Prayers and Potatoes - pipTalk Forums

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Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2001-12-12 12:07 PM

Prayers and Potatoes

We never had money but had lots of love
There wasn’t too much luck to be dreaming of
So I didn’t seek rainbows or stars of the night
To fill up my dreams with the songs of delight

I only said prayers when it came supper time
We just had potatoes and stayed up til nine
Potatoes and meat, apple sauce and a bun
At a table abundant with laughter and fun

Then everything changed and the world spun around
I couldn’t believe what a treasure I found
So ingenuous was I of a love such as this
Was even a hope that for me could exist

He came to the house on a hot summer day
My mother somehow had convinced him to stay
So he sat down beside me, and Dad said a prayer
And meat and potatoes was our only fair

The laughter somehow became mute to my ear
For inside me I prayed for the one sitting near
And that night in my bedroom I wished on a star
For the man that I loved would be going afar

He told me to wait and that he would return
Every night in my window a candle would burn
A small glowing beacon to show him the way
Through the mist of the night that came in off the bay

But time passed and never again he returned
But still every night in the window I burned
A token of love with a flickering flame
That danced on the walls as I uttered his name

Each evening at supper a tear wet my chin
A small tear of laughter to hide my chagrin
A prayer and potatoes, then sometimes at eight
I’d light up a candle and silently wait

Elizabeth Santos

[This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 12-12-2001).]

Mother_Earth
Senior Member

since 2000-11-20

Posts 1370
1/2 year Texas & 1/2 year Michigan

1 posted 2001-12-12 12:16 PM

Elizabeth, my Mom used to say her meal time prayer and as soon as it was done, she said "potatoes, potatoes, potatoes". You brought back some good memories. About your young love, did you ever hear from him or was he just gone? Great poem and memories. ME

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

2 posted 2001-12-12 12:50 PM

What a wonderful way to remember that (?) first love, even though he got away.

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

3 posted 2001-12-12 01:22 AM

Liz--Comfort food and candles...food for memories. Loved this, as I do all your poems.

LngJhnAg
Member Elite

since 1999-07-23

Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion

4 posted 2001-12-12 08:34 AM

Keep that candle burning, Lizzie-Girl - I'm comin' back. Get those potatoes cooking!!!!!!

heh, It was so long ago she won't remember what this other man looked like. This is gonna be sooooo easy! Ohhh, Long John..you are a devil you are!

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

5 posted 2001-12-12 08:47 AM

(big hugggggssssss) Oh Elizabeth, this brought tears to my eyes, this is so sad but also soooooooo beautiful! (sigh) Continue to pray, sweet friend, and hold your dreams close, for they will come true, and love will come to you just outside your window when you least expect it! (sigh) God Bless You, sweet Elizabeth, we all love you so very much, this is sooooooo beautiful! (kiss on cheek) You have such a beautiful heart, sweet friend, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

6 posted 2001-12-12 08:52 AM

Lady Santos, what a lovely, but sad, story....once again, your penwomanship lives up to your talent!

Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant

since 2000-04-26

Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium

7 posted 2001-12-12 08:53 AM

WOW

Regards to you Liz,
Sudhir

Son Netier
Member

since 2001-12-11

Posts 116
The Garden State

8 posted 2001-12-12 08:55 AM

A wonderful story in the form of a poem, so moving and emotional. I was touched by the beauty of the devotion.

Bill

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-25

Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...

9 posted 2001-12-13 11:56 PM

Liz-
  Wonderfully penned, as always.
  Enjoyed this.
  Hugs,
  ~Vicky

"...until you have read the verse on his heart,
you have not truly met the poet.
~vlraynes

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

10 posted 2001-12-14 12:20 PM

A wonderful story Liz, but that woman had way more patience than I would

- 3 nights, you're out!

~*~ May the spirit of this season live in your heart all year through ~*~

peaches73533
Senior Member

since 2001-11-04

Posts 981
OK, USA

11 posted 2001-12-14 12:36 PM

I enjoyed this very much.Your writes are always filled with true emotion and flow so well.
Peaches

Cerenity
Member Elite

since 2000-02-16

Posts 2637
Escondido-California

12 posted 2001-12-15 10:47 PM

I saw a friends name and just had to stop in and what a story! Liz this is beautifully done and I've missed your gifted pen, hope all is well with you, Happy Holiday's sweetie.

Love, Cerenity

"God doesn't have to be reminded that we exist.
We have to be reminded that He exist!"

(Writer Unknown)

amusemi
Senior Member

since 2001-12-08

Posts 1262
A State of Disarray

13 posted 2001-12-15 11:33 PM

Van Gogh had a painting he entitled The Potato Eaters and it is my all time fave. Like the potrait, this piece depicts the agony of hope along with the grace of sufferage.

It is a moment complete.

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