| THE PHOTOGRAPH...This was the first "story poem" I ever wrote. Fell asleep after thinking that if God wanted me to rhyme stories I hoped He'd let me know what the "story" should be about. I had a dream that woke me up and the dream was this poem...it practically wrote itself! Enjoy! |
| THE PHOTOGRAPH...This was the first "story poem" I ever wrote. Fell asleep after thinking that if God wanted me to rhyme stories I hoped He'd let me know what the "story" should be about. I had a dream that woke me up and the dream was this poem...it practically wrote itself! Enjoy! |
Lucy sat alone, dejected With her chin upon her hand Worry weighed her down so much She doubted she could stand... Through the open kitchen door She saw her children in the yard Their very future was at stake... She wondered...why is life so hard? Ten years ago, she'd left this farm At 18 with a burning need She'd only recently just returned A widow with three kids to feed Her dad had died while she was gone So her Mom was glad to see Her daughter home with grandkids To bounce upon her knee... But a little over a month ago Came Mama's turn to pass away The cemetery and the funeral Still remained a blur today Then just this morning the sheriff came With a notice from the city: Her parents' taxes were in arrears The lawman looked at her with pity "What does this mean?" she had to ask Feeling scared and all alone... "Well, unless you pay this here amount I'm afraid they'll take your home!" Lucy looked to where he pointed And felt the room begin to whirl "$7000.00 ?? No way in all the world!" The sheriff scratched his head & sighed "Is there something you could sell?" "Not for that much" Lucy moaned "This whole place is shot to hell!" She wandered through the parlor Stopped at the faded photograph Of her parents on the mantle Daddy seemed about to laugh Taken on a day now lost in time Done in golden sepia tones It pictured them on their wedding day Near the front steps of this home... Lucy stared into their eyes Feeling worse than ever before Unsure what the future held But knowing hardships were in store She cooked supper for the children Then tucked them into bed Prayers over, hugs and kisses Then three bedtime stories read She settled down in her father's den Searched through every paper there He'd obviously had no savings Though she knew how much he'd cared |
| While sitting at the ancient desk She felt a sudden chill It left her feeling frightened She held very, very still..... Then in the corner by the door She saw something that seemed strange Was it her imagination? Or had the light begun to change? She walked slowly toward the doorway Where the light was taking form She noticed the chill had disappeared Just as suddenly, she was warm! Golden light now showed an image A tall woman with slender grace Feeling no fear, Lucy squinted But could not make out a face... Then the woman beckoned to her As if to say, "Come walk with me..." She floated down the hallway With Lucy following hesitantly She waited at the parlor door Near the bottom of the stair The lady drifted to the mantle Then just stopped and hovered there Again she gestured, "Over here" And pointed to the photograph That Lucy'd seen that afternoon But now, underneath the glass A single speck of shining white Glowed in her mothers hands Very tightly she gripped the frame As she struggled to understand Than all at once the lady vanished And though Lucy looked around The woman left not a trace behind Just gone....without a sound! Glancing back at the photograph She studied it once more Noticed now what her mother held Had that been there before? |
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