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Treasured Gifts
| Open Poetry #5 |
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Treasured Gifts |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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Treasured Gifts Two years of living far away, in another world Wrought a life-long friendship with a young Brazilian girl Bernadette was always vibrant, and beautiful to see But a crucial blow of fate left her in utter poverty She always wore a ring of gold with a pearl upon her hand And a bracelet with her name engraved across a golden band Presents from a father to his angel, she was told His senseless death had made them much more precious than their gold She never once in those two years removed the loving gifts And every time she spoke of them, her spirit would uplift So barren her attire would seem without the gifts of gold Those beautiful remembrances of past times often told When time ran out, I left that place, a sad and rainy day My friend was quite distraught to see her best friend go away "Good bye" was an utterance she couldn't say or understand And as she turned abruptly placed something in my hand I looked down with predicted fear of what I might behold It was a lovely pearl set in a simple ring of gold And a bracelet with a golden band, and on it finely etched In beautiful scrolled letters, the name of "Bernadette" So grand a gift I felt inside I simply couldn't accept But in her culture, such an insult no one would expect Forced to take them with me, I shed a hundred tears But I kept them in a box marked "Bernadette" for many years One day I ventured back to that place that I had known And saw my dear friend, Bernadette, and her daughters fully grown For each of them a little box, two presents given with pride The younger one found a ring of gold with a lovely pearl inside Their mother quickly glanced upon the older daughter's lap And beheld the contents of the other present just unwrapped With tearful eyes she fingered both gifts, handling them with care And said she had some thoughts about these gifts she'd like to share "I never thought I would behold these precious gifts again Your gesture signifies to me how truly great a friend Each time I see them I'll recall a cherished memory The sparkle in my father's eyes as they were given to me" "My daughters now can share the visions I've held in my heart Of happy days before my father and I were torn apart Each time they wear them I'll relate a story of his past In that way, in their hearts my father's legacy will last" Elizabeth Santos |
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| © Copyright 1999 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
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neokano New Member
since 1999-12-22
Posts 5 |
I am happy to say that you made me cry...very good |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Absolutely Beautiful  |
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Echo Rhayne Senior Member
since 1999-09-17
Posts 1495Canyon Country, CA |
Very beautiful indeed! Grat job! ~*~ Hell is not a place of fire and a devil with a tail and horns. But a place of torment because the light of God is gone. To escape this, accept the blood of Jesus Christ! ~*~ |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
You have written an epic, Liz! This is very beautiful in form and touching in content. Well done - a pat on the back is needed! K |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Neckano, Hoot and Mel Thank you for your kind comments Liz Kamla. Not and epic, just a little story, but true. I wrote a couple months ago, as I did about 130 other poems but I try to find one or two that are good enough to post, and it's hard. Thanks, Kamla Liz |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Elizabeth - this is a great story.... ...and I would think the opposite - that you have a hard time finding any that aren't fit to post.... |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
A soft, flowing tear finds it's way to my cheek. ~Marge~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth, You have freed another epopee. Exquisite, love ya Sy |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Nan, Marge,and Sy, Glad you enjoyed this little poem about one of my very best friends. Thank you for your nice comments Liz |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
What a beautiful story, Liz~well told. I would like to take this opportunity that I have never found a poem of yours that could be considered "bad". Love ya, Elizabeth Nail to the mast her holy flag, Set every threadbare sail- And give her to the god of storms, The lightning and the gale! -Oliver Wendell Holmes |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Yep, I'm crying too. Very touching, Elizabeth. So very touching. Thanks for sharing this. Denise |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
This poem touched my heart Liz--how could it not--it is beautiful in the doing and in the writing. In the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. (ee cummings) |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Elizabeth, What a sweet thing to say! but you haven't read all of my poems. There are some really bad ones! I just don't post them Thanks, Liz Denise, I'm so glad you liked this poem. And you would also like Bernadette, she is very special. I'm going to meet her in JUly at her daughter's house in Spain. She has a good soul. Liz |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Martie, Another girl of my own heart, thank you, dear. Liz |
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Paul Hoekman Member
since 1999-12-28
Posts 382Harwinton Ct. U>S>A> |
MARVELOUS! |
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Pepper Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079Southern Florida |
So very touching indeed Liz...Beautiful piece.... |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Paul, My, you are going back a ways in your readings, Thanks for your marvelous word Liz Pepper, Thank you for your kind comments, I'm glad you liked this story about a very dear friend Liz |
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Rus Bowden Member
since 2000-01-13
Posts 139 |
Hi Liz, This poem is a treasure! Such a story. It kept tugging at my heart. Rus |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
"visions I've held in my heart". Reminds me of the many I have of a father past. Enjoyed this very much! DH |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Yes, Yes, Yes...post anything Elizabeth, because it only gets better with each passing day! Sunshine Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Rus, Glad you liked the poem, because it really happened Thanks Liz Danny, Yes, it's nice to have a souveneer of a loved one to always remind us of their past Thanks for your comment Liz Sunshine How sweet! Thank you for that lovely compliment Liz |
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