navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #13 » A Day In Gracie's Garden
Open Poetry #13
Post A Reply Post New Topic A Day In Gracie's Garden Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Mysteria
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2001-04-29 07:17 PM






~*~ A Day In Gracie’s Garden ~*~


He had given her the seeds.
To plant in a patch of earth,
He had said was now hers.
Nothing much he had said!

Painstakingly,with precision,
She watered and loved,
The little garden patch
Not believing it was hers.

Tears of joy and pride,
Burned her cheeks,
As now the spoils of her
Daily labor smiled back.

This day had started gray
A familiar old feeling day,
Where time moved slowly,
In the projects life was dull.

As the sun struggled on,
The solar arc turning,
Yellows started coming back,
Lighter, richer, brighter.

The clouds left
Muttering excuses,
To be replaced by birds
Flitting in and out
Chattering on warming branches.

Her washing was flapping,
In whispers of the wind.
Sheets, and ripped lace,
Hiding the torn underwear.

Later in the golden afternoon,
A loud rumble sounded.
Far away, a storm cloud
Lost, asserted itself to no avail.

The yellows now became greens,
Browns and deeper reds,
The garden started closing up
Flowers now readied slumber.

Where had time gone so fast?
Here she felt so safe.
She saw and heard nothing
Here she gave and felt love.

She picked only one tiny flower,
Perhaps for her hair,
Not to disturb the nature of things
In the one safe place
That gave her pleasure.

A fiery goodbye flashed
From beyond the trees,
And the sun was gone.
The night began to creep in.

Dark beneath the light.
Now winking lights were
The sole observers
Of her sleepy garden.

She prayed it would still
Be here when she awoke,
But now she must hurry home.
Was that lightning or a gun?

She prayed for the white man
Who had given her the seeds,
And for this garden of hope
Her escape from reality.

A single tear dropped to the ground.
The only thing that she had,
Representing some freedom to her.
And he had said it wasn't much!

Art: Gracie's Garden - Merryl Jade
~www.allwall.com~
Music: Gentle


Please visit me at my new homepage: http://www.mysteria-poetry.cityslide.com/contents/contents/cfm/451673

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (edited 04-29-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved
Blaec
Member
since 2001-04-23
Posts 130
The Sunshine State
1 posted 2001-04-29 07:31 PM


This was very touching.  Very beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this.

dragonpoe
Senior Member
since 2000-11-12
Posts 608
Palm Bay, Florida
2 posted 2001-04-29 07:43 PM


A very moving and wonderful poem. I love the picture you chose to adorn such a beautiful piece. I loved the read, as I enjoyed each and every word.  

With the word, I am mighty, with the pen I am free..
dragonpoe

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
3 posted 2001-04-29 08:13 PM


The story was graced by Grace...and by your hand.

Well done!

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

4 posted 2001-04-29 08:22 PM


Oh this is delightful Mysteria...
wondeful imagery with an enlightening moral
and the picture brought it all together
very well done poetess kind  

There are two lasting bequests
that we can hope to instill in our children
one is roots ...
the other ... wings.

Joyce Johnson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912
Washington State
5 posted 2001-04-29 09:18 PM


Very, very nice.  And I only hope she still has her garden next spring. Joyce
Amuse_mi
Member
since 2001-04-22
Posts 110

6 posted 2001-04-29 10:45 PM


Slavery is such a horrible thing.  This woman is so beautiful~with such a huge heart.  Oppression can be so devastaing to the soul and I am so glad you showed a woman of strength who overcame the strain.


Mysteria
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
7 posted 2001-04-29 11:06 PM


Blaec ~ glad you liked it.

Dragonpoe ~ (love your name) - I am so glad you found this moving, I had hoped for that.

Sunshine ~ Thank Gracie!

Janet Marie ~ You are very kind and I thank you for your wonderful comments.

Amuse_me ~ Hearts like yours will end this one day!  Thank you for reading this.

Joyce ~ I think that Gracie stands for many who that question will be in mind - will they even make it until next year?

Please visit me at my new homepage:
http://www.mysteria-poetry.cityslide.com/contents/contents/cfm/451673

Mabel A. Dilley
Senior Member
since 2001-03-17
Posts 859
Seattle, WA, USA
8 posted 2001-04-30 04:12 AM


What a marvelously sensitive, in depth look through another's eyes. Shalom

"I am not now that which I have been."

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
9 posted 2001-04-30 04:24 AM


Enjoyed this poem Mysteria...James
Mysteria
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
10 posted 2001-04-30 05:08 AM


Julian: Thank you and yes it was through Gracie's eyes my vision.

JamesMichael: So glad you liked it!  Wish I was there, it is "raining cats and dogs" here!  Lucky you!

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
11 posted 2001-04-30 05:03 PM


I absolutely love this... and I'll admit I was feeling weepy before I read it... but at least now the tears are sliding through smiles. *S*

I could go on and on (you may have noticed that's my norm *S*)... and still not convey how much this touched me... or how perfect verses like this are. *S*
"The clouds left
Muttering excuses,
To be replaced by birds
Flitting in and out
Chattering on warming branches."
So I'll just applaud. *S* Beautiful!



KokoStewartKoomoa
Senior Member
since 2000-12-04
Posts 580
Waikiki, Hawaii
12 posted 2001-04-30 05:21 PM


great imagery and very touching piece. thanks for sharing it!

Aloha with warmest regards, Koko
Please Visit my new web-page
http://www.koko-stewart-koomoa.cityslide.com/contents/contents.cfm/190111

Martha Cowan
Member
since 2001-03-08
Posts 240
Groves, Texas
13 posted 2001-04-30 08:24 PM


Sharon...I don't know what it was about this one...but the tears are flooding now.  So deeply touching, and moving....so tenderly painful.  Thank you for touching us with the beautiful music from the songs of your heart.
Hugs and smiles to you, Martha


Mysteria
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
14 posted 2001-05-01 12:24 PM


Suthern: I don't usually say I really like that I do, but I loved this one for some reason, as the picture spoke to me.  It speaks volumes and that was only one little piece I wrote about it, but off screen at home I wrote 7 more pieces on the same picture.  Thank you for liking it.

Koko - Thank you for reading this.

Martha - me too, I cried while I wrote the darn thing and I don't know why either, but I suppose Gracie represents all kinds of souls that suffer from being controlled or manipulated by society in some way.   Thank you for reading it, and moreso for understanding it.

Please visit me at my new homepage:
http://www.mysteria-poetry.cityslide.com/contents/contents/cfm/451673

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #13 » A Day In Gracie's Garden

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary