Original digital surreal art: “Regal Rag Man” by: rob kistner © 11/28/24
Rags-ole-iron, he called out loudly
rags-ole-iron, he rolled down our road
collecting scraps of post World War II
gathered in a this’n’that recycled load
he had a slow n’steady way about him
from where he came — I never knew
he always seemed quite magical to me
a TV enchantment that had come true
he was such a mystery to this young boy
tattered mad-hatted wizard from the past
I’d hear his call echo between the houses
I’d rush to watch Freddie Freeloader pass
his wheels rumbled quietly on the pavement
his piled bounty clicked n’clacked n’clattered
he walked out of my TV then into my memory
somehow I felt Fred’s regal purpose mattered
time-to-time he still passes in that memory
rumbling down that misty street of long ago
was it Mr. Freeloader who shuffled on by me
a magical mystery only that young boy t’know
Red Skelton’s iconic 1952 B&W TV character, Freddie Freeloader
*
rob kistner © 12/3/24
Poetry at: dVerse
Rob, I haven’t thought of Red Skelton in forever. I loved him! I’m sure you did think he’d climbed out of the screen and was walking down your street 🙂
I will never forget the first time I saw that rag man in 1952. I was sure it was Freddie Freeloader. You know how kids are. I was 6 years old and, living deeply rural, I had never seen a hobo – but I had seen Red’s Freddie character on our B&W TV. So… 😉
Red Skelton was a funny man! I loved him and Lucille Ball together.
Oh hell yes Melissa. They were such wonderful maniacs — and Gracie Allen… 😉
Fine recollection, Rob. Danke.
Bitte! And danke for your kind words Ron… 😉
I love your story, Rob. I can see how he affected you back all those years ago. Well done.
Thank you Dwight. In the clutter of all my life, that memory is still clear… 🙂
Nice
Much love…
🙂 …much love to you Gillena.
I am totally lost here… love the description, but this was something I don’t think I’ve seen
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Skelton
The “Rags-Ole-Iron” man was a real raggedy old hobo that used to walk the streets, as I describe in my piece, calling out “Rags-Ole-Iron” during and after WWII, in my childhood hometown (Mt. Healthy, Ohio) collecting scraps, he would then repurpose and sell to feed himself. To introduce my hilarious TV hero Red Skelton, ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Skelton ) — I chose to fantasize one of Red’s iconic characters, Freddie Freeloader, as that “Rags-Ole-Iron man of my childhood. The “R-O-I” man disappeared from my neighborhood around 1955-56. He remains a wonderful mystery in my life.