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Janice Pearce

Nov 08, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Korea Town

Content with simple ways
'twas Third Street he embraced,
just west of downtown L.A.

Dr. Pepper and a bag of chips
were vices he enjoyed
and oh yes, his cigarettes.

John, as he was known with
Buddha-like frame, swayed to
jazz tunes on the radio.

A man of Fifty five
twenty years he mingled,
twenty years he survived.

Body enngulfed in flames
It was October Ninth
He never screamed, never cried.

In the blink of an eye,
a human life discarded
a demon had set him afire.

An un-assuming man
An overflowing church
hundreds cried, hundreds mourned.

— Janice Pearce, Nov 08, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: USA

More from this author

Critiques

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

what a sweet tribute! nicely done! <3 Emarie @~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~@ "Tempted by your Tainted Love I sure do love the way you come inside my crystal ball..." Buckcherry 'Next to You'

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

Thank you so much I got sick to my stomach when I heard this on the news. The only thing I could think of was, to express my feelings about it on paper. This kind, gentle man hurt no one, yet he suffered a horrible death~ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ~~~~~~~~Janice Pearce~~~~~~~~

17 years 7 months ago

Janice...

I must've missed this on the news... this is the first I am hearing about it... tragic... I want to know more about it now... a stirring poem... Richard

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

Thank you Richard. Just type in his name there are many links that are reporting this newsworthy, yet tragic event~ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ~~~~~~~~Janice Pearce~~~~~~~~

17 years 7 months ago

I did...

oh what a heart-wrenching story... How somebody could do that to another living being is beyond me... I hope they find out who threw the gas on John... such tragedies need to be accounted for... I hope that person sees fire in his dreams... thank you for your poem Janice Richard

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

You are very welcome Richard~ They thought it to be gang related, kind of an initiation rite. Truly a sad,sad story To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ~~~~~~~~Janice Pearce~~~~~~~~

L

17 years 7 months ago

Excellent Tribute, Janice!

With your short, but telling description of this man, I actually felt as though I might have known him! Your talent is indeed highlighted in this piece!

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

Lonnie, Your kind words so much appreciated~~ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ~~~~~~~~Janice Pearce~~~~~~~~

LD

leonard daranjo

17 years 7 months ago

As usual, beautifully written Janice

Nice tribute written with a great deal of feeling. However, I sense a slight departure from your usual work. Its Good. It shows you are versatile. Keep up the fantastic work. Take care ... Leonard

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

You are a very perceptive man Leonard. It is different from what I usually write. Thanks for your continued support~ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ~~~~~~~~Janice Pearce~~~~~~~~

P

prayersbyPatty

17 years 7 months ago

Janice

I love your poems! They are worth the wait. You take your time and pick your subjects well. What a beautiful tribute to a man who got lost in the streets. Thank you from him to you. I hope they punish the evil people who did this senseless thing. Some people just think anything goes nowadays. Oh by the way, I love your new saying and you wrote it. You are a blessing. Patty

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

Thank you Patty, You are a constant inspiration to me, and a lot of us on the site. Your comments always appreciated~ __________________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. Janice Pearce

17 years 7 months ago

Oh Janice,

this is why I avoid most of the news, because of senseless ugliness that the human race can inflect on one another. It's as if you had personal contact with him. you write with incredible love for someone you did not know. I can't even imagine the love you have for those you do know. Congrads on the spotlight!! thanks, Eddie "do like the once barren tree: flourish and like the planted seed: rise" Jose De Diego

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

Eddie, I am deeply touched by anyone who has suffered even if I do not know them. I felt for this man, and cried when I heard of it. The news can hold ugliness, yes but that's what makes us thankful for what we have, even in these bad economic times~ Thank you so much for your your kind words~~ _____________________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. Janice Pearce

17 years 7 months ago

Totally touching

Totally touching, awesome and totally deserving of the spotlight. As fine a write as I have seen Janice. I tip my hat and make a bow to you! Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby" Rett: 2008

17 years 7 months ago

Rett

Wow, what a compliment. I appreciate your words Rett Thank you so much! _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________

17 years 7 months ago

Janice

This is such a sad story. Your poem in some small way is a tribute to him. You wrote so much with so few words, and beautifully, if it is possible to find beauty in this ugly act. You have probably conveyed more than any news report. I appreciate your heart. Yours, Dee

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

deelilah, My intent was a tribute, by reading your comment I have achieved this, and I am humbled. Thank you so much! _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

Julie, You are very welcome. If I have brought forth any emotion in John's memory, I am pleased. So sorry about your father~ Thanks for stopping by! _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________

Z

zarul

17 years 7 months ago

HI JANICE

Hi there, my dear poet friend. nice work. HUG ZARUL

17 years 7 months ago

Korea Town

Zarul Hugs back~Thank You _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________

17 years 7 months ago

Janice, thank you for your

Janice, thank you for your poem, this is a story i missed with my full plate lately... there was a time in my 20's that i wouldn't read the paper or watch tv.. for the senselessness of life.... it was the time of Viet Nam era. The horror of napalm... then i read Ram Dass's book, "Be Here Now"... how could i turn away when all these people were living THROUGH it? Once again... thank you. I love being touched by your heart, Janice....through your poetry. Congrats on the spotlight, else i might have missed it. Bless us all. We are in time of change, as if all the ugliness is coming up one last time. ~A

17 years 6 months ago

Korea Town

It means a lot to me that I have touched your heart. May his bereaving family, hundreds of them, find peace. Thank you once again! _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________

17 years 7 months ago

Janice

I, too missed this in the news, this is a sad and touching poem. congratulations on Spotlight.

17 years 6 months ago

Korea Town

Thank you so much Linda, I always like to heaar from you~ _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________

S

sakkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

17 years 6 months ago

Poetry

Hello poet, From the start I would like to be honest with you. I write from the cuff pictures in my mind. The poem by chance at least how I would spend my gray to read is it is all his fault. I think of past pictures I keep as to the person at lead, no person is alone to the actions they make.

17 years 6 months ago

Hello Sakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Please explain~ _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________

S

sakkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

17 years 6 months ago

Poetry

Hello friend. As to the explantion of words. I say just this, to write a poem is not just to place a thought to the gray of another it my friend is a picture you as one can place. From the soul the gray of your mind my frind. So if I were to be held to fault for the reason of what I thought. Then you as a poet have done a fine job and I will just fade from black to white. Steven A. Kacer

17 years 6 months ago

Steven

Thank you~ _____________________________ To write a touching poem, you must gently stir the soul, if it brings forth tears or smiles, then the story was beautifully told. ________Janice Pearce_________