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Open Poetry #28
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Kneeling in Love
| Open Poetry #28 |
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Kneeling in Love |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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Kneeling in Love He had traveled toward the west When it was still so young Thinking that he could stand the test Or so, the story’s sung Johnny was his given name, And he was born of the old sod It was later in his adult life When he finally found his God Not much then was known of him Back in those earlier days Though it was much later in life When folks watched him kneel to pray Story goes he had his work A teamster freighting supplies A hard enough job itself, Not one for ladies, or wives. But that is not how it was, No, not so in Johnny’s life, For he was paired up on each trip Accompanied by his wife They had a pact, don’t you know And knew of the dangers out there, The horrors of a world so new They would face it, as a pair. Their pact would be, in gravest light He would shoot her, then turn the gun Onto himself, if there be a raid, Ending life together, just as they’d begun And when that time came upon The two of them, out west The terror pressed, he kept his pact And a bullet entered her chest. He turned the gun, then heard the sound For military help then arrived, But too late for John’s sweet wife, She died there by his side. But for lack of a moment’s delay John was changed from then on For he viewed himself a murderer Sought forgiveness from God and Son. So it came to pass, out west That this thin, lonely old man Would through every season's pass Follow an inward plan. Day in, day out, the story goes, John would kneel come morn or night Placing his hat upon the ground Then look up into the light A sign of the cross that he would make, And he’d take something from his hat, No scoffer of God could ever shake John From this, not even a buffalo gnat. He never attended a formal church, The land his floor, the sky his ceiling, And when he died in nineteen ought five The church bells took to pealing. Thus it was said John prayed ’way his life There, for the love of his murdered wife. ~*~ John Horrigan of Limerick County, Ireland born in early 1820's immigrated to the United States in the mid to late 1830's. Passed away May 22, 1905. A small limestone statue in Mount Hope Cemetery depicts him in kneeling prayer at his gravesite in Ellis County Kansas. [This message has been edited by Sunshine (08-05-2003 04:45 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
Great write! I lack the words to describe .. Library! |
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gemjop Member Elite
since 2002-11-18
Posts 2587Pencilveinia, USA |
wow, Karilea, what a story...going back for a re read now. Fine job sweet lady! Instant karma's gonna get you. |
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Patricia Member Elite
since 2003-04-06
Posts 2160Missouri |
Karilea...I was at a friend's house fixing her computer...after getting the job done...I stopped by this gem...I read it aloud to my friend. Now I am back home and am responding from my own PC. What a story...we... Gwen (my friend) and I both it enjoyed this so very much. Seems I am doing much "out loud" reading today... Patricia |
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Ericc Member Elite
since 2003-01-31
Posts 4178 |
Oh wow...this is so descriptive and lovely! Eric |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
I must admit, I didn't quite know what to expect from the title!  A compelling and captivating read!  EA |
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SharaRose Member Elite
since 2003-07-19
Posts 2501Somewhere out there~ |
Another one that just chokes me up. They say life is stranger than fiction. Wow.....this was amazing!!! SharaRose @-->-- Of sound, and speech let all lift the hearer! |
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QjQ Member Elite
since 2003-04-18
Posts 3756U.S.A. |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
How sad! And how well written..dang that was good. Susan C. |
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littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Ok - now that made me realllly happy I am kidding LOL Karilea . . . you wrote so beautifully even with a subject such as this, My God what a horrible ending and existence to endure and what a beautiful tribute you have given him. This made me think about what I have NOW and clutch it close to my heart xxoo |
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KristieSue
since 2003-01-31
Posts 1460PA, US |
This was a beautiful story and a wonderful tribute...I loved reading this, as I do all of your writing ;-) Failure isn't failure if a lesson from it is learned ~ KS |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Thank you, everyone. It is always interesting to see how we can make a poet's attempt to retell an old tale... |
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