I walked across the ground today,
Where I once raked and swept,
Where I carried wood, and picked up rocks,
In times past laughed and wept.
I stood beneath the gnarled oak tree
Where m'love stole our first kiss,
And thought of all the joy found there,
And made a mental list:
The baby born while in my teens
First called this old house home.
His newborn smile, his fumbling steps
As he everywhere would roam.
The woods where Love and I would creep
For a tearful hour apart,
Then he would hitchhike back to base,
And it would break my heart.
The toddlers running on fat legs,
Crickets flying through the grass,
An egg hunt for the children
From the first down to the last.
The old oak swing, now rotted,
Where a young me sat and dreamed,
And wished for bright tomorrows,
That never came it seemed.
The hard work and the heartache,
That made this land be home,
The lack and deprivation,
Left great scars upon my bone.
The weeks we ate green apples,
This homestead then to start.
We ne're foresaw the ending--
How we'd all be miles apart.
The gardens in the summer
That insured we'd be well-fed,
The bronze and gold of Autumn,
The black-eyed peas and bread.
Mama in a new print dress,
And Daddy in his suit,
All going to my wedding,
Oh God, what bitter fruit!
Must I forever grieve, My Lord?
Because men cheat and lie?
Yet could I bear my parents' pain
I'd gladly lay it by.
I ask one thing of you, My God,
With mercy Lord, draw near.
Just make sure in the afterlife,
They have better than they had here.
Music: No Place Like Home
Author's Notes/Comments:
This was written many years ago after my Daddy literally gave his land and home away in order to help someone he loved. It broke my heart, but my Daddy is the finest man I've ever known.
WOW MY FRIEND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL POEM,YOU WRITE THE WORDS I WISH I COULD, THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING.
WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO CHECK ME OUT I TO ENJOY WRITTING
ANDREW BRITT
this is an awesome poem! u r a very talented person indeed. i've read a lot of ur work and loved them all, but this one was...amazing! i wish i coudl write at least as half as good as u!! ur a great poet!
~Rachel DiLonardo
Jessica
You have such a great talent and I don't think you even realize it!
Each title I open I think cannot possible top the one before it. Well you have done it once again!
This is absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of the farm I grew up on and the tree you speak of reminds me of my tree I had as a little girl. I think you have read about it in my Tree In Question. That is neither here nor there ~ you touched me with the words of sitting beside your tree and wishing for happiness in years ahead. That was so much like me as a little girl.
I am sure all of your friends here at PostPoems and outside of PostPoems wish for you every happiness that you have never found in your lifetime.
You touch many hearts here Jess. This heart has been greatly enriched by knowing you and reading your work. If only I could pen my feelings so skillfully.
Love,
Lesa
Jessica, this is truly a beautifully crafted poem... one that, unlike so many others on this site, has a "beat" and a natural rhyming that is exquisite, not to mention its very touching qualities. Congratulations. Keep up the good work! Best Wishes, Richard
I'm so glad you visited my site and helped me find my way to your own work. "A Prayer..." is particularly moving to me. What a gift you have to write such poignant, moving verses. Keep up the wonderful work!
Tom Abbott
i absolutely love your writing style jessica! i hope one day i can write as good as you can. youre so talented. i love this piece. i love your referrence to religion in your poems. it gives a sense of who you are. great job! i love it
- julie cruz