same way my favorite pieces earlier in life did...and still do. The ones that inspired me to sing or write my words rather than fumble around with speaking them. Thanks for this, Robert.

Dom, Gita, Bill, Michael- I am humbled by your kind words. Thanks.

I really liked this!

Thanks so much, Christina! I appreciate the sentiments.

Awesome! *fave

Sarah, I appreciate your sweet comments and support!

"Why is the sky?

How is the ocean?"

Diamond work throughout. *

Beate, your comments mean the world to me! Thanks a ton!

Ugh. I love, love, love this.

The simplest images here, they make me ache. A sentiment so harsh and wrong.

People are mean. All of us running through life, hurting each other. You're a great writer, Robert. Sparse and lovely. *

Harley, I adore you! This means so much coming from you and I can't thank you enough.

the stuff.

Marcus, thanks buddy, you da' bomb!

Excellent in every way.

Darryl, you are too kind! Thanks!

I love the story in this, and the peeling back of the layers.
Yes, agreed, face flung...
So beautiful!

Thanks so much, Deborah! I am grateful for your supportive comments.

Wow.

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This is amazing. More than amazing.

Matt, thanks a ton! And Kyle, you're the bomb! I appreciate it, you guys!

thought i commented already. brilliant stiff. drove through reseda tonight and thought of you again. it'll be forever associated with RVG...***

James, thanks for the comments! Reseda on the 405...yes...thanks for thinking of me!

Been there, lived it and your fine writing brings it all back. For a moment my heart stopped again. The real thing, Robert. *

I am proud of this. It touches on something so private and dear.

Robert, you nailed it. Doesn't matter the circumstance - we've all been there. The craft is superb.

I'm tight-lipped, breath held,
face flung.
I am flying through the sky now,
skimming over the ocean.

Can I steal this?

Andrew, Jo and Derek, I am humbled by your comments. Thanks a ton!

A gem*

About as real as writing gets, Robert. i've come back to this several times now, and I'm sure i'll come back to it again. *

So poignant. *

John, Foster and Yasmin, your comments are lovely! Thanks a ton for them.

Robert, this is very good. The only thing I might change is some line breaks, especially in stanza 1:

His breath smells of

tuna fish. I squeeze the

soft bag tighter

40th fave!

School buses are Lord of the Flies places. Good poem, Robert.

James and Frankie, thanks a ton! Your comments are wonderful and I will take your suggestion seriously when submitting this piece, James.

Rocking nice poem. Well done.

Thanks so much, T.L.!

Beautifully understated and SO moving because of it. This thing will get reprinted everywhere. Stunning work, Robert. *

Barry, I thank you for your kind words.

And this. So quiet and so perfect. Really understated but full of close observation and life and love. A fine balance in these lines, Robert.

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I am ever indebted to you Michelle for your kind and generous spirit, and for your friendship. Nothing is more important to me than this. Truly, you are a remarkable person.