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Mama's Sacrifice
| Open Poetry #11 |
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Mama's Sacrifice |
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mutington Member
since 2000-11-29
Posts 132New Jersey, USA |
MAMA'S SACRIFICE ---------------------------------------------------- Back when I was growing up Our family was very poor And I would watch my Mama cry For a future she was unsure It wasn't so bad till Papa died Then Mama had to find work Untaught, homely and overweight Ridiculed with a laugh or smirk But that didn't stop my Mama She knew what she had to do She took up sewing and tayloring Just to get us through It was the summer of my twelfth year When the Carnival came to town We wanted to go, but Mama said no "No money for that," she frowned. We had never seen the Carnival It would be here only two weeks Billy and I simply had to go To see the clowns and silly freaks Instead of playing, we gathered old bottles Selling them back at the general store Thinking if we had the money Mama would let us go for sure Then she started going out at night While I took care of my brother I peeked as she, came home so late One night after another Finally it was Saturday morning I told Mama what we had done She still said no, we could not go As she left for errands to run At first, we were so disappointed Then Billy started to plead I knew it was wrong to disobey Mama But I weakened and finally agreed The Carnival was so very exciting With taffied apples and carmeled corn The thrilling Ferris-Wheel ride And the goofy clown tooting his horn In the distance I saw a red tent A sign read,"Carnival Freak Show" I grabbed Billy's hand and pulled him along That's where I wanted to go We saw The Bearded Lady, Fire-Eater And the World's Tallest Man That's when I saw Mama As Billy turned away and ran She was sitting on a tiny stool Up on the stage so high As people whispered, laughed and joked I began to sob and cry Mama was the "Fat Lady" With a big blue bow in her hair And I heard the Reverand's wife say "Oh my, what's she doing up there?" Mama never knew we saw The sacrifice that she made I knew she did it because she loved us I knew the indignities that she paid mutington(Joyce) |
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| © Copyright 2000 Joyce E O'Neal - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Startime Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918Canada |
Oh Joyce, what an incredibly touching poem this is. Thank you so very much. It brought tears to my eyes as I came upon your surprise ending. Hugs, my friend. Love I leave with you my friend whether it be in your life or of yet the essense of your dreams. [URL=http://path2riches.com]http://path2riches.com |
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dgvarner Member Elite
since 2000-05-13
Posts 3552High Springs, Florida |
wow..joyce ..this one stings.... very well written..what love for her children to sit and be ridiculed so that they can just get by..and to try her best to protect them from the ugliness of the world.. hugs, g "so lift your heart with mine...the depth to which it grieves is the height to which it can celebrate!" -Lisa Hussey |
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pegasus111 Member Elite
since 2000-07-27
Posts 2219ocala, fl, usa |
speechless..I feel like an eavesdropper inside your soul.. the woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep, and many miles to go before I sleep...Frost |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Hi Joyce remember me? It's been a long time since I conversed with you love the poem it's great! .... E Lewis True [This message has been edited by ethome (edited 11-30-2000).] |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Welcome to Passions, Joyce... This is a great entree. Your insights and your wonderful expression of feelings will fit in nicely here... I look forward to reading more of your work... Check your email for a special greeting...  |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Wow! What a story! I loved the way this one read. Welcome to our family, I look forward to reading more from you.  |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
Welcome, Joyce! Good to see you here and what a powerful piece with which to introduce your talent and yourself! BRAVO!!! |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Joyce this was a treasure to read. Held me from the start. Welcome to Passions and what a way to arrive. jwesley |
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mutington Member
since 2000-11-29
Posts 132New Jersey, USA |
*** THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH !!! *** Your kind comments and warm welcomes have touched me deeply. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` mutington(Joyce)  |
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kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
a belated welcome to passions... and that was a heartfelt piece of yours...thanx for baring so much of yourself on your first post  |
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shira Member
since 2000-12-12
Posts 88Hamburg, PA |
Thanks for sharing this nice poem. It is truly amazing the sacrifices that some people will make for the good of others, especially the ones made by a mother for her children. This was a nice expression of feeling. -Shira |
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