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Roger A. Ochs

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Hometown
by Roger A. Ochs → (All Poetry by Roger A. Ochs)
  
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My Mom would hang
freshly laundered
white shirts
On a line that stretched
from the back
of the hardware store
To our kitchen window

But if the wind
would wander two
blocks North by East
Those shirts were stained
sulphur yellow
and carbon grey
I was amazed by Mom's vocabulary

Now the hardware store's
an empty lot
cracked concrete
And Mom's dryer
is electric with
a Permaprest cycle
But it makes no difference

There's no more sulphur smoke
factory's closed
workers gone
And when the wind wails
it carries the
vocabulary of
A despairing, dying town

Poem Artwork



Carmen M. Ochs 1925-2002
General Electric (Pittsfield) 1922-1992
May both Rest In Peace

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 Reviews of "Hometown"
Reviewed by Birdie Houston (Reader)
Reviewed on March 2, 2003
A heartfelt write !
Reviewed by Daniel McTaggart
Reviewed on November 29, 2002
A beautiful but melancholy tribute. The past may fade away, but it lingers in a manner you can still feel yet no longer touch.
Reviewed by Cathy Montgomery (Reader)
Reviewed on November 26, 2002
In this, you made me see it all...
Moving write and tribute to your mother...
Reviewed by Tinka Boukes
Reviewed on November 23, 2002
Roger you are a good example of a carring loving man......which the lady could read this herself....sorry for your loss...i lost a child...and maybe oneday i will share it here with every one but still hurts too much..
Thanks
Tinka
Reviewed by Mark Mahoney (Reader)
Reviewed on November 23, 2002
A lovely poem, as a lovely tribute for a lovely Lady, well done, take care...Mark...
Reviewed by elizabeth bissette (Reader)
Reviewed on November 21, 2002
This is so good! I was always amazed by my Mom's vocabulary too.
Reviewed by Katy Walsvik (Reader)
Reviewed on November 20, 2002
To learn you is to love you.. I have a star that houses my mom..your mom is on the star just next to her.. they are both smiling.. your beautiful tribute is your smile back. This is beyond words. katy. xox
Reviewed by Tien Avielle (Reader)
Reviewed on November 20, 2002
Oh Roger ...hugs...because I relate so to loss...and cheers for the reality of this scene you have shared...
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on November 20, 2002
Since I have lived in a coal mining town I felt this deeply. I watched an active community slowly turn into a ghost town. Fortuntly for them there was another answer. Tourism. Now they have something new to swear about. Wonderful write.
Reviewed by Ed Lupinacci (Reader)
Reviewed on November 20, 2002
She raised a gem of a person
I must admit this got me kind of misty
Guy's can't say it brought tears to my eyes
Reviewed by *********** ********** (Reader)
Reviewed on November 20, 2002
Just lovely Roger...A beautiful reflection. Ty for sharing, Dani
Reviewed by Ted Sheridan (Reader)
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
Roger I lived in Pittsfield, Mass. actually it was Tyringham and Lenox Mass I worked at Bargain Basement in Boston and in the Summer Stock at the Boston Pops Tanglewood

Was that what smelled
Reviewed by Margie Hess (Reader)
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
i love this poem and everyone else has expressed my feelings so well, i will only say 'here, here'
Reviewed by jing javier
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
hi dad roger!

beautiful tribute..
Reviewed by Vicky Jeter
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
Roger,
I concur with everyone here, and I deeply relate to being "amazed at Mom's vocabulary"
I swear I could hear your mom spouting as my mom would when anything invaded her freshly
hung laundry! Too beautiful! Thanks. Vicky
Reviewed by Linda Hill
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
Beautiful tribute to your Mom,
my friend. The pic is so beautiful
of her! She is proud of her son
and all his accomplishments.
((((Roger))))
Reviewed by E T Waldron
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
Thanks for sharing this wonderful look back at your town and the lovely remembrance of your mom. It gives us a more intimate knowledge of you, and it's nice;-)wonderful write ..
Reviewed by Dens Dreamweaver (Reader)
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
Roger.. this is an exceptional write. Am so glad you shared it here..

Kudo's to you.

Namaste'
Melanie
Reviewed by Dens Dreamweaver (Reader)
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
you deserve a big ol' hug for this
Reviewed by Mari Laureano (Reader)
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
endearing tribute wrapped in a subtle message...which despairs, nonetheless. Love and light to you, Lunatic Poet. **Mari**
Reviewed by richard poor
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
i have heard that wail....lonesome despair....very good write!!!
Reviewed by Marilyn Seray
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
Oh Roger, what a special tribute, and so touching. Your mom looks so gentle and loving. what a great picture.
Reviewed by La Belle Rouge (Reader)
Reviewed on November 19, 2002
She looks like a very special Lady. I like this tribute to past times.
New Poetry by Roger A. Ochs
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The next time I have to listen to some kid praise suicide I'll let them borrow my gun.
Mutha’s Only Half A Word
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I've been working on this for so long that the kid is walking now. Maybe I edit too much.
Dark Lady
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Yes, I really do speak in that key.
Opera/Opus
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Amber's challenge
My State of Mind Has Seceded
Poem Image
I do hope this one isn't too obvious.
The Imprudent Gardener
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At Children's Lake
Poem Image
This is the companion piece to "A Journey Ending". Or perhaps it is just another view of it.
Road To Nowhere
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Yes, I love to garden. No, I don't own stock in Pfizer.
The Godzilla Coleus
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