From Sunrise To Sunset

Sunrise To Sunset

"Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be."

Dinner For One

She slowly walks with the shuffling gait of one who has carried the weight of worlds upon her shoulders. Alone, locking doors, barring windows and closing draperies against imagined interference. She murmurs to herself now, the only audience she has with the patience to lend an understanding ear. Others she speaks to only sigh with exasperated patience as she retells stories all have heard before. She still dresses for dinner and sets her place with tarnished silver and oft pressed linen. Her meager dinner eaten upon chipped china consists of the remnants of a meal delivered by an anonymous charity driver. Her appetite for food fails her but she knows to fast is to give up on life. She turns the radio on to keep her company, she despises eating alone. The radio blares with used car ads, static and baseball scores, but it all falls silently on her now deaf ears. She sits alone at the table where once her family and friends gathered. The marred surface captures the reflection of her wrinkled brow Past reflections were once the sparkle in her husband's eyes as he spoke soft sweet words of love to her. She still can hear his bellowing laughter as he gently teased her. All these things she recalls as she sits to digest her life of memories. She pushes her plate away after only a few bites, unable to force more down Delicately she pats her lips with faded linen and sits back to recall things she sees clearly in her mind's eye. Leaning back her eyes soften with the glow of youth as she plays her life's events over in her mind like a well-worn phonograph record She can almost smell the talcum powder as her arms ache to hold once more the baby boy she bore so many years ago. She makes a mental note to send him a card for his birthday, a date she never forgets. If only he lived nearer she has faith that he would be the attentive son he once was, oh so many years ago. When he gifted her with frogs and dandelions as though presenting a queen with her jewels She smiles with fond recall to think of her neighbors who have long since moved to be nearer their children. How she loved to invite them in for fresh baked rolls, coffee and neighborhood news. The new people only nod as they hurriedly dash in and out of their home. She glances down at her spotted hand and slowly twists the worn thin gold band. She speaks aloud to the man who placed it there. I'll wash dear, you dry.

Advice From An Old Woman

Once I was a precious babe, snug in my mother's arms People came and cooed at me and delighted in my charms All to soon I was a coltish teen, all arms and legs a gangle I saw the world looked good to me, seen from most any angle Before I knew, to be a young adult was my new found fate Time to begin a grooming and searching for a mate So I searched and I found, my husband soon to be It was quite simple, for he was searching too for me. We were wed on a sunny day, I wore a long white gown He pledged to keep my life sweet and to never cause a frown. We had our own soft snugly babes, and held them in our arms We kept them close and dear to us, protecting from all harms The changes come into our lives as winters do grow longer The love we hold so tenderly, keeps us ever stronger Time passes on fleetest wings, truly the blink of an eye Now we have our memories of days which have gone by. So my friend, when life grows cold, hold it near and dear Keep those you love within your heart, and you'll always have them near The love you have inside of you protects you from the cold The warmth you feel will keep you snug even though we all grow old.

In His World

"My wife," whispers the frail old man as he sits waiting by the window "Her hair, her smile," he murmurs as he slumps in his iron chair. "What's for dinner Maggie?" he asks His hair tousled, his socks mismatched, his face worried Confusion pours from his watery eyes "Take me back to the house on Maple Street" "I don't belong here, tell them to let me out" "I want my chair, I want my family, I want my wife." Looking up he sees an almost familiar face, his memory is jogged and he yells in a raspy voice, "batter up, get 'em Billy, show 'em what ya got" His son merely shakes his head sadly, places a hand on the old man's shoulder and says, "I love you Dad, I'll see you next Sunday." The memory fades with the afternoon light as the old man watches the tall, somewhat familiar stranger walk away. Heaving a trembling sigh, the old man turns his head slowly toward the window and continues waiting.

Somewhere There's A Garden

Somewhere there must be a garden for a special Rose went there to grow She left laughter and sunshine behind her and people who will miss her so

Somewhere in our hearts grows a garden A place filled with people we miss A warm sunny spot awaits them In a place warmed by nature's kiss

When Rose was here among us She brightened our lives with her cheer Caring and happy in spirit A woman so loving and dear

So weep not my friend for the Rose Who left us behind here today Keep in your hearts the garden And the Rose who went there to stay.

In Memory Of Rose Link, 1910 - 2001

A White Satin Glove
The family went through a lifetime of mementos and in short time reduced them to a series of boxes and plastic bags.
They heaped it all along the curb awaiting trash removal.
Bows and ribbons from long ago gifts lay atop neatly folded wrapping paper.
Faded photos of subjects now forgotten flutters in the breeze.
A child's drawing with the words in faded crayon "I love you Grandma" blows down the street borne upon sudden gust of wind.
A white satin glove sits atop one of the boxes and I wonder about the woman who wore it.
My questions go unanswered except in my own mind's eye.
She must have led a rich life, perhaps the gloves were worn to a wedding, perhaps dinner and the opera.
I ask myself, was she garbed in elegant finery as she danced a night away?
I am certain of one thing as I bend to pick up the child's scrawled token...
She was loved.

Together

In their youth they sparked and yearned Not knowing which way their lives would turn They always knew they'd be together Their love endured any weather Through the years with much devotion They sailed life's seas across the ocean Through storm and gale they made their way Knowing soon would be a brighter day Even after the fire grew cold For them devotion never grew old Though frail and slow now they walk Of together and love, they still talk Watching them walk arm and arm They inspire all with their charm Love still sparkles in their eyes A love like theirs really never dies

Womanly Stages

Soft and warm, a bundle of joy Parents so happy I wasn't a boy Freckles and giggles and high-pitched screams Dolls and teddy bears make up our dreams Toddling and stumbling we bravely did try When we did fall, we're encouraged to cry Braids and curls made us so sweet Little boys delighted in tickling our feet Bodies start changing as we watched it in awe Marveling at new things on our chests we now saw Sullen and moody and not knowing why Advancing to teen years, over a blemish we'd cry Meeting and loving a some young coltish boy When he was bold we acted so coy Wanting to remain our own Daddy's girl We battled emotions, our minds in a whirl Life's decisions we now had to make Pondering which path we were destined to take A doctor or lawyer or shop girl or student We made our decisions, often not prudent Some of us wed and before long were mothers Now we had to learn to nurture some others Holding our babies so close when they'd cry Kissing a boo-boo 'til the tears would dry Trying our hardest to be what we should Struggling to make life as good as we could Helping our mate through the daily struggle Too tired at night to kiss and to snuggle Now children have grown and are leaving the nest Not 'til they've gone we realized we're blessed Perhaps we'll be lucky and they'll bring us more joy When grandchildren come, such a sweet girl and boy We ventured down life's path and did our best Without instructions we completed our quest Now as we're changing so often we'll cry No one understands us we can't figure why Again we go through stages nature has meant To make us now stronger must have been the intent From babies to girls to women and now old Once precious pearls, we become solid gold The years pass so quickly as on speeding wings We've learned to cherish life's little things Capture each moment hold it close to your heart For as times passes those we love must depart What was once a struggle we sigh and remember As life flees by from May to December Womanly stages have come and they've gone Through the legacy of love our lives will go on

The original poetry on this site may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or used in any way without the express written permission of the author. ©2001-2015 Laura

We invite you to visit our other pages.
Laura's Love Notes
Whispers Of Love
Welcome To Our World
Pages Of Our Lives
Forever Together
Venturing Forth
Ralph & Laura, We Announce...
Ever Constant
Desert Dreams
Lighting The Way
Cool Walks, Warm Feelings
Treasures We've Found
Soaring
Me And Thee And Bailey Makes Three
My Beloved, Happy Anniversary
Intimate Tracings