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Open Poetry #34
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Kneeling in Love
| Open Poetry #34 |
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Kneeling in Love |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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Kneeling in Love He had traveled toward the west When it was still so young Thinking that he could stand the test Or so, the story’s sung Johnny was his given name, And he was born of the old sod It was later in his adult life When he finally found his God Not much then was known of him Back in those earlier days Though it was much later in life When folks watched him kneel to pray Story goes he had his work A teamster freighting supplies A hard enough job itself, Not one for ladies, or wives. But that is not how it was, No, not so in Johnny’s life, For he was paired up on each trip Accompanied by his wife They had a pact, don’t you know And knew of the dangers out there, The horrors of a world so new They would face it, as a pair. Their pact would be, in gravest light He would shoot her, then turn the gun Onto himself, if there be a raid, Ending life together, just as they’d begun And when that time came upon The two of them, out west The terror pressed, he kept his pact And a bullet entered her chest. He turned the gun, then heard the sound For military help then arrived, But too late for John’s sweet wife, She died there by his side. But for lack of a moment’s delay John was changed from then on For he viewed himself a murderer Sought forgiveness from God and Son. So it came to pass, out west That this thin, lonely old man Would through every season's pass Follow an inward plan. Day in, day out, the story goes, John would kneel come morn or night Placing his hat upon the ground Then look up into the light A sign of the cross that he would make, And he’d take something from his hat, No scoffer of God could ever shake John From this, not even a buffalo gnat. He never attended a formal church, The land his floor, the sky his ceiling, And when he died in nineteen ought five The church bells took to pealing. Thus it was said John prayed ’way his life There, for the love of his murdered wife. ~*~ John Horrigan of Limerick County, Ireland born in early 1820's immigrated to the United States in the mid to late 1830's. Passed away May 22, 1905. A small limestone statue in Mount Hope Cemetery depicts him in kneeling prayer at his gravesite in Ellis County Kansas. |
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| © Copyright 2004 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Karilea A timeless love story...beautifully written!  |
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vandana
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463USA |
nicely written  |
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*Alli4000*
since 2004-03-21
Posts 3188The World of Poetry |
beautiful poem......enjoyed~ ~Alli~ *:.AIM = Alli4000.:* My Journal |
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ThisDiamond Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353Michigan, USA |
A heartbreaking story Sunshine, but you gave the view in such a gentle glove. You always do. TD |
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Ericc Member Elite
since 2003-01-31
Posts 4178 |
Wow...this is truly awesome! Eric |
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Susan Member Ascendant
since 2004-03-27
Posts 5104walking the surreal |
Enjoyed this look into a life passed - such a sad story -  SusanHappiness isn't something that happens to you, it's created from within you. Joy is a state of mind. |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
Such a beatiful and yet tragic tale. The old stories of the immigrants are fraught with such painful and arduous moments. Thanks for bringing this one to life. Ken Through rubble and trouble and dark of night |
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