Just A Day In Gracie's Garden (Re-planted)

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Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2006-04-17 02:22 PM

~* Just A Day In Gracie’s Garden *~

She liked the white man’s smile and trusted him.
She signed a rent agreement that would change her life.
It was just one single pack of seeds he handed her.
She could plant them in a patch of her rented earth.
He had handed her them with the key, calling them hers now.
"Nothing much," he had said, "Just a welcome token."
He smiled before leaving, saying, “Call if you need anything.”
She knew he had meant it too.

She could not wait for morning to come, and hardly slept.
Painstakingly, and with such acute precision,
Gracie watered, waited, and watched.
She cared for that patch like it was her own child,
Hardly believing it was actually hers.

Tears of joy and pride burned her cheeks
As the spoils of her labor began smiling back.
It brightened each gray day, where time stood still.
For in the projects somehow time hardly mattered.

Now only the sun struggled on, its solar arc turning,
Yellow and orange, lighter, richer, brighter.
The clouds left muttered excuses,
While birds flit in and out, waiting and wondering.
Gracie couldn't remember last ever hearing a bird.

Her washing was flapping in whispers of wind,
Almost white sheets, ripped lace-treasured tablecloths,
Hid her torn underwear, and those darn re-darned socks.
She broke into a grin knowing she was finally at peace.
None of that even mattered anymore.

Later in the golden afternoon rumbles of thunder sounded.
Some storm cloud lost, asserted itself to no avail.
The garden started with love began to close up.
She knew they would both have to ready for their slumber.

In the safety of this space, time went so fast.
Here she saw and heard nothing of the project's pain,
It was the one place she could plant and actually grow love.
Oh, how she loved that man for renting her these two rooms.

She picked one tiny flower, perhaps for her hair,
So as not to disturb the nature of things.
A fiery goodbye flashed from beyond the trees,
As darkness closed in beneath the light.

Now only twinking lights were the sole observers
Of her sleepy garden, and she prayed, yes she prayed,
No vandals found it in the anger of their night.
Hurring in she wondered if the sound heard was lightning or a gun?
Somehow in this new safety it really didn’t matter.

With hands folded she prayed for the white man,
Who had given her the seeds,
She prayed all could have a garden of hope
A refuge, an escape from this stark reality.

This garden was all she had to call her own,
Her sense of peace in all the chaos around her.
It represented pride and freedom.
A single tear dropped to the ground as she remembered him saying,
"It's not much."
Oh, if he only knew.

Art: Gracie's Garden - Merryl Jade
~www.allwall.com~

Waste not a second ~ Carpe' Diem

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

1 posted 2006-04-17 03:20 PM

Sharon...This is so very touching...snif! Thank you.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

2 posted 2006-04-17 03:27 PM

How beautifully you have penned this story Sharon.
Thank you for replanting a keeper.
Hugs~Nancy

~ Trace my body with your words,
in doing so, you touch my heart ~

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

3 posted 2006-04-17 03:54 PM

Every time I send a donation to this organization I remember this poem I wrote a long time ago about the restoration of a small but similar area in the projects in New York.  There actually is a Gracie, and as far as I know she was still growing her garden, at least before 911.  She is in her late 70's and healthy as a horse!

I have loved Bett Midler since I could say her name, and she is doing really wonderful work in New York with restorational gardening, so it is one of the things I love to support.  She is the founder of this organization and actually participates, not just a token famous figurehead.  http://www.nyrp.org/

Check out the before and after picture on this site if you get time. http://www.nyrp.org/nygt.htm

Also, check out the great gardens they have put in, and see what a pack of seeds can do, warms your heart.   http://www.nyrp.org/nygt_gardenlocator.htm

Thanks - I re-wrote it a bit and felt like sharing it again.

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

4 posted 2006-04-18 07:26 PM

Everything ~ and everyone (including yourself)is amazing in these beautifully crafted true stories that you write. You've got heart, Mysterious One! ~ and talent!

Love & Shar-ing,
Linda

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

5 posted 2006-04-18 07:52 PM

Beautiful Sharon.
Ever so much enjoyed.
hugs, Chris

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
~Carl Sandburg

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

6 posted 2006-04-19 05:08 AM

awww, this is so touching
much enjoyed!

Kellie_Cantrell
Senior Member

since 2002-05-22

Posts 1667
New York

7 posted 2006-04-19 05:29 AM

Mysteria!

This poem is amazing. I'm at a loss for words on how touching this poem is. Really hits the heart! Excellent Write!

«*:·. Who
         .·:* am
      *:·.  I?
            *«        Kellie Cantrell

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

8 posted 2006-04-19 06:53 AM

This garden was all she had to call her own,
Her sense of peace in all the chaos around her.
It represented pride and freedom.

gardens do that...a wonderful poem, Sharon.

One to keep and read over and over.
Thank you for replanting.

M

Misty Lilacs
Senior Member

since 2005-11-15

Posts 1060
White Birch Forest

9 posted 2006-04-19 08:10 AM

Sharon, no one can tell a story like you. I sat here crying as your words unfolded.

Thank you for starting my day with hope and love. And special thanks to Bette Midler for all the hope she gives to NYC.

Hugs, Marti

To the world YOU may be one person, but to God you are the world!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

10 posted 2006-04-19 08:18 AM

The clouds left muttered excuses,

~*~

I enjoyed the whole poem [again]
but this line grabbed my attention
this go around...

I know all about those excuses.

Thank you, Sharon,
for bringing this back.

Good timing.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

11 posted 2006-04-19 11:51 AM

I don't have much time these days to sit down or write, but I do read, so thank you for re-visiting, my re-write about Gracie. I did find out since posting this she is still there. She gets daily care visits now, so I would imagine her garden suffers a tad, but I know she doesn't.

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

12 posted 2006-04-19 01:17 PM

You gave Gracie voice.

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

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