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January 2, 1874 - From the Soddy Journal
| Open Poetry #18 |
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January 2, 1874 - From the Soddy Journal |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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January 2, 1874 – From the Soddy Journal Wind whipped him into the soddy, Sputtered the golden fire, Causing everyone to catch their breath As bitter cold crept in; But his smile delayed its frigidness, By bringing back the warmth Of summer. “It’s here,” he cried, Pulling a dog-earred book Out from his pocket, a Second book from its brown Wrapper.  “Our new calendar!” Children gathered in as if Santa Had made a return trip, To hear father pour over directives Of when to plant, What to watch for, Wooley worms and moon phases, Astrological time-tables When to castrate sheep, Cut hair to encourage growth, Plant below ground crops, Harvest above ground crops, Wean animals, when to Slaughter them, best… A veritable encyclopedia of How-to-when-to-why-to Directory and director, advisor Since Benjamin’s Poor Richard First poured forth All to be anticipated On historical knowledge… …and while the children clamored Around him, noting his voice Lowered in studied projection Of what lay ahead… His wife quietly took up the Dog-earred copy, placed it Safely with her Treasured papers, for on it, There contained notations Of events in his hand, and in Her hand, Of births, and deaths, Fires, and floods, Indian raids and new families Come into the community, From which she would go Back to write about, A few pages Here and there, holding a Dried flower or seed, Yet to contain a story Or two, a ribbon from her Dress, a lock of hair from Their youngest child’s first Cut locks, All treasures, all held within The almanac of last year, And she wished she could put These treasures in her Heart for safe-keeping, but the Almanac, next to her Bible, Would have to do. ©Karilea Rilling Jungel 2 January 2002 [This message has been edited by Sunshine (01-03-2002 10:13 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Mother_Earth Senior Member
since 2000-11-20
Posts 13701/2 year Texas & 1/2 year Michigan |
Sunshine, what a wonderful story you have told. I can see and hear and feel the things you have shown us. And just think, I get upset if the paper is late. I really enjoyed this. thanks for sharing, ME |
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Logan Senior Member
since 2001-05-28
Posts 1641Arkansas |
You know, Sissie, you really need to put all these together, for they are a living history the way you put them down..very nicely done, you can see the family all gathered in that soddy...very gentle smile |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Karilea--I so enjoyed this...we have a restaurant in town that has a farmer's almanac on each table...so wonderful to fall into their pages, but your soddy story poems are even better. They bring humanness to history. Thank you! |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Karilia, I've never seen you shine so bright. *L* |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Oh Karilea...I am saving these! The imagery here is sooo perfect! I love these so much...perhaps it was another lifetime of mine. As you have penned these stories so well and I read and sit and nod, knowingly.....perhaps I was there...then. Hugs, Nancy. ~* A dream is a wish your heart makes... *~ |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I really enjoyed this, Sunshine... perhaps more so because I remember the Almanac's place in my family. *S* Very well written! |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
This is just so wonderful. I love the way you write these. You really do need to have these published. They are amazing!!  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
It is interesting to note that Almanacs are still held in high esteem, for all that they have been talked about, when viewed at one time as being only superstitious bits of folklore... there's a lot to be learned by reading them. I am glad you all enjoyed this. Thank you SO much for sharing my Soddy stories with me... |
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