»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #26
»
Home Again
| Open Poetry #26 |
|
Home Again |
|
|
Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
|
Home Again They say you can’t go home again But after all these years I can no longer see my folks Through thousand mile tears I long to feel the open arms I yearn to touch the flesh And tighten bonds once woven through The strength of kinship’s mesh Through windows of a train I dream Of how it used to be The click-clack voice of rhythm Beats with joy inside of me For I am coming home again To see my father’s face And know once more the comfort of A brotherly embrace The train slows down as we come near But strange as it may seem A plaque marked “Limerick” was our stop Within a slumbering dream No dream is this, but real and stark For all the pungent smells Of wheel and track and oily grit Blew through the door in swells I stepped down to the platform And the music that I heard In cold of mid October Was the song of summer bird I felt as though I knew this stop Though never seen before My eye was lured by fragrant blooms Beside the station door And I was overcome with joy For now I knew this place Described to me so long ago By Ireland’s angel face My love, in whispers of contentment As she left this earth Vowed to return to see the plaque That marked her place of birth No other love will be like hers No one can fill my heart But just the bonds of family Is the place I chose to start A glance back to the sign once more The name again was changed The station void of flowers And the scene was rearranged I heard my mother’s voice call out Her arms outstretched in love And all the family waiting there That I’d been dreaming of And I believe with all my soul The joy that’s mine today Was planned by God with help From Ireland’s angel far away She wanted me to go back home And knew that in my heart I needed to undo the rift That tore my life apart But then I somehow lost my grip The vision soon to end A whistle sang the shrilling words “You can’t go home again” The sound of wheels, the click-clack noise The rhythm of my dream Awoke this lonely drifter In a box car filled with steam I jumped the train and walked a mile A station built of stone Surrounded by the flowers of spring Stood silently alone And there the name of “Limerick “ Etched in gold was on the plaque A full completed circle now As I had wandered back This town in Pennsylvania Where I first hopped the train Is where I think I’ll hang my hat It’s here that I’ll remain The angel was reality A love I can’t replace And family is the memory carved In creases on my face The love that once was kind to me In throws of childhood years Can only be revisited Through thousand mile tears Elizabeth Santos May 9, 2003 |
||
| © Copyright 2003 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
How gracefully you make my heart ache. you flow gently through the story telling, with seeming ease--that IS artistry. Always, Lady Santos...you are a treat.  |
||
Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big hugggssssssss) Oh my gosh, now I am streaming in tears after reading this, sweet friend, sadly time tends to divide our loved ones apart sometimes but it can never keep us from seeing our loved ones again for love is universal and can cross equators and primes of meridians as the love of family lasts forever! (wipes tears) God Bless You, sweet friend, this is very heartfelt, 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 |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
What Karen and Noah said, achy heart and streaming tears. |
||
|
Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth You never cease to amaze me, excellent. Sy |
||
|
Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Beautiful Elizabeth.. I'll be back for another read after I dry my tears. Extremely well done. ~Smiles & Hugs, Nancy~ ~Somewhere in my heart I'm always |
||
garysgirl
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Liz, all of what all of the above said.... Now, I need to dry my tears, too.  Heart hugs Ethel  |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I don't believe any of us will ever be able to thank you enough for this delightful trip to Once Within Our Hearts.... |
||
|
Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
You've developed a habit of touching my soul Liz, and I thank you for that. I feel this poem deep in my bones, for I can relate to it very much. WOW, sending big Dutch knuffels over to you. And I love your picture!!!!  TitiaLike scattered leaves...my words will flow [This message has been edited by Titia Geertman (05-10-2003 10:03 AM).] |
||
|
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
 You touch this heart~ *Huglets* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
||
|
vandana
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463USA |
enjoyed  |
||
|
passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
a beautiful journey |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
You are amazing, dear Liz... I hope you Mother's Day was full of wonderful hugs and love from that superb family of yours - Knowing them - I'm sure it was... Loveya... |
||
|
ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Elizabeth I really enjoyed traveling around full circle with you in this piece. Beautiful verses! Wonderful images! Great writing! I love the message! Eric |
||
|
El_Campeador Senior Member
since 2003-01-29
Posts 761Ohio, USA |
Wonderful... This poem touched my heart. I will treasure my home even more after reading this. Thank you! ~El Campeador “We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” –Robert Louis Stevenson |
||
|
Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
I am so pleased to be able to really see your face. Your previous photo was a bit obscure and I couldn't make out your features. You have a very sweet, open, and gentle demeanor in your photo--just what one would expect from a sweet, open, and gentle soul. Yet again, I thank you for an incredible reading experience. You and your poetry are very special! Loving hugs, Linda |
||
|
Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you all so very much for your kind comments. I hope all had as wonderful a mother's day as I had. I enjoyed writing this poem , but had no idea how the story would end until I got to the end. Thanks again Liz |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Liz...So heart touching, your poem, and you. |
||
|
skyshine
since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058Beneath the northern stars |
Wow Elizabeth, what a story this was! You're quite the tale-teller (I mean that in a good way).  ~sky I hope someday you get the chance to live like you were dying.... |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
