»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #13
»
At the Crossroads
| Open Poetry #13 |
|
At the Crossroads |
|
|
Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware 
|
At the Crossroads (two poems) Prefatory remarks: In 1940 my sister (Very much older than I) was 20 and engaged to a soldier. He was called to go overseas in the coming conflict. So he sent her a framed copy of Richard Hovey's poem and did beautiful calligraphy. (The first below) She in turn, wrote and sent him the second one. As Fate would have it, He survived, She died. (From peritonitis after an appendix operation that year.) I was just eight years old when she died And besides the hand lettered “Santa’s Workshop – KEEP OUT” Sign on her bedroom door – I’ve little else I remember her for Still I still love this pair of poems. Enjoy! At the Crossroads You to the left and I to the right For the ways of men must sever- And it well may be for a day and a night, And it well may be forever But whether we meet or whether we part (for our ways are past our knowing)' A pledge from the heart to its fellow heart On the ways we all are going. Here's luck! For we know not where we are going Whether we win or whether we lose With the hands that life is dealing, It is not we nor the life we choose, But the fall of the cards that's sealing There's a fate in love and a fate in fight, And the best of us all go under - And whether we're wrong or whether we're right, We win, sometimes to our wonder. Here's luck That we may not yet go under! With a steady swing and an open brow We have tramped the ways together, But we're clasping hands at the crossroads now In the Fiend's own night for weather; And whether we bleed or whether we smile In the leagues that lie before us The ways of life are many a miles And the dark of fate is o'er us. Here's luck! And a cheer for the dark before us! You to the left and I to the right For the ways of men must sever- And it well may be for a day and a night, And it well may be forever But whether we live or whether we die (For our ways are past our knowing)' Here's two frank hearts and the open sky, Be a fair or an ill wind blowing HERE'S LUCK In the teeth of all winds blowing. By Richard Hovey (And my sister's reply  You to the left and I to the right --The ways of those which are severed- 'Tis but numbered days and nights And yet it seems forever, Till we meet again, then ne'er to part- (Fate's ways are past all knowing) We'll pledge hearts to the other's heart On the way we'll both be going Here's luck' For we cannot know where we're going The rest can't win, for we cannot lose With the hands that life has dealt us. Together we'll go where fate shall choose Though the sleet of adversity pelt us. Our love is Fate, and our fate is right- Together we won't go under; We'll share mistakes and scale the heights Then win to the sage's wonder. Here's Faith' In no fatal blunder. Tone on stone by love's own might We'll build a life so treasured That by brightest day or blackest night Its depth must go unmeasured. We shouldn't frown, but try to smile When trials overtake us And stick more closely all the while When Fortune tries to break us. Here's hope' For the longest mile. You from the left and I from the right- --The ways of those which were severed- And its been but numbered days and nights And yet it's seemed forever. We've met again and ne'er will part (Our love will keep on growing). The end's unknown, but good's the start And with joy the future's glowing. HERE"S LOVE With our cup o'erflowing The first duty of love is to listen. |
||
| © Copyright 2001 Wilfred Yeats - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Wilfred~ This treasured story touched my heart. The poetry by your sister was lovely. How good that you have it to remind you of her. *Hugs* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
||
|
Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
This was a sad loving story...such a delicate memory to carry with you... |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
...carefully placing in a very special box in a very special library.... |
||
|
Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
These are both beautiful poems. I'm glad to have read both of them. Lovely, just lovely. |
||
|
Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
Thank you all for your thoughts - I never found Mr. Hovey elsewhere - but in no way could I post him without Phyllis' rejoinder - We must always keep a positive outlook her words have sustained me more often than I care to think about |
||
|
suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
She didn't leave you many reminders, but what she left is a treasure. *S* Obviously, talent runs in your family.... thanks for sharing this! |
||
|
Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
I'm glad you have this poetry to remember your dear sister and her love. How well I remember these partings. Joyce |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
