As I was walking, down by the sea
There was an old man in front of me
He turned and said "Beautiful day"
I nodded and continued on my way
But as I strolled, I know not why
I kept remembering the colour of his eyes
Strange thing for me to do,
But they were such a familiar blue
It nagged at me as I walked those miles
Those eyes, that warm smile
I know I've seen them some other place
My heart remembers his weathered face
I watched his pace, slow but true
Like he had nothing in the world to do
He stopped and sat, watching me
Why does he stare, what does he see?
I gather my thoughts and raise my head
My eyes find him sitting just ahead
I quicken my step and in a moment or two
I'm standing before him, not knowing what to do
He looked at me and then he quietly asked,
"Do you remember me, little one?"
I focus on him, not sure that it's true,
"Poppy", I ask,"Is it really you?"
He smiles and nods, "But how can this be,
it's been many years since you left me.
I still remember the awful day that you died"
"Ah yes", he said "sadly that's true,
but don't you remember, I promised to always be with you"
With tears on my face, I fell to the ground
"If that's the case, why haven't I seen you around?"
He smiled at me with a tender grin
"that's because you didn't call me before,
today I felt you needed me more"
"Tell me child what is making you so sad?"
"Oh Poppy", I cried, "I'm just lonely I guess, sometimes
I feel so lost in the past"
"Cheer up sweet child, remember the past is the past you
can not change,
but your future is what remains"
"So when you are down and feeling blue,
remember I will always be with you"
His words brought me comfort, but still I could not understand
How was it that I could be here sitting with this beloved man?
The question he answered before it was spoke,
"By God's hand", he said, "It's true,
he watches over you
and when he feels the need arise,
he sends you a familiar face,
to lead you from your darkened place"
"I love you Poppy and I miss you so",
I leaned in and placed a kiss on his aged face
When I straightened he was gone
But the comforting feeling lingered on
Now when I'm lonely or sad,
I walk the shore to look for him
Hoping and praying to see him again
His words still linger in my head
I know I'm not alone anymore
Everyone I've lost is still with me
Alive and well in my memory
I don't even fear death since then
Because in the end I know, I'll be joining them
Author notes
Uncle Bud
This piece is about a sad time in my life when a visitor from the past came to visit me and changed my sadness into hope and joy, for I found out that I wasn't truly alone! Dedicated to my grandfather, Samuel Rodgers, I miss you, Rest In Peace, Poppy!
Written March 6th, 2006
A contest entry
- ghost # 2 by dream5111.
300 points, ended March 25, 2007, 15 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Tell me who you would like to say goodbye to that has passed away. by badddgirl.
800 points, ended May 30, 2007, 11 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 38 of 38
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This is an amazing poem, gives me chills and hope all at the same time
Good luck in the contest
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Please read rules and put proper name in authors box
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Very touching!
With tears on my face, I fell to the ground
"If that's the case, why haven't I seen you around?"
He smiled at me with a tender grin
"that's because you didn't call me before,
today I felt you needed me more"
"Tell me child what is making you so sad?"
"Oh Poppy", I cried, "I'm just lonely I guess, sometimes
I feel so lost in the past"
"Cheer up sweet child, remember the past is the past you
can not change,
but your future is what remains"
"So when you are down and feeling blue,
remember I will always be with you"
ok now I am crying.
Thanks for sharing!
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"It nagged at me as I walked those miles
Those eyes, that warm smile
I know I've seen them some other place
My heart remembers his weathered face" is my favorite part good luck -
Thank you Jeannie, I think he watches out for me. I am glad you enjoyed this one and thanks so much for the wonderful silver, appreciate it much!
Bunny
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Beautiful
Congratulations on the Silver! This is such a beautiful and endearing experience to have happen to you. I am so glad you shared it with us! Great writing Bunny, it brought a tear to my eye.
Jeannie D Hunter
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Thank you so very much for the great remarks and the encouraging applause, I am so glad you enjoyed this one! Bunny
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Takes Silver
Congratualtions on the Silver Trophy. This is a brillaint piece. -
Thank you Jeannie, I believe as well, I have seen him a few times and my grandmother as well. I enjoy the visits, makes me feel protected for some reason. I am glad you enjoyed this piece! Bunny
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What a wonderful write. I do believe these things happen. Thank you for entering our contest. Good Luck! Jeannie D Hunter
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Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this piece, I am glad you enjoyed it! Bunny
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very nicely written. good work. Keep up writing. thank you for entering my contest and good luck to you
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting on this one, I am so glad you enjoyed it! Bunny
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what a great poem i love it you should keep writing
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Thank you Becky for reading and commenting on this piece. It is one of my very favorites although when i tell people that it is true they give me that look, you know the one, eyes lifted, "she's nuts or stoned or both, lol", so I am enjoying the fact that you can understand this thing that happens to us sometimes. I think everyone doesn't see them because they are not empathic enough, my view anyway, but I know I can walk into a room and feel a presence and sense the feeling so real as if they were flesh and blood standing there. Take care Becky and I feel like I have made a new friend as well! Bunny
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Another beautiful write, Hon. Yes; truly exquisite! I believe in these visits, most definitely. Death is really not
'death' at all, is it? It's just another form of existence. It's closer than we think I've learned that deep love has a great deal to do with 'visits'. That we take love with us when we go. Oddly, when you think of it, love and death are the two things that cannot be defined; they cannot be explained or put into words. So it's not surprising they have a mysterious, unexplainable connection.
This is such a sweet and loving tribute to your Poppy
I love nothing better than crying warm, happy tears. This piece certainly made me do that You are blessed that you were able to know your Poppy, as many children never have the chance to know their Grandparents these days. It's a messed up world out there. Families aren't what they used to be.
Thank you for leading me to your writes today I appreciate that! I feel as though I've found a new friend 
Lots of love to you, Hon
~ Becky ~ aka Veronica Cross
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I am so glad you liked this one Jennifer and as hard as it is to believe it is a true story, I have seen him several times over the years since he passed on and the feeling that it leaves is of peace and contentment. I miss him still, but I will see him again. Thanks for your lovely remarks and I am glad it touched you in some way! Bunny
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I'm chocked up. This was so sweet.
I don't know what to say.
Jenny -
Thank you again for your always wonderful comments. I am so glad you liked this piece, it has special meaning for me!
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yes once again a well written piece of poetry as always enjoyed this one so touching and you expressed yourself so well great job Cup see ya around the AP way I out of applauds but I still have to applaud this one it's a great show of poetry
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I am so glad you enjoyed this one!
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Ah, remembering can be sweet or not, and this poem is very dear. Thank you for writing it and I shall look into this contest, myself!
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment, I am so glad you enjoyed this piece. We always miss our loved ones when they leave us, but now I feel them around me everyday. Thank you again for the encouragement and lovely remarks!
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awwwwwwww OMG is this a very beautiful write. you made me cry, but not sad tears. tears of joy, because i believe that love ones who has gone on to a better place, are still with you today and always. i can feel them all around me, whenever i need them the most. this is a precious and touching poem. i just love this write. an outstanding job. thanks for sharing. now i miss my poppy.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, I am so glad you enjoyed this one. It is special to me because it is from my own personal experience. Thank you again for your wonderful remarks, I apreciate them greatly.
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you took an older idea and made it your own...I am truly amazed. it's always when we least expect it that the help we need is there, and I'm glad you found yours.thank you so much for sharing this with me. good luck in my contest!!
~Jaymy -
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment I am glad that you enjoyed this piece!
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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, I am so glad you enjoyed this piece and yes your comments do make sense for I know how much one misses their loved ones when they are gone.
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Thank you so much for reading and for the wonderful remarks. I have never read The Footprints piece you mentioned but I will look it up and read it today. I am throughly glad that you enjoyed this piece fore it is deeply personal to me! Thank you
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment, I am glad you enjoyed this piece, it's one of my favorites and very personal. I have seen that wonderful man a few times now and it is always a joy and makes me feel so wonderful!
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Good Job!
This is really touching, it really pulled at my heart and then gave me assurance and the same time. I liked the ryhmeing and the flow was good. It was alittle long but you kept me captivated and there the whole time. Great Job!!!
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You already know that this piece mirrors 'footprints' in its own way. The difference is that you never really get involved with the character in the footprints piece. In this piece you give us someone we can grab a hold of and understand. Actually for the body of the work I like it better than footprints even though tahat has been an overwhelming commercial success. Yours is too personal to fit that bill, but it does not make it less or diminish it in any way. RC
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HOw incredible and powerful this write is. Thanks for blessing us with such an emotional and personal write. I love it....you have touched me deeply with the love and manner of your write. I love it!! There is so mcuh more I feel, but I truly can't find the words to tell you how incredible my hunger for my "family" is by reading this poem. Thank you so much for the awakening within me in many ways. Does this even make sense?
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Lovely.
This peice is so heartwarming. You write so well. Your feelings are so true and just.... wow. Great write.
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting, glad you enjoyed this piece!
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great job
I like this you have a nack for this. You should keep writing. It really is could and I like memories and yours is a great.
good job -
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it and I love those lines as well.
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Excellent
Really a grear work, I love the way you get the reader to sense what you are feeling, that somehow you know this man. Very good. I love the lines-- kept remembering the colour of his eyes Strange thing to do, But they were such a familiar blue. Great poem
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