Open Poetry #13 |
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From Sweden he Came |
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Suetang Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187Melbourne, Australia ![]() |
You left your beautiful homeland in 1953 From Sweden you came to Australia Where your second home would be Six weeks on a cargo ship Dining with the captain and crew How were you to know How life would turn out for you Docking in Sydney, Australia Your first taste of Aussie life Very soon you would reach Melbourne Where you'd meet your future wife At a party you did meet A young lady named Shirl How very soon she'd be the one Who would so gladly be your girl She was smitten by you With your Scandinavian charm As you walked her safely home Arm in arm A carpenter by trade Much pride you took in all you'd do A perfectionist at your craft One of so many qualities of you Many lovely things you'd make Throughout your gifted life Little did we know what was ahead A tragedy that would cut our hearts like a knife In 1957 was when you married Shirl Then in 1959 was born Your first blonde baby girl You would call her Maree And how much joy did she give Your life nearly complete So much life there was to live A new home was then built in 1963 Then along came another baby girl And that was me Your family now complete You felt you had it all How were we to know That in 36 years time The walls around you would fall In 1999 there came your illness That would take your last breath of life It started with a cough But there was no way we would know We didn't think it was much Just something that would surely go? But it was cancer that you had In your lungs was where it lay As a result of some material you worked with In your carpentry trade Asbestos you were told Would soon be claiming your life How devastating for you In denial, were your girls and wife In a trance from that day on As we'd ask ourselves - how long? The doctors had no cure six to twelve months, no one could be sure But only six weeks did you last You were taken from us so fast A good thing some would say That your pain would go away But was I so selfish For not wanting you to go? The pain must have been unbearable I honestly didn't know My guiding light went out that night My heart seemed to lose its way How much I cried the day you died As I watched where you so peacefully lay As I held your cold hand I saw you make your way Into that peaceful land Heaven's gates were welcoming you In my state of grief, what could I do? Just one more glance As this would be my last chance To see you at peace And finally I could release As many warm tears carved a path down my face And lay to rest on your form My heart was so broken My soul, completely torn How dark and crooked was my road So much grief and pain were carried in my load My thoughts I could not bear Even though so many friends were there Now nearly two years on And my heart still can't sing But in the still of the night I see a flickering light As my eyes search the skies Amongst the blanket of stars I see a twinkling star And there you are My heart can now see That you're looking down on me I take comfort in this sight In the still of the night Suetang |
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© Copyright 2001 Sue Tancheff - All Rights Reserved | |||
wandering glider Senior Member
since 2001-04-04
Posts 501aloft |
Good to write about our families, difficult as it is sometimes. It's so often like this, bittersweet. Enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing, Sue. |
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Mysteria![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Maree ~ you have done him proud, and don't think for one minute he isn't reading this from the echos of your heart (hugs sweetie), but it is really good you wrote this out in dedication to him, excellent tribute to a love that will be ever-lasting. ~*~ I write, therefore I am ~*~ |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Beautiful words from your heart...James |
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Suetang Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187Melbourne, Australia |
Thank you one and all for your kind words. This has been in my mind for so long and I finally was able to put my thoughts on paper. Unfortunately I couldn't have made the length of the poem and shorter.....all of these words needed to be said. Thanks so much.......Sue Suetang |
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Auguste![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
since 2000-02-16
Posts 3953By the sea |
Sue, Such a beautiful story of a person's life and how tragic the end. I'm sure your dear father was a wonderful man. Judging by the daughter he raised, my friend, I've no doubt. I know this was painful to write and share, but I thank you for doing so. A big hug to you and wishing you much peace, dear. (((((you))))) Michael Proust- |
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Suetang Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187Melbourne, Australia |
Michael Thanks so much for your inspiration and guidance in my short life as a poet. This was a little difficult to write but something I wanted to do. It's so very difficult to try and concise someone's life and I hope I made my Dad proud of how I portrayed his life to others. Thank you my friend......Sue Suetang |
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