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Open Poetry #6
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Ebenezer Church
| Open Poetry #6 |
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Ebenezer Church |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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Ebenezer Church An old forgotten woodsy path Beckoned footsteps to explore I knew where it would lead to, though The old man told me once before He spoke in an inviting voice It leads to Ebenezer Church As though he knew I’d wander there He said you’ll reach the graveyard first A footpath wide where worshipers A hundred years ago would meet And trek in Sunday ritual The path lay waiting at our feet We started off ecstatically Through woods of maple, oak and birch Following the hillside path That led to Ebenezer Church No need for markers on the route The earth was worn by years of plod Two ten-year-olds in jubilation Hiking toward the house of God At footpath’s end, a barbed wire fence We passed protecting arms and head And there we found in silent stance A graveyard as the old man said The oldest tombstone still intact With faded letters was engraved The reason for a woman’s death From fever she could not be saved We wondered if she still was there Buried deep beneath the stone In childish glee we made a plan To there unearth the woman’s bones We dug with stones and bits of shale In deep distraction entertained Engrossed so, we forgot the hour And into darkening dusk remained Awakened from our arduous chore In quick abandon stopped our search When eerie sounds came echoing From out of Ebenezer Church Without a word in pounding fear We darted toward the barbed wire fence And slithered through like slippery eels In agile moves and numbing sense The woods were quickly darkening Unfriendly noises pierced the night We clung to one another’s shirts Both sobbing in a fit of fright The moon was kind to light the way Reflecting on the limbs of birch But terror loomed along the path Away from Ebenezer Church Leaves were rustling on the branches Tree frogs, owl and cricket’s trill Haunted as we made our way Along the contour of the hill In dark we groped from tree to tree Expecting ghostly forms to lurch Convinced that we were being stalked By ghouls from Ebenezer Church When faintly hearing distant calls We followed voices in the night At last our country house appeared And shelter of the kitchen light Family members gathered round They’d all been on a frantic search Asking questions, where we’d been Our clothing soiled from graveyard’s smirch I said we took a little stroll Up to Ebenezer Church Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 04-05-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Esmeralda Ponsonby Member
since 2000-04-02
Posts 138 |
Lady Elizabeth Santos, This was spell binding and a most intriging read. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth, This absolutely a wonderful story poem. You are so very talented. You must start putting your poems in book form. Love Sy |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Esmeralda, Thank you for your lovely comment.Glad you enjoyed it Sy, Another childhood memory comes to light. Thank you, you are so sweet Liz |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Chillin'! Those days of interest and intrigue in mysteries. LOL...This would be good to post around Halloween Liz. (not that it wasn't good to post now ya know) |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Captivating tale, Elizabeth! The understatement in the closing couplet is a gem! Denise |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
WhtDove, this was not a halloween ghost story. It is true. But I'll post it some halloween Thanks Denise. So glad you liked this one. It's fun to recall childhood events.And fun to write about them Thank you Liz |
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Mike Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462 |
This I really, really, really liked. and if I didn't quite make myself clear, what an absolute pleasure to read. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Wow, Liz this is such a wonderful look into the exploration of your little girl times...I absolutely loved it!!!! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
No stories hit home so well as those told through the eyes of a child. You captures that very well. Wonderful writing, Liz.  |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Mike, I'm glad you like it. I enjoyed writing it. Thanks Martie, That's why poetry is so great , It gives you a glimpse into someones life. These are things we would never think to tell. Glad you enjoyed it Balladeer, Thanks for your comments. It's fun to be a child again through poetry Liz |
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