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Open Poetry #46
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Tim
Senior Member
since 1999-06-08
Posts 1794


0 posted 2010-09-28 06:40 PM



Forty-seven feet and not an inch more,
Faded cracked windows and a rough hewed oak door,
A coyote is howling down in Smith's draw,
Whil'st six children are sleeping, as are Aunty and Ma.

There's a 'coon on the ridge with hounds on his scent,
Aunt Jenny's egg money has long since been spent,
Ain't gonna have harvest, the corn done burnt dry,
It's been nigh on two months, with nary a cloud in the sky.

Things ain't lookin' so good, but we will make do,
'Cause mama says so, and the "Good Book" does too,
Pa he done left us, he up and died,
Three weeks ago Sunday, us kids we all cried.

Billy Joe is the oldest, he just turned ten,
Things will get better, we just don't know when,
There's a cross on the knoll, out past the door,
Some forty-seven feet and not an inch more.

© Copyright 2010 Tim - All Rights Reserved
katahdin
Senior Member
since 2010-07-01
Posts 1196
ME. In the Shadow of the Mt.
1 posted 2010-09-28 08:46 PM


Nicely done, enjoyed!
Earl Brinkman
Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan
2 posted 2010-09-28 10:22 PM


Nicely written and moving.  A poem that deserves to be read by others.
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
3 posted 2010-09-28 10:33 PM


Sir,

Your judgment of times past is a scratch
on today's door...just most of them don't
know it yet.

You hold the Bible in your hands, your read
is read on the promised land; it all depends
on who reads the facts...it's a promise,
in all God's acts.

You sit, a prophet, of times gone bad,
you lay a carpet for those who had
a moment in space, in time and place
and now they don't know a better space.

Cliche' it's true, but they don't know
the trampling to come, on life they know
but insistant you, and I, might be...
and send forth goodness in spite, in spite...

Because we know, we know...
it can be saved....


Yuka
Member
since 2010-08-19
Posts 71
china
4 posted 2010-09-29 02:17 AM


moving!
enjoyed!

easy1
Senior Member
since 2010-05-22
Posts 1209
Southeastern USA
5 posted 2010-09-29 02:48 AM


Yeah, this is good stuff... and can't I and too many others relate to the Masada feeling these days.
Cpat Hair
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793

6 posted 2010-09-29 07:59 AM


well done sir..
  your piece took me back to stories shared of such hard times in my own family...

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
7 posted 2010-09-30 12:58 PM


this was touching

Novus_Os
Member
since 2010-07-21
Posts 115
West Coast, USA
8 posted 2010-09-30 01:17 AM


Hey Tim,

I really liked this one.
It hearkens back to another
time and place in America.
Wonderfully done.

Enjoyed it very much.

Regards,

Novus_Os

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured.

Eusta B. Mae
Senior Member
since 2010-05-03
Posts 903

9 posted 2010-09-30 08:36 AM


I enjoyed this very much...It captured that time and the people. ebm
vandana
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Patricius
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463
USA
10 posted 2010-09-30 05:23 PM


enjoyed
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