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Open Poetry #4
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The Light Keeper
| Open Poetry #4 |
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The Light Keeper |
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X Angel Senior Member
since 1999-11-07
Posts 1521Oregon 
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The Light Keeper shuffling steps bring him nearer as he painfully surmounts the stair and struggles with an arthritic hip and a heavy load in his arms and his heart shifting his burden he reaches for the knob shiny and worn smooth from years of routine from a lifetime of unceasing attention and duty for he is the keeper of the light the brave guardian of the seas the watcher of the angry waters that would swallow sailors in one hungry gulp with nary a trace but splinters washed up on a shore somewhere near his solemn vow to protect all voyagers on this rough coast for he has loved, and lost here too and fears it to happen again so in his vigilance he burns a light bright penetrating into the deep horizon a beacon that shines more pure and with a stronger light than ever known for it is fueled by love and love lost setting his package heavily on a smooth worn bench (it contains a portrait of her) he adjusts the light brighter for tonight, he mutters a storm comes a fierce one that hasn't been seen in these regions for over fifty years, soon he has the light so strong and shining so bright it lights the fog and the darkness for many miles proclaiming a safe harbor to all who seek it far off in the distance he can see faint whispers of light echoing through the storm as the clouds and rain part letting him know there are ships to keep vigilance for this dark, stormy night busily he makes ready for the gale tightening the windows locking the doors patting his faithful cat, ‘Bluebeard' he coos softly to the old feline that the storm will pass ‘they always do' the cat, unconcerned, nestles deeper on his cushion the old man heats his coffee and tamps his pipe (while the old cat finds a lap to sleep on now) as the old sailor settles in for a long night of watching the ocean and making sure no ship founders without a watchful eye to see without a cry for help soon the seas rise in anger lashing at the rocks below calling to him to come it's come to carry an old sailor home to his heart's desire higher and higher the waves creep up the lighthouse walls stealthily like a thief coming into a house unaware but this thief brings a gift one he has waited these fifty years for age has it's toll upon an old heart and mind and the old sailor's breathing soon deepens and becomes rhythmic as he sleeps and dreams of her his fair haired beauty taken so long ago by an angry storm on this very coast on these very rocks and he sleeps on and on sighing and smiling and murmuring her name as his old cat snuggles deeper in his broad lap morning comes awash in sunlight and screaming gulls and there, out on the coral reef lay a foundering ship for she had no light to lead her home for where the lighthouse once stood was only a few pieces of stone and a shard of glass or two and a rain streaked portrait of a fair haired beauty ~X~ ------------------ "We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night" (Tombstone epitaph of two amateur astronomers) [This message has been edited by X Angel (edited 11-10-1999).] |
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| © Copyright 1999 Heather Walters - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Just one word will do - MAGNIFICENT! ------------------ Denise |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Fabulous story, Angel. Makes me wonder about people I might take for granted who are always shining a light for me... michael |
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Watcher666 Senior Member
since 1999-10-13
Posts 1606 |
Absolutely fabulous!!! ------------------ Illusion...what we see and what we do...it's all up to you. |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
This is GREAT ! |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Great story  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Absolutely wonderful. |
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MacBeth Junior Member
since 1999-11-06
Posts 14 |
WOW! |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Lovely - and as I'm reading this, a storm is brewing over the ocean - PERFECT!!  [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 11-11-1999).] |
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Julie Senior Member
since 1999-08-20
Posts 739Houston, TX |
Bravo! Bravo! Enjoyed every minute. |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
So very, very beautiful. Drew me into the light. Thanks, ~X~ Angel. ------------------ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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JOY 14 Senior Member
since 1999-09-22
Posts 1419Wisconsin USA |
As everyone else, I truly enjoyed this poem. It really brings the story alive. |
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
A most excellent story...I really enjoyed this. You've done this very, very well ------------------ "Tread softly, for I have spread my dreams under your feet"~~William Butler Yeats |
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