The Little German Couple on Cherry Lane

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Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

0 posted 1999-07-16 06:58 PM

The little german couple on Cherry Lane
Ran a tiny grocery store
And had a cottage down on Main
With welcome mats at their front door.

At that time I was only four
But I still hear his hickory cane
Beat rhythms on the hardwood floor
That echoed down through Cherry Lane.

When times were hard and money tough,
More that one unlucky man
Would find his groceries on the cuff
As they smiled,"Pay us ven you kann".

They raised a garden full of flowers,
And were not rich, but rather poor,
Yet we all knew, at any hour,
That kids were welcome at their door.

And then, one day, the store burned down.
How very clearly I recall
Their saddened faces as the found
The broken panes and smouldering walls -

And swastikas upon the gate
Of their small cottage down on Main,
Emblazoned with bold strokes of hate.
How I still see their look of pain!

And, though we hated what we'd done,
How could anyone explain
That, in that year of 'forty one
The war had come to Cherry Lane?

Poetwheel
Member

since 1999-07-07

Posts 208
Canada

1 posted 1999-07-16 07:11 PM

Excellent storytelling as usual Baladeer! This based on anything or'd you just pull it from your mind? Thanks for another gift.
PW

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Andrew Scott
Member Elite

since 1999-06-24

Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA

2 posted 1999-07-16 07:16 PM

Even those who would claim the moral right are quick to succomb to the power of hate. An interesting piece, as are all those of yours that shine a light upon the human condition.
Thanks for sharing your vast insight. Have a great weekend.

Craig
Member

since 1999-06-10

Posts 444

3 posted 1999-07-16 07:18 PM

True words well said.

Once more your words paint a picture of a time gone by so well, faded but hopefully never forgotten. I have only your words to guide me through your country at the time you speak of but I can almost smell the garden flowers and the smouldering walls. This is the mark of a Pure Poet.

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

4 posted 1999-07-16 07:23 PM

What a sad, honest poem! When a poem is written by one such as you, I know there will be truth, imagery and quality. I read anything you write before I read anything else here.

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

5 posted 1999-07-16 07:23 PM

Actually, reading about the treatment of the Japanese-Americans in the United States toward the end of WWII got me thinking about how easily we fear and hate groups of people simply because they are different than we are. If Hitler was bad....ALL Germans are bad. If Hirohito was bad, ALL Japanese were suspect. If Saddam Hussein is bad, ALL Iraquis are bad.......NOT!! We should judge people on an individual basis....but we don't. It's sad.

latearrival
Member Ascendant

since 2003-03-21

Posts 5499
Florida

6 posted 2005-01-19 03:19 AM

So sad and oh so sad it is still happening around the country. best,marty

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