navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #13 » A Man Can't Go Back Home
Open Poetry #13
Post A Reply Post New Topic A Man Can't Go Back Home Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
John Yaws
Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 860
Texas

0 posted 2001-05-08 06:07 AM



“A Man Can’t Go Back Home”

The gate sags on it’s hinges-
The house needs painting bad-
Out yonder on the hillside...
Are the graves of Mom and Dad.

Out back is that old oak tree-
Where me and Jim once played-
He fell somewhere in France they say-
In foreign ground was laid.

The lower fields are overgrown
With thorn, and briar, and brush.
To see the place in such a shape-
My daddy’s heart would crush.

I almost smell the fragrance-
Of Mama baking bread...
Ten years have passed, but it’s still hard
To picture her as dead.

I thought that me, and my son, Bob-
Would make the old place pay...
But when that car came driving up,
It wiped those dreams away.

They all are gone, I am the last-
Survivor’s what I am.
Cause Bobby tripped a booby trap-
Somewhere in Vietnam.

I walk through Mama’s flower beds
Which grass have overgrown-
Alas, I find that it is true...
A man can’t go back home.  

© Copyright 2001 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved
JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
1 posted 2001-05-08 06:31 AM


This is good writing Gunslinger...James
inot2B
Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205
Arkansas
2 posted 2001-05-08 10:35 AM


This pulls at my heart strings, cause I know what you write is true. Nothing said or done can make things the way they use to be.
Thank you for the look inside your heart today.

Irish Rose
Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263

3 posted 2001-05-08 10:51 AM


sell the place and buy a condo!   Gosh, give me a kleenex over this one!!!!!

Kathleen Blake

"When red-haired girls scamper like roses over the rain-green grass,
and the sun drips honey."
Laurie Lee


Mother_Earth
Senior Member
since 2000-11-20
Posts 1370
1/2 year Texas & 1/2 year Michigan
4 posted 2001-05-08 11:19 AM


Oh, Gunslinger, if a man can't go back home, where in heaven's name can he go?  You made the tears flow and the thoughts with them.  For some reason, the older I get the more those memories become clear.  I guess I like it back there because I know what will happen and the shock isn't quite as bad.  I hope you can find a place to go back to  to heal your soul.  Hugs,  ME
RMW
Senior Member
since 2001-03-21
Posts 1424

5 posted 2001-05-08 12:35 PM


Gunslinger.....This is distinctly...American. My name was once Bobby. But I didn't trip a mine in Viet Nam. And I wonder about that sometimes. Thank you very much for sharing your heart. Bob
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
6 posted 2001-05-08 07:11 PM


Slinger~
Poignant phrasing.
Touching remember.
~*Marge*~

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

darabeth
Junior Member
since 2001-02-17
Posts 33

7 posted 2001-05-08 07:20 PM


Very touching.I think everyone would like to go back home at some point in their life.If anything just to hug our loved ones who are no longer here a little bit tighter.Thanks for the trip back home.

Dara Beth

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
8 posted 2001-05-09 12:24 PM


Poignant and powerful... very well written!
Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #13 » A Man Can't Go Back Home

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary