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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2002-02-20 10:35 PM

The Gift of the Guitar

With willing hands
he would help
young and old and all

never a color barrier with him
that’s why he stood
so tall

never a racial injustice
never a bone to pick

the only thing he ever knew
was that friendship should
always be thick

never a thin day did he have
when it came to helping
others

many a woman was his friend
and he gathered ‘round
many brothers

a young couple of
Hispanic descent
waylaid by the road one day

soft and gentle were his
words, “May I
help you on your way?”

and help he did,
and with a smile

to see they would
continue their miles

and when it came time
to say goodbye

the young man looked
my Dad in the eye

“Senor, I have no dinero
with which to you repay…”

and my Dad, he grinned
in that great lopsided way

“Son, just be careful
in all you do
and take care of the family
that belongs to you.”

and the young man
with soft brown skin
came fearfully close
his insides crying

“Senor, you have helped me,
it is so, now we will travel far…

please, take as a gift from me
this, my family's guitar.”

Into my father’s hands was placed
a wondrous thing of beauty
and when he looked in the young man’s face
he could see this gift was a duty.

Honor it is, in men of strength
and travel they will to any length
so that there is no beholding left behind
and they may leave with unencumbered mind.

When my father returned home that night
he held up the guitar under a favored light
beauty came from the steel guitar
soft gleamed the beauty from out and within
he strummed the strings a wee bit soft
and then he began to sing…

O this guitar, so fine a piece
of workmanship and crafted wood
a steel plate within it gleamed
at the resonating sound, all quietly stood

some years later, it came known to us
the value of this treasured guitar
had the young man known of it
and sold it, he could have traveled far

but perhaps the Dobro itself
was meant to be in the hands of my Dad
for when he gave it to his son
there was never a happier lad.

[My brother continues to treasure this old, beautiful guitar, as it was his entrance into the world of music.]

09.01.00

Larry C

Member Patricius

since 2001-09-10

Posts 10286
United States

1 posted 2002-02-20 10:41 PM

Karilea,
Wonderful story and a tribute to three fine men I'm sure.

Well done.

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

2 posted 2002-02-20 10:56 PM

Karilea--You touched my strings with this precious story...a song of heart.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

3 posted 2002-02-20 11:01 PM

Karilea, what a wonderful tale you tell...a true one at that. Marvelous memories you share with us of your father. This one touched my heart strings.
~Hugs, Nancy~

~Love, like magic, depends on believing.~

RosePetal

Member Elite

since 2001-08-26

Posts 2985
South Florida

4 posted 2002-02-20 11:06 PM

aww heartfelt tribute you've penned here!
(hugs)

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

5 posted 2002-02-20 11:25 PM

More please?

Live today like it was your last day on earth!
~* I don't know who said it but they were sure right *~

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

6 posted 2002-02-20 11:28 PM

Karilea~
The Dobro is a beautiful instrument and this is a beautiful write~
I love the 'nostalgia and sentimentality of it~
Nice job poetess~
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

Bill Charles
Member Patricius

since 2000-07-11

Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now

7 posted 2002-02-20 11:28 PM

Sunshine - I love the guitar and can only imagine this one as a gift. This is a very special write...

BC

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

8 posted 2002-02-20 11:32 PM

This is a beautiful piece of writing, Karilea

Rex Allen McCoy
Member Elite

since 2000-01-30

Posts 2863
Sippin a Timmy's in London

9 posted 2002-02-21 09:13 AM

Music holds a special meaning to us all, poetry and song writing go hand in hand ... I love to listen to a good guitar as much as I love to hear a good singer or a good song or poem
And speaking of good ... you're at the top of the charts with this one

Interloper

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-06

Posts 8369
Deep in the heart

10 posted 2002-02-21 09:15 AM

Again, beautiful.

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

11 posted 2002-02-21 10:10 AM

BRAVO!!! Oh my gosh, this is so touching, sweet friend, what a gorgeous gift it must have always been for him, for it is not only the guitar that sings but also the heart of friendship he shares with that man! (kiss on cheek) God Bless You, sweet friend, this is breathtaking, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Karilea, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

amigo
Senior Member

since 2001-10-12

Posts 520
the earth school

12 posted 2002-02-21 12:13 PM

Simply beautiful, Karilea...thank you for sharing these sweet memories with me...

Saunni
Senior Member

since 2000-07-11

Posts 1777
West Virginia

13 posted 2002-02-21 01:21 PM

Sunshine, this is sooo beautiful and what a story! Loved this!

Sauni @~~~>~~

The Sun Shines
Not On Us, But In Us
The River Flows Not Past,
But Through Us

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

14 posted 2002-02-21 01:31 PM

A beautiful story...so very well told, Karilea.

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

15 posted 2002-02-21 05:15 PM

Honor it is, in men of strength
and travel they will to any length
so that there is no beholding left behind
and they may leave with unencumbered mind.

Very true. *S* This is beautiful, Sunshine.

doreen peri
Member Elite

since 1999-05-25

Posts 3812
Virginia

16 posted 2002-02-21 06:00 PM

hey girl!

you strung me along with this and i'm glad i picked up on it.... this one is instrumentally in tune with you....

hehe... and i love it!!

fine writing, miss Karilea!

Wanda
Member

since 2001-10-23

Posts 461

17 posted 2002-02-21 06:17 PM

Karilea; This story/poem really touched my heart. You must have had an amazing Dad. Blessings to you. Wanda

strbbux
Member Elite

since 2001-12-19

Posts 3859

18 posted 2002-02-21 06:31 PM

Karilea this is an awesome story, so heartfelt, and how wonderful for him to have helped so many people. floria

Floria

"Alas for those that never sing,
But die with all their music in them"
(Oliver Wendell Holmes)

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

19 posted 2002-02-21 06:41 PM

Aw yeah ya got to love this story! I love the dobro it's truly a unique guitar but you've made it even more special with this heart warming story!
Beautiful wrtiting Karilea!

Larry C

Member Patricius

since 2001-09-10

Posts 10286
United States

20 posted 2002-02-23 12:05 PM

*bump*

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-25

Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...

21 posted 2002-02-24 12:16 PM

Karilea-
What a wonderful story...tugged at my heart.
I love when you write like this.
Hugs,
~Vicky

"...until you have read the verse on his heart,
you have not truly met the poet.
~vlraynes

peaches73533
Senior Member

since 2001-11-04

Posts 981
OK, USA

22 posted 2002-02-24 01:13 AM

This is a beautiful story and a wonderful tribute.One for my library.
Peaches

amusemi
Senior Member

since 2001-12-08

Posts 1262
A State of Disarray

23 posted 2002-02-24 01:53 PM

So very beautiful...

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

24 posted 2002-03-02 04:42 PM

Thank you all so much. I am trying to introduce my musically inclined brother into my world of poetry...and to all of you. I hope he finds this...

and smiles...

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