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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2001-05-20 05:32 PM

The Letter Home, Five

June, 1883

Dear Momma

it has been some time since
last I wrote,
I beg your forgiveness

these last few months have
been most difficult

I have just returned from
placing cornflowers
on his grave

I miss him

times are hard, but he
taught me much, so I get
by,
with hired hands

who are a little put out by
my wearing his old britches
when I work beside them
hand to hand

but the sweat will soon
get in their eyes
and they won’t be able to see
for the blinking,
much less be concerned
with my dress

harvest will soon be here,
the wheat has headed out
he put in a good stand
prices should stay up
so even in his absence,
he will still have
provided
well

I am grateful for my health
and that of my children.

Ray, the oldest, suits his name,
as all our children do

he is still as bright as the
day he was born, some
fifteen years gone now

is that all I have been here?

May, her eyes are still
the cornflower blue that her
father so adored

only some days I see them
a bit red, so I know
she misses him

Jay, my scamp, much too young
to be without his father, now

barely eleven,
his name a reminder of this
state’s beginnings…

Dear Momma

thank you for sending the
lace curtains that he meant
to give me on our
anniversary
they arrived in good condition
I shall hang them soon

It would have been 17 years.

Your few extra dollars tucked inside
will go towards his marker

thank you for allowing me
to marry him.

He is too soon gone.

dear Lord, do not let any tears
stain this letter

I am not sorry he brought me
here in ’68.

Often I go to the soddie to sit and
think back on our first days,

when we talked in the dark

his will kept me unafraid
even during the storms
of both nature, and man

so filled was he with grim
determination
to make you and Papa proud.

He was a quiet man, Momma, and
worked hard.
Proud was I to put in
a full day with him
and he allowed me my extra candles
at night,
after the mending was done
that I might write
my wind-swept thoughts down
that my children might one
day have a record of the
times they might not
otherwise remember

the quiet scratching of the quill
did not bother him

and he made a box in which
I keep my papers

our initials are carved, entwined
beneath sheaves of
wheat

I miss his humming during
these nights

he was good in many ways
and had the neighbors respect as an
honest and just man
they will miss his helping hands

now,
I shall have to remember
when going into town,
to pick up my own paper,

lest we not forget.

I have tucked in a dried cornflower,
Momma,
so that you might know
the color of your granddaughter’s eyes
and recall the color of his
as they truly reflect
his eyes,
now at rest.

I miss him Momma.

He would want me to lift my chin,
face the wind,
and be not afraid.

I am not afraid
but the nights
are
a little longer

I send my love
to you
and Papa

give my love to my sisters, all

tell them to not be afraid for me,
he left me his strength

Your daughter

Irish Rose
Member Patricius

since 2000-04-06

Posts 10263

1 posted 2001-05-20 05:38 PM

Good Lord, give me the kleenex.......I am in deep thought over this, how beautiful and sad.....

Kathleen Blake

"When red-haired girls scamper like roses over the rain-green grass,
and the sun drips honey."
Laurie Lee

Auguste

Member Elite

since 2000-02-16

Posts 3953
By the sea

2 posted 2001-05-20 06:41 PM

Karilea,

I've read all five and have to tell you, I am quite impressed with your writing. Please say that there will be a number six. Seriously, this is writing at its best. You've done well and I truly like this story.

Michael

Proust-
"Love is space and time measured by the heart"

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

3 posted 2001-05-20 07:29 PM

Do you know what I'm thinking? I am thinking you should write a book, that is what I am thinking! This was superb writing from start to finish, and I have now printed them out. You have such a "knack" for rendering "life" Sunshine. Oh, did I say I loved it? I hope there are more.

~*~ I write ~ Therefore I am ~*~
Homepage: http://www.mysteria-poetry.cityslide.com/contents/contents.cfm/451673

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

4 posted 2001-05-20 08:08 PM

SweetKarilea~
Pure touchstone !
I have my great,great grandmother's journals -
they record her journeys so much like these you've shared.

These are all just lovely, sweet lady.
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
[email protected]

Songbird
Member Elite

since 1999-12-15

Posts 2184
Missouri

5 posted 2001-05-20 08:12 PM

May thy quill never run dry.. lovely piece of writing.

Auguste

Member Elite

since 2000-02-16

Posts 3953
By the sea

6 posted 2001-05-21 05:40 AM

Karilea,

Would you mind terribly if I sent this one back up and ask that our fine poets not only read this, but read the other four? Please forgive me if I'm out of line. This is just such a good story that I want everyone to have the chance and benefit from such exception writing. I certainly know that this has inspired me. It's not often that I send someone's back up, as you know, so I hope you'll understand, my friend, but this truly is worth reading. Again, please forgive me if I'm out of line.

Michael

Proust-
"Love is space and time measured by the heart"

Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant

since 2000-04-26

Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium

7 posted 2001-05-21 05:47 AM

he left me his strength
....

This is purely amazing... Perfect writing...

Regards to you Karilea and a million thanks for sharing your art,
Sudhir

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

8 posted 2001-05-21 06:19 AM

Very, very nice Sunshine...James

Marsha

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-10

Posts 7423
Maidstone Kent England

9 posted 2001-05-21 12:46 PM

Kari dear heart, you wretch, I was so determined not to cry and now the tears are flowing fast and making me look like I'm suffering from hay fever at it's worst.

Absolutely stunning love you have brought me on this journey and it's been truly awesome. Every step of the way you've carried me along. Writing at its very very best love.
Truly I love it, andf now I don't look professional at all. (Don't worry I'll go and wash my face before I do any more work)
Love and warm stuff as always
Puck

Take back the hope you gave,- I claim
Only a memory of the same
Robert Browning

[This message has been edited by Marsha (edited 05-21-2001).]

Interloper

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-06

Posts 8369
Deep in the heart

10 posted 2001-05-21 01:13 PM

Awesome.

Live for love. Without love, you don't live.

SEA

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 2000-01-18

Posts 22676
with you

11 posted 2001-05-22 12:10 PM

this one made me cry........

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

12 posted 2001-05-22 04:42 PM

What a heart-wrencher... this is superb!!!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

13 posted 2001-06-24 04:57 PM

It was about this time in the write that I thought that this should become a series. I have visited the soddie that first inspired this write...a few times now. Each time I am in there...I have a whole new vision of what is to come.

Thank you all for your continued inspiration....

and for your readings....

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