Open Poetry #8 |
Old Friends |
Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Old Friends There is a great old sprawling tree That grew beside an old stone mill An oak which stands majestically On Pennsylvania’s greenest hill And who’s to say which one came first The mill or tree or maybe both Perhaps their secrets of the past Are kept within a mutual oath The mill has seen the tree sprout forth An knows its wounds of winter’s toll And has been shadowed by its leaves And sheltered from the winter’s cold The mill has seen a lightening spear Pierce the tree with mighty force Severing branches from the trunk The tree then mending in due course The tree has seen the grist-mill work The millstone grinding grain for flour With churning tumbling wooden wheel That spun in falling water’s power A bustling place where horse and wagon Pulled up weekly for their goods The daily bread, the staff of life Ground in a mill in country woods The old mill was important then Was saved by fire and heavy snow But all that passed on that green hill Only oak and stone mill know All I know is when I sit there On the grass between the two This quaint and lovely mellowed pair Seem like old friends I always knew And who’s to say which one came first They have for centuries been a pair On Pennsylvania’s greenest hill They stand in peaceful silence there Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 07-18-2000).] |
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© Copyright 2000 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
Sunnyone Member Ascendant
since 2000-07-06
Posts 5334Staffordshire, England |
Elizabeth..... What a beautiful story this is.... I can almost see the mill and the tree!! I love the way you wrote this, from the beginning to the end, every word. ~~~~~Live for Today~~~~~ taste every single moment |
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gem Junior Member
since 2000-07-18
Posts 39 |
I loved this poem!! |
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BSC
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-02-04
Posts 2919New York, USA |
Liz, This is so beautiful, it conjures up lovely images. Bonnie |
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tracie66 Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713Australia |
Elizabeth~ Such beautiful, beautiful images Thanks Tracie~ Love is the life of the soul... It is the harmony of the universe |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
All I know is when I sit there On the grass between the two This quaint and lovely mellowed pair Seem like old friends I always knew The images are pure and sweet and this kind of day I need much. Great piece. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Superb! |
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ellie LeJeune Member Elite
since 2000-01-10
Posts 4156King of Prussia, PA USA |
Dear Liz: How lovely this poem is,with serenity filling every line. When I come to visit sometime, can we sit there together? I would love that. Love, Ellie Summers haunting melody that awakens the butterflies, calling them to join the dance in their silent song of praise to God. eL |
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Dr.Moose1 Member Elite
since 1999-09-05
Posts 3448Bewilderment , USA |
Elizabeth , Very picturesque , in rhyme , meter , and verse . Always an enjoyable read . Doc |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
This is so vivid! I would love to sit there and read..watch the birds play..gosh this was a good poem! |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you all for your many wonderful comments. I'm so glad you enjoyed this poem Liz |
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Lone Wolf Member Ascendant
since 2000-03-16
Posts 5842Lansing, MI USA |
Liz, Wish I were there!! Sounds like a great place. Wonderful images. LW Poetry should surprise by fine excess...it should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts and appear almost a remembrance. -J.Keats |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
I always try to analyze how a person gets the idea for the poem. You leave me shaking my head in amazement.... |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Without a doubt, you have an amazing mind, Elizabeth! Truly amazing! This is beautiful! Denise |
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Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
A wonderful tale you have woven into poetry, for this you have a gift and we are so lucky to receive it, Thank you~ |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you for your very kind remarks. I would like to address Balladeer's question about where ideas come from. I don't know. Most of the time when I write I don't know where the poem is heading or how it's going to end. Ellie says she writes the same way. But if you know a place or person or a feeling, then it flows naturally. And that brings up a BIG QUESTION! Where does Balladeer get the ideas for his absolutely phenominal poetry? I'd like to hear the answer to that one. In the meantime, I truly appreciate your comments on this poem Thank you Liz |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth, You never cease to amaze me. Love Sy |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Wonderful work, Elizabeth, and a good turn around to Balladeer. I'd like to see his answer, if and when he pens it! Sunny ~~~Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Helen Keller ~~~ When you want to be loved, look within...KRJ |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Sy and Sunshine. Thank you for your warm and lovely remarks Liz |
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Jamie Member Elite
since 2000-06-26
Posts 3168Blue Heaven |
Might i pull up a piece of shade? Perhaps I might be so inspired that i could come somewhere close to this poem. Probably not but...... Jamie Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito. - Virgil. "Yield thou not to adversity, but press on the more bravely". |
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Yu Lan Senior Member
since 2000-04-13
Posts 1462New Zealand |
all I can say is.. this poem breaths on it's own.. a truly wonderful friendship, between an old, beautiful tree, and an equally such, run down mill... Loved this.. Lynne "He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened." Lao-tsu |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
All I know is when I sit there On the grass between the two This quaint and lovely mellowed pair Seem like old friends I always knew And who’s to say which one came first They have for centuries been a pair On Pennsylvania’s greenest hill They stand in peaceful silence there ...... WOW a Liz Special to bowl me over this morning... lovely indeed... regards, sudhir |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
A beautiful peaceful picture. Wonderfully crafted verses of reflection on the past. Excellent work Elizabeth! |
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poutprincess Senior Member
since 2000-07-06
Posts 735Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
im overwhelmed! wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Liz this is wonderful...makes me wish I was there enjoying the peace and relaxation...James |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Your comments are overwhelming and I thank you all very much. Sudhir, you can get up now. Liz |
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