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Open Poetry #6
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The Secret Letter
| Open Poetry #6 |
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The Secret Letter |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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The Secret Letter Among the cobwebbed attic treasures Memories of yesteryear Books and pictures, notes well weathered Some brought laughter, some brought tears She rummaged through the souvenirs For hours and hours in reminisce Childhood friends and high school proms Her first real date, her first real kiss Then she stumbled on a box Of keepsakes from her mother’s day Little secret well-kept treasures Opened now to light of day She read the letters from her father Words of love that brought her tears She walked back through her mother’s youth Recapturing the long lost years One more letter left unopened At the bottom of the box She sat and stared at it in wonder Brushing back her golden locks Dare she read the secret letter From her mother’s unknown youth This box of treasures kindly quenching Thirst for knowledge of the truth She tore the envelope wide open Pulled the letter from inside And in the musty attic air She read it slowly as she cried It was a letter full of love Not written in her father’s hand Addressed “Dear Rosebud” at the top A letter from another man It told of his undying love And promised her that he would be Beside her always in this life And ever through eternity The letter was unsigned of course And barely finished in its haste The ink was stained with teardrops Of a love that now had gone to waste She’d had a vision of her mother Only seen in photographs And always looking like an angel Full of love and joyful laughs And now the vision had been shattered Now the truth had been exposed A letter to a rosebud And her mother was the lovely rose She took the letter to her father And through her tears revealed the truth Her mother had another love The mother that she never knew Her father tearfully then nodded Trembling as he read the page He said sometimes the written word Reveals the truth from age to age He held her tight and said these words This secret I already knew This letter’s in your mother’s hand The rosebud, darling, it was you Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 03-23-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Elizabeth, dear lady~ I love it when your nostalgic wanderings take me to the cedar chest within your mind. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
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Pepper Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079Southern Florida |
Liz, This gave my goosebumps, goosebumps !! Wonderful, dear ..... |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Oh Elizabeth this is so beautiful, brought tears to my eyes. What comes from the heart goes to the heart. Samuel Coleridge |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth, This is a wonderful poem, you are so talented. It is one for the book you will someday publish. all my love Sy |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Liz...I'm sitting here crying with this one. What can I say but that it is touchingly wonderful. You, my dear, shine through your poetry  Okay, I'm on my 4th reading of this and just had to tell you once more how really great this poem is...and you know the one word that's on my mind with this one [This message has been edited by hoot_owl_rn (edited 03-22-2000).] |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Dear Liz, this is so wonderful and so full of just the right words and timing and sweet sad love ...I am in awe. This poem shines!! and you have exceptional talent and heart!! |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
This had me crying too, Elizabeth. What an ending!! I think this is now my favorite of yours!! Denise |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Notice how this is all lady's? And you've got us all crying? Pass those tissues down will ya ladies? Excellent Liz, I love this, home run with last line |
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mariee66 Senior Member
since 2000-01-30
Posts 596Recess, OfYourMind |
Wow~ This is so beautiful~ As I was reading, I could envision everything~ You brought a tear to my eye~ Marie~ "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind." The Bard |
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pmc Junior Member
since 2000-03-09
Posts 48Germany |
A Beautiful Poem. Well done. Pat |
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INclan Senior Member
since 1999-07-20
Posts 1024Indiana, USA |
Liz, Truely an outstanding post. Well written and well conceived. I am with Ruth on this one....I am on my 5th reading and I have not tired of it. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Inclan |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
It's hard to type with goosebumps...harder still to see through tears. You got me again, dear lady. My hat is off to you. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Marge, I don't have a cedar chest in my mind, but I think I've got moth balls in my head. Thank you dear. Pepper, Always so sweet. Want a blanket? Thanks, dear Dark Angel, Thank you, dear, here's a tissue Sy, After your book, my friend. Love ya Hoot, You overwhelm me. Thank you. Martie. I'm glad you liked this. Such a sweet response Denise, Everyone is crying, Oh, dear. Thank you. Wht Dove, More tears? Where are those tissues? Glad you liked it. Thanks Mariee, Thank you for your kind comments pmc, Thanks so much Inclan. Your remarks are so generous. Thank you serenity, Very nice compliment. Thank you so much Liz |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
Real men don't cry, so why is this tear in my eye. It's because of your wonderful poetry. A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Danny, I love a man that is sensitive enough to cry. Now if I could only find out what WhtDove did with those tissues. Thanks, Danny Liz |
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RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
Liz: Are we back on the cognac again?.. HUSG Danny: Tears don't make a man, being a man makes tears.. HUGS [This message has been edited by RainbowGirl (edited 03-22-2000).] |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Rainbow, Let's drink to tears! May we all cry together! You are a sweetie HUSG LIz |
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David2 Member
since 2000-03-22
Posts 407 |
This poem gave me chills,What a beautiful love story! David2 |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you , David for picking this up. If it moved you in any way, I am moved Thank you Liz |
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bboog Member
since 2000-02-29
Posts 303Valencia, California |
L~ Not stalking you. I was looking for a poem by dsnyder and came across this. L~,I think this is the best poem of yours that I have read so far. As the Santana song goes, "smooth". Bravo. bboog |
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PhaerieChild Senior Member
since 1999-08-30
Posts 1787Aloha, Oregon |
Liz...I too am in need of some tissues. I suspect Wht Dove is hoarding them. This is a beautifully written poem. The end was phenomenal. I can just see the tearstained letter and smell the dusty attic. Very vivid and beautiful. Poetry~ Words falling on paper, painting a dream. Shawna R. Holder Boise, Idaho |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you for the very nice comments. I'm glad you liked the poem. Ate logo, meu amigo Liz Wild child, Another tender heart. Where ARE those tissues?? Thank you for your remarks. Liz |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Just back for another peak Liz...it gets better each time |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Hoot, That is the ultimate compliment Thanks Liz |
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Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Liz, this is so amazing, it brought a tear to my eye, thats all I'll admit. Of course my other eye it was really raining. I'm glad i didn't miss this. Parker |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
This is truly beautiful. I have no other words for it. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Are there any tissues left? *S* This is awesome, Elizabeth... my respect for your talent grows exponentially... this one merits many a re-read! *S* |
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lucky Senior Member
since 2000-01-17
Posts 1601Idaho |
Lis, So many tears. We are packing to move again (hopefully the last) but over the years we have accumulated so many memories stashed on shelves not even remembered we had. Rosemary wants to take them all... darn it, I can't say no more. touching, very very touching, for a very touching and moving time. |
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Rosemary J. Gwaltney Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997northern mountains, Idaho |
Tender, tender, tears are falling. What a brilliant talent you have. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Parker, I love to see a man cry over something sentimental. Glad you liked it Temtress, Thak you so much Suthern, Whtdove has the tissues. Thanks. You are so kind Lucky, Glad you liked this poem. Good luck with your move and those cobwebbed treasures. Rosemary, Your words always mean so much. Thank you Liz |
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Deb Lynne Member
since 1999-08-19
Posts 180Where blue skies meet blue ocean |
OMG! were the first words out of my mouth & chills such as I've never had. Today was not a good day to read this one. It only makes me weep more & I keep getting strange looks from people at work! Beautiful! |
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CherylLynnMckee Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 215 |
You paint a lovely picture with your words...makes me want to go threw my attic...wonderful! |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
I'm not sure how I missed this on the first round, Elizabeth... It's a wonderful tapestry you weave here...  |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Wow! Sent chills down my spine with this one, Liz. I too, don't know how I missed this one, but I'm glad it popped back up! Wonderful! Corinne |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Deb, Now wipe those tears and get back to work. You've got to read poetry during the coffee breaks. Thanks so much. Cheryl, You can come clean mine out if you want to. Thanks for the comments Nan, These are fast moving posts. I find myself missing many. Thanks for catching it Corinne. Glad you liked this poem, and thanks for you remarks Liz |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Liz, this is wonderful! I love the ending, I never saw it coming... "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Elizabeth this is very interesting and entertaining..written with a lovely flow and lots of sincerity. James |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Lovebug, You aren't the only one, I didn't either. When I start writing, I never know where a poem is going to go. Thank you James, it is so nice to see the men who have been touched by some sentimental thoughts. Thank you for commenting Liz |
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