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Open Poetry #24
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Carolina Dream
| Open Poetry #24 |
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Carolina Dream |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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Carolina Dream On the fringe of Carolina near the border’s southern tip There’s a place where few have ventured, that rolls off a legend’s lip Hidden deep within the mosses, where no history book has gone Is a sleepy old plantation where the living carry on They are trapped in a dimension as they lived before a war In a manor house quite different from the way it was before Slaves of labored fields, now overgrown, had vanished into dust But a vision reawakened from the graves of yearning’s lust It is said that any person to approach the pillared home From a hundred forty years ago will never try to roam Frozen in a dream of fantasy, in stories of the past Handed down through generations, every mold is firmly cast Those who’ve witnessed from a distance say there is a lovely girl In a velvet dress of lavender with ribbons round a curl Reaching out from her existence for a love who didn’t return From a battlefield of bloody death that hasn’t yet occurred It was in the midst of terror that a family disappeared But not one has yet accepted death and lives within a year That their lives were in a mindset that no one could ever claim Land that had been stamped and deeded to a grand old southern name Now the house is cracked and crumbling, but in their view it stands Like a castle in the mosses that sway gently on their land There are tombstones set with in a fence, without a name or date And a lovely hand that reaches out to find a lover’s fate Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (01-21-2003 05:47 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
God! What a dream! makes me want to go there...say what you will *maybe I'm strange* but this is neat! loved the last line!  |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
This is a bit of a deviation from your norm, Liz - I have to say I really enjoyed it... What a unique and wonderful peek into the history of our great southern plantations...  |
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Connel
since 2002-11-04
Posts 736Florida, USA |
Good dream.. lol... I enjoyed the read.. thanks sharing. I wish to become a great poet some day, but it will only come in time. Til then, I shall write my poems, and wait. |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (tears fall down my cheeks) This reminded me so uch of the John Mellencamp song "Rain On The Scarecrow, with the lyrics "Rain on the scarecrow, blood on the plow!" and how so much of the traditional working man's properties have become tunbledown and their children absent of the memnories! (sad sigh) This is heartwrenching, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Elizabeth, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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LadySofia Member
since 2000-05-16
Posts 238FL., USA |
I am a Daughter of the American Revolution, and had kin who fought on both sides of the Civil War, the latter of which I think this poem speaks of. How sad, how true, so many families torn apart by so stupid a war. The cause could simply have been alleviated, if slaves had just been set free and lustful greed had not soured poeple's mindsets, as it still does this day. If only it had never happened, her lover's soul would be resting beside hers at this very moment... Heart wrenching, with a bit of the truth weaved into the words. The tip of an iceberg that should have melted before it left the frozen arctic shores, a story like many in those horrible, bloody times.  Poignant and poetic... |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
THank you all for your wonderefrul comments. I was particularly interested in your remarks, LadySofia. THis poem is based on an old plantation house I visited in the 1960's. The family who lived in the home were the direct descendents of the original owners, but were very poor. The home had not been cared for and obviously most of the furnishings were either stolen or sold. The children were not well educated, but they still seemed to live in the past, passing down the sorrows and stories from generations past, and the war seemed very much alive in their veins. At that time, the long driveway into the property was lined with Spanish moss, but I know a lot of that has disappeared. Thank you for adding your personal touch. Of course this poem's story was a fantasy.I enjoyed writing it Thank you all for reading and commenting Liz |
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regards2you Member Elite
since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940California |
I thoroughly enjoyed your fantasy. You've such an ability to weave with words, a great scene....you took me there....This is very good, and worth an additional read or two.... Pat ..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth, An intoxicating read, enjoyed. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Excellent, Elizabeth! Smooth and captivating read! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
A delicious flavor woven into these words, Liz. You set the stage just right and the story is hauntingly believeable. I know towns and places like that in the Carolinas where you swear you can hear sounds of battle on still nights and smell smoke in the air. This poem makes me feel that..... |
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garysgirl
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Liz, this is beautiful.I could almost see the big house on the plantation... It was beautiful.....  "Love makes the world go around" |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
I am so glad that this story was enjoyed because writing it brought back so many memories. And one thing is for sure, The war is not yet over in many minds I'll never forget this hauntingly beautiful place Thank you Liz |
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