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Open Poetry #11
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Rosemary J. Gwaltney
Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997
northern mountains, Idaho

0 posted 2000-12-12 09:15 PM


~
I went today
where the statue bends
to touch the nose of a fawn;
and the child sculptured is one someone made
in honor of all who’ve gone.
~
The field is aflutter with fair balloons,
and wind chimes tinkling so sweet;
but these hundreds of stones bear witness alone
of parent’s hopes incomplete.
~
Toys, dolls and trucks, and an angel form;
a quilt with a wish to keep a babe warm -
the gift of a parent whose darling lay
beneath the steel gray December clay.
~
Some gravestones receive a Christmas tree
after forty or fifty years;
decorated in love with an old mother’s care,
and placed there through clouded tears.
~
If only all parents could know their babe
is safe in God’s loving care;
and if they love Him, they too will find
their child in Heaven so fair.
~
For a parent never forgets their child.
It says “Baby Land” under the fawn;
for all the young ones who left too soon;
for all cherished babies who’ve gone.
~
~


The spiritual wind that holds survivors aloft, plants the seeds from which bloom new hope ... R.J.G.



© Copyright 2000 Rosemary J. Gwaltney - All Rights Reserved
Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
1 posted 2000-12-12 10:04 PM


Rosemary~
My~ my~
Tenderly sharing this day of children.
You are so wonderfully capable of putting into words
what some can only feel through their tears.

'If only all parents could know their babe
is safe in God’s loving care.'


Thank you, sweet mother ... for remembering so many.
Love to you, my dear friend.
~*Marge*~


~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

SEA
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 Tours
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676
with you
2 posted 2000-12-12 10:07 PM


Rosemary~ you took me there and I cried for the parents who had to say good bye much too soon.....I can't even imagine how impossibly hard that wouild be....wow.....beautiful   -SEA
lucky
Senior Member
since 2000-01-17
Posts 1601
Idaho
3 posted 2000-12-12 10:22 PM


Yes my dear we will go, I want to see April Dawn before we leave and I want to see the unknown girl who's granite reads simply "remember me" I know we'll see many others maybe meet their mothers, brothers, fathers... say some prayers shed some tears... it's Christmas and a time for giving... why not there.

I love you Rosemary

Rindercella
Member
since 1999-11-12
Posts 64
La La Land
4 posted 2000-12-12 10:56 PM


In sharing your sorrow with others
you touch other hearts.
I can see that you have much to share.


*If the shoe fits ... the castle is yours*



Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
5 posted 2000-12-13 02:19 PM


Rosemary--You have opened your heart to so many that lie in graveyards decorated with your tears...my admiration is as big as my love...hugs for this poem!
Wilfred Yeats
Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704
Wilmington, Delaware
6 posted 2000-12-13 02:23 PM


you sure got me crying with this one - sad - happy tears
Rosemary J. Gwaltney
Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997
northern mountains, Idaho
7 posted 2000-12-13 04:39 PM


Marge Tindal - thank you for your appreciation of my poem!

SEA - thank you too, for feeling the sorrow of that sea of parents who have lost ...

lucky - yes, I'll be grateful for you to come with me next time, honey.  And thank you so much for your love.

Rindercella - thank you for your kind and thoughtful words.

Martie - your own heart is so sweet and caring. Hugs to you for your understanding, and I wish you didn't have to understand quite so well!

Bill - you have a tender heart too.  Your response brought tears to MY eyes!  My deepest thanks for your care and empathy.

I wish I had a good enough picture of the  statue to put in here - it's a sweet little life-sized toddler squatting down, reaching out a hand to touch a fawn's nose; all carved in brass, I believe.  Very cute and very heart-wrenching, considering it's for the baby section of the cemetery.



suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
8 posted 2000-12-13 06:09 PM


This is heartbreakingly beautiful, Rosemary.
brian madden
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374
ireland
9 posted 2000-12-14 04:17 PM


Rosemary, a truly powerfully written piece, I am left in stunned silence. You have put into words a scene that is so hard to describe perfectly capturing the poignancy

"an afixiation a fix on anything the line of life the limb of a tree
the hands of he and the promise that s/he is blessed among women".
Patti Smith

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