Original DDE™ surreal art: “Regal Rag Man” by: rob kistner © 11/28/24
Rags-ole-iron, he called out loudly
rags-ole-iron, rolling down our road
collecting scraps of post World War II
gathered this’n’that in a recycled load
he had a slow n’steady way about him
from where he came — I never knew
he always seemed to me quite magical
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 horse clippity-clopped along the pavement
his bulged bounty clicked n’clacked n’clattered
he walked out of my TV then into my memory
always knew Fred’s mys’try mission mattered
time-to-time he still passes by in my memory
rumbling down that misty street of long ago
was it Mr. Freeloader who’d shuffled by me…
that boy from ‘52 prefers to imagine it was so
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
I guess Red never reached your neck of the world in the 1950’s. He and Lucille Ball and Gracie Allen were crazy maniacs,, but funny as hell! 🙂
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.
Rob, your poem embodies all that the Red Skelton show was ~~~ I remember him fondly. Being born in 1941 came with many perks!!!
We babies of the 40’s have seen a lot — of course, a lot I have forgot… and more and more everyday… 😐
Red Skelton seemed to be just about the nicest man ever! I loved his show. Thanks, Rob.
He was truly one of a kind Nancy… 🙂
I never saw much of Red Skelton, but I love your poem.
He was unique Sara. My poem was not so much about, but about a rag’n’bone man that worked our neighborhood in the 1940’s and 1950’s and how from the first time I saw him when I was a very young boy, I pretended he was one of Red’s iconic characters, Freddie Freeloader… because I liked Freddy.