»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #14
»
Mary Margaret Madison
| Open Poetry #14 |
|
Mary Margaret Madison |
|
|
Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
In the little corner house With the roses in the yard Lived Mary Margaret Madison Local teacher, poet and bard. On rainy summer evenings When thunder rumbles slow Mary Margaret sits in her porch swing Telling her tales of long ago. So tell us your story Mary Margaret Sing us your life in a rhyme Take us back on your memory Back through the pages of time. You whisper of your teenage years Prohibition made drinking a crime Al Capone and Eliots' Untouchables Made the twenties an exciting time. Your twenties were spent in Depression Being courted by a wonderful boy Starting married life with movie house glass Years of unquenchable joy. The forties brought pain and heartache Hitler changed the world with his schemes So many died for his madness He put an end to Mary Margarets' dreams. So tell us your tales Mary Margaret Sing us your life in a rhyme Take us back on your memory Back through the pages of time. The fifties brought musical changes From big bands to rock and roll And the Korean war...oh EXCUSE ME It was a police action, you know. The sixties brought such untold dissent Vietnam a disputed war Hippies, free love, and new drugs Our boys in body bags by the score. The seventies and eighties were but moments in time Her memories still sharp as can be Of presidents resigned and hostages held Of disasters in space the whole world to see. So tell us your story Mary Margaret Sing us your life in a rhyme Take us back on your memory Back through the pages of time. The nineties brought times of confusion Terrorism within these borders of ours And she longs for the simplier moments Before telephones, computers, and cars. She tells us her thoughts on 2000 She got such a laugh from Y2K All these shared moments and memories you've given Brought us here to this one final day. We lay you to rest Mary Margaret On a hillside overlooking the lake You've gone from our lives Mary Margaret But your memory forever we'll take. So tell us your tales Mary Margaret Sing us your life in a rhyme Take us back on your memory Back through the pages of time. [This message has been edited by Paula Finn (edited 06-15-2001).] |
||
| © Copyright 2001 Paula Finn - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
wayoutwalt Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 4870TEXAS (it's all big) |
I don't think it is too long yuh I think it is well paced and each stanza made me want to get to the next. Well done. Keep Writing. Always learning. Enjoyed this yuh. (Are you sure it's not an autobiography? HAHA Only kidding) |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
My mother-in-law would love this....they are of the same age! |
||
|
Mother_Earth Senior Member
since 2000-11-20
Posts 13701/2 year Texas & 1/2 year Michigan |
Paula, you are so lucky to have had a friend like Mary Margaret. And thank you that you let us have a peek at her life. It is beautiful. ME |
||
|
JLR Senior Member
since 2001-02-04
Posts 1785 |
This reminded me of the stories my grandmother used to tell us about when she was young...a nice memory. Thanks! |
||
Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
I agree with Walt..each stanza made me want to get to the next.. good work here!!! |
||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Paula this is excellent!!! One of my new favorites of yours...I loved the direction your writing is taking...had the feel of a troubadour's song...wonderful! |
||
|
Logan Senior Member
since 2001-05-28
Posts 1641Arkansas |
Ahh, Paula, gentle smile, you did it good. How many of us have had a Mz Mary in our lives? And they are all missed |
||
|
Krawdad Member Elite
since 2001-01-03
Posts 2597 |
Paula, First stanza is a great lead . . . and ther rest is a nice read. well done! |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Paula ... this is wonderful! I so enjoyed the story and the flow of her life from verse to verse. You've captured the significant events beautifully and fluently. I really enjoyed this!  Best wishes, /Kit |
||
|
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
I enjoyed reading your poem Paula...James |
||
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Paula~ This is just marvelous ! Thank you for introducing me to Mary Margaret Madison. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Very nice, Paula! The elderly are time machines...listening to them can be like listening to a talking history book, getting a glimpse of times we never knew... a wonderful idea for a poem! |
||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Paula I wanted to tell you again how impressed I am with this one! I absolutely adore this it. Great job, once again. I think I've read it six times now...lol |
||
|
Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
Walt...OH YOU!!!! lol...thank you, you know I was worried about the length... Karilea...give it to her then, with my regards... Mother Earth...its amazing what we can learn from our older friends...thank you JLR...all we have to do is listen...they are our history Cpat Hair...thank you...I'm glad you liked it... serenity...well with poets like you as friends...how can I help but grow? Logan....LOL well I tried but I just couldnt make it shorter...thank you Krawdad...thank you...it was an easy image to write Kit...it was very hard to condense all our history into a few lines...and still get across what I was trying to say.... James...thank you for reading it for me Lady Marge...she is as pleased to meet you...thank you 'deer...no Im being good...I wont say it I WONT SAY IT...lol....seriously...they have so much to give...so many memories of times we cant live...times you cant find in the history books....like the taste of fresh milk... serenity...twice...thank you sweetie |
||
|
ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Paula I'm sorry I'm so long getting to this one. I commend you for such an openhearted write...I commend you on your respect for the elderly....I commend you for the look at this turbulent century through this wonderful lady's eyes.....all in all I simply commend you! |
||
|
Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
ethome...you flatter me sir...and make me blush...thank you |
||
|
ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
I had to stop back in and add this to my collection! |
||
|
VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
This is quite a tribute. I so often wonder about how so many of the white-haired set really think of all these changes. I marvel, too, at the ones on line and adapting to so much that must be as a dream. Yet, think of all through which they've come, adapting better than any of the post ww2, surely. We have a lady here that is 104 and a couple years ago, a lady in our church died on her 105th birthday. I think it so amazing. I wonder why we don't just sit with them for hours and record their memories. Enjoyed your recap of what Mary Margaret lived through. |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
