A Childhood Screen Door Closing

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Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

0 posted 2000-01-13 05:37 PM

A Childhood Screen Door Closing

I opened
a childhood screen door
so familiar
like the rhythm of the stairs
and the way you called my name,

and heard
the quiet grace of bedtime
and the song to quiet
my small and mighty fear,
within your hand
you held
what I thought was answer.

But
your humanness stole my peace
and time showed your query
just like mine
buried under years and overgrowth
so
I screamed onto a grandfather
and his book of parables
until even the sky harkened

I was sure I touched holiness
with my hand
could feel the encompassing sigh
that wrenched my tortured need
with listening

But direction was only lost
and I the seeker turned
to nestle with my own sweet truth
tucked under my pillow

I have filled this gated place
with stock of time and tears
with days of starting over
from frozen nights of grief
have filled it
with trellises of hope
and trees that bare words of love
and laughter
its trickling stream of sound
digs like worms
in earth built and consecrated
by my own tireless yearning.

It is a lovely place.
where I can see
far back in time
that childhood screen door
closing

In the dew of little things,
the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.
(ee cummings)

Denise

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-08-22

Posts 22648

1 posted 2000-01-13 05:46 PM

Beautiful, touching, heartfelt words, Martie. So lovely...

Denise

And slight is the sting of his trouble
Whose winnings are less than his worth;
For he who is honest is noble,
Whatever his fortunes or birth.~~~Alice Cary, ~Nobility~

Nate Dogg
Senior Member

since 1999-11-15

Posts 1658
Georgia, Fulton

2 posted 2000-01-13 05:59 PM

Wow, Martie you're so talented when it comes to non-rhyming poems. Your words are so clear and heart-touching. Thank you!

Nathan

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

3 posted 2000-01-13 06:55 PM

Denise and Nathan--Thank you for reading and finding this poem touching. I appreciate your comments.

Anne
Member

since 1999-12-31

Posts 78

4 posted 2000-01-13 08:08 PM

What a lovely poem! Closing the door on childhood has truly resulted in "a lovely place" in spite of the doubts and problems of adulthood! Thank you for a thought-provoking and utterly beautiful poem!

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

5 posted 2000-01-13 08:27 PM

Anne--thank you so much for reading and replying with such lovely words. Welcome to Passions, look forward to seeing some of your poems.

Grandma Jo
Member

since 2000-01-02

Posts 51

6 posted 2000-01-13 08:45 PM

Ohhh, so very deep and touching. This is lovely. Tugs just right at the "ol' heart strings"

Rus Bowden
Member

since 2000-01-13

Posts 139

7 posted 2000-01-13 08:53 PM

Hi Martie,

From the screen door you've opened a life. Wonderfully done, so many moments in this poem.

with trellises of hope
and trees that bare words of love
and laughter
its trickling stream of sound
digs like worms
in earth built and consecrated
by my own tireless yearning.

Rus

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

8 posted 2000-01-13 09:44 PM

Grandma Joe and Rus--thanks for your remarks and Rus, welcome to our Passions family. I'll look for your poem.

In the dew of little things,
the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.
(ee cummings)

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

9 posted 2005-04-16 05:09 PM

this touches Martie

wish I was a child again
but glad I can't go back

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