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Open Poetry #41
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GIRL OF MY DREAMS
| Open Poetry #41 |
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GIRL OF MY DREAMS |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity 
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It does not seem that long Since I was Seventeen And Strolled through Golden Meadows With the girl of my dreams Nor walked Sun filled Sunday afternoons Down winding country lanes And as She picked wild blackberries I'd make her daisy chains I remember lingering at the 5 barred gate To watch the farmer with his plough And as I placed my Mothers Wedding band Upon her left hand I made this Solemn Vow That I would never leave her side And one day soon Id make her my bride But we had stars in our eyes and never foresaw That over the Horizon we were headed for War We were only married 2 months When I got the letter And as I left for the front line I swore Id never forget her As she waved me off with tears in her eyes She whispered to me that she was with child Constantly on the move as the battle progressed I kept a picture of her close to my chest In an unguarded moment I let my concentration lapse And I was captured and dragged away by the Japs I did not feel the pain although my leg was shattered My wife and unborn child were all that mattered The next 3 years were spent in a POW camp Eating rotten food & drinking water that stank Each night was filled with the sounds of our boys dying And those that tried to escape were shot for trying I constantly wondered if we'd meet again Did we have a Girl or Boy, and what was it's name? Oh God how I wish I was still Seventeen And laying with you beside a sparkling stream Bathed in summer sunlight as we held hands Not a care in the world we made big plans Now you don't even know if I'm alive or dead By this time tomorrow I could have a bullet in the head Today there's a buzz going around the camp They say that the Japs have surrendered to the yanks Please Dear God let it be true And let me live long enough to get home to you I'll never forget the crowds and cheers of jubilation As we pulled into Southampton station Then as I stepped down from the train You came running to me calling my name As God save the Queen was struck up by the band For the first time I saw our Jean clutching your hand Neither of us could see we were blinded by tears As we kissed & hugged making up for lost years Then I got a job in the local foundry And the bad memories faded with my family around me Things weren't always easy and money was tight And Id frequently have nightmares keeping me awake at night But we were happy together and you saw me through The bad times would have been much worse if not for you Then Jean got married and had kids of her own And when she moved away we were left on our own But each night we would sit and quietly reminisce On 48 years of wedded bliss Now you too are gone I'm left on my own And nobody visits but our Jean occasionally 'phones Most of the days are spent in my room Alone with my memories in a silent cocoon I have to be taken to the loo And helped on & off Because there is not much I can do They think I'm soft Is it any wonder there is so much anger inside me? Compared to what I've been through they've had a life of Riley. I fought so hard to keep this country free And this is how they repay me Left here to die and promptly forgot Although my needs are simple & I don't ask for a lot All that I ask is to be shown some respect In what little precious time I have left For I know I am in the last Autumn of my years As the late summer sun dries my tear Although it has been sixty years it really does not seem All that long since I was Seventeen Closing my eyes I feel the warmth upon my face And then I am in another time and place They told our Jean that during the day I had gone to sleep and peacefully passed away For answering my prayers I thank God above As once again I walk in Sunkissed meadows With the Girl I Love |
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| © Copyright 2008 John Lawrence - All Rights Reserved | |||
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
This was written a few years ago & is basically a true story as related to me by one of the residents of an elderly care home who I used to talk to whilst visiting my Grandmother. I learned last week that He has now passed away & I have posted this here in tribute to the memory of a brave man....it was a privilege to have met & had the opportunity to spend some happy hours talking to Him..... RIP Alec..... |
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TomMark Member Elite
since 2007-07-27
Posts 2133LA,CA |
very beautiful and very touching. Almost moved me to tears. It is very kind of you to write something like this for others. A man's life...he loved and been loved and fought and won... wonderful!! |
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Clang Member
since 2005-12-15
Posts 222 |
I love this. My mom works in a nursing home and when I would visit her I would sometimes sit with the residents. I loved to here their stories. The Greatest Generation sure had some whoppers. Makes one wish in someways that we lived in another time, when life and love were so much simpler. My kids think I am weird and say "oh, Mom," because when I see a soldier in fatigues I try to go out of my way and say 'Thankyou." Really beautifuland heartfelt. |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
Many thanks Tom & Clang...I know what you mean about tears Tom.You know, it was not hard for me to sit & listen to Alec's tales and I know he appreciated that I did so. It seemed the least I could do after what He did for me and the rest of the allied forces. He was prepared to die for the likes of me which I find so humbling....nowadays, unfortunately some people would not even cross the street to pick you up if you fell over ( they might come over to rob your cell phone, Mp3 player etc, but to offer help, for nothing? perish the thought....) Clang, I remember when I was younger, I used to let myself into my Grans house using the key that was attached to a length of string inside the mailbox.which was rather pointless because the rear door was unlocked anyway! Alec was very astute & what I found so amazing was that he bore no animosity towards the people who used to laugh at him in the home..he was so appreciative of my "taking the trouble" to push him out into the sunlight to share a smoke & chat to him whilst my Gran was sleeping. Not wanting to wish the likes of WW1 & 2 back into our lives,sad to say His like will probably never be seen again ( no disrespect to the boys currently in Iraq etc)He was a Gentlman & I was proud to have had the chance to meet & talk to Him....I have 2 rituals I perform every year. 1: In November, I always buy a Poppy & give money in memory of my Father ( and now Alec) and 2:At xmas I always put money into the tin of the homeless. Because 1: without Alec & my Dad and their buddies I might not be here( and certainly not have english as my mother tongue) & 2: I could one day end up there... Clang your Mother does a valuable and worthwhile job, please thank Her for me, and next time you thank a guy in fatigues, tell Him I said thanks as well.... John |
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TomMark Member Elite
since 2007-07-27
Posts 2133LA,CA |
Those wonderful hearts!!!!! Thank you for sharing the poem and the story and your wonderful comments directly from heart. have a good day!!!! Tom |
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effjayel Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474At the Crossroads of Infinity |
Tom, my day just got better with the wonderful responses to my 'effort' it fair makes me old 'art sing.......now, if we can just get those feelings to spread amongst the people we touch, there may just be hope for our kids & the ones we must all leave behind when we meet up with Alec and his comrades in the sunkissed meadows high above....Thank you sincerely, John |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
You have shared his wonderful story well...yes it is sad that even if a couple fall in love and enjoy many years of wedded happiness, most of the time one will pass away before the other, and the remaining one is left with all the memories, good or bad...in this mans situation he seemed to have many wonderful memories to hold onto...and that was a blessing for him...James |
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A Romantic Heart Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-03
Posts 5496Forever In Your Heart |
now this is heartfelt poetry, it takes a great writer to put your self in anothers shoes, and feel and see through their eyes, I enjoyed the whole piece. I have said many times that there are books and books to be written in nursing homes, and how I wanted to take a voice recorder and record all the stories that are fading away from us and put them in a book... I love to just sit and listen to others tell their stories...I have done this since I was a little girl, visiting my aunts, uncles, and grandparents... You know you're in love, when you can't fall asleep,because reality is finally better than your dream~Dr.Seuss |
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HopeS Member Elite
since 2000-12-22
Posts 4596Perth Western Australia |
So touching and heartfelt , sounds like a similar story of my Dad , my Mum gave birth to my brother while Dad was at war and he just died in a nursing home recently Hope My son also works in a nursing home and often sits and listens to the residents reminiscing |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Beautiful sad story, Effjayel. Some stories need to be told. Ida |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
John... this is a wonderful tribute..how lucky Alec was able to share his life with you ... sad, heartwrenching write... love RDB Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
Effjayel, it was very kind of you to write this poem. I could understand the man`s frustration at the way things turned out late in life. But the years that he did have with his girl were indeed precious. |
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