On a old country lane stands a cottage small,
With a shabby old picket fence
On creaking boards of an unpainted porch,
An old chair rocks in the wind~
Flowers now are gone and grass unkempt,
A berry patch grows wild and dense
A falling shed at the back of the lot,
Has been taken over by weather and rot~
On a old oak tree, hangs a piece of rope
From a tire swing where the children did play,
A tattered sunbonnet hangs on a nail
An on the bench a faded shawl lays~
There was a time when the cottage was new
And windows shown bright with light,
Laughter echoed through the small rooms
As children were tucked in for the night~
But time goes on and families part,
Now the cottage stands lonely and dark
Only the memories linger on
As the old chair sits and rocks ~
Author notes
Written June 17th, 2003
In a list
A contest entry
- This Old Chair~~ Prewrites Welcome by Melodies.
600 points, ended October 11, 2007, 13 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 48 of 48
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What a delight!
Every line is brilliantly penned and casts out images that warm the heart and soul 
I love this poem so much! 
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I love the picture you paint with this piece. Good luck in the contest!
I also love the picture and the background.*smile*
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It's sad how things change and only memories remain.
Loved your nostalgic poem, Sis! Best of Luck in the contest!
♥ Maureen
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excellent
The memories of this old house and all of it's surroundings, are just beautiful sis. I can visualize that chair still rocking when the wind blows. Very reflective and sentimental poem.
Good luck in the contest!
Jeannette 
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This is awesome, Sis !! I love this poem, it's going straight to my favorites.
Your vivid imagery brings life back to this old place, now abandoned, lonely. I wish you the best of luck in the contest, this one looks like a winner to me
love and
Dee
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Wonderful
Oh my sis, such a beautiful creation. You truly did so well. Best of luck in the contest.
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thank you so much for sending
me the link to this poem - it is
a lovely piece of poetry. Your
writing is very 'visual' and it
was not difficult to see your words
come to life...
Good luck in the contest
Love, Lane
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A stunning memory you've woven for us! I love this! Best of luck to you in the contest!
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Breathtakingly Beautiful.
Awwwww Sweetie this is just breathtaking from start to finish, you drew me in with such an essence and held me captivated till the very last word, this has gold written all over it, love you Josephine
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Oh, how perfectly beautiful! LOVE IT!
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so wistful and nostalgic my friend. i really enjoyed reading this and of all the imagery and emotion, the last stanza was superb best of luck in the contest my dear. be well and be blessed
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That was lovely. I enjoy reading your poetry because it is different, and peaceful.
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As usual, your words are creative, unique, and well written. Enjoyed the read. I think you well portrayed an array of good old memories...
mina -
The feel of impermanence. As we all are. There will be another cycle of songs heard in this yard. So long as the time spent in it was savoured, this feel will stay in wait for then next to enjoy. Old cottages watch as we float bye -tj-
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So wistful this one, I love old cottages, paintings of them or the reality of them...and have a fondness for overgrown gardens and picket fences that need a white wash...this is beautiful...love you, ro
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Very beautiful it helps me to remember when my mom and I would sit in the rocking chair at night.
Thank you for bringing back such warm memories with your lovely poem.
-Silent -
i really liked this susan, very interesting feel to it, kinda lonely, quiet, but peaceful, like a place you'd go to just be alone with your thoughts.
i really liked this stanza in particular:
There was a time when the cottage was new
And windows shown bright with light,
Laughter echoed through the small rooms
As children were tucked in for the night~
very nice addition to the sad parts of the poem
kayla* -
A ruin where gladness one time dwelt,
Its disrepair so sadly felt,
No smiles glow nor mother calls,
from inside faded peeling walls.
How sad to see this homey place,
Left to rot and cruel disgrace.
I thought I heard the dinner chime,
Just echos from a gladder time........ This is sad susan. love you to dear.
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Wow, what a baeutiful poem. I sometimes look at old homes and try to imagine the lives that were once lived in them. It is especially sad when I see an empty, old house in the country, all alone in a grassy field. Your poem created such a longingful feeling in me. And you used great imagery. Excellent job!
Take care and write on!
~Mystikal~ -
This was wonderful, a well written poem full of imagery and atmosphere. I loved the picture that you included, the whole thing just touched me.
But time goes on and families part,
Now the cottage stands lonely and dark
Only the memories linger on
As the old chair sits and rocks
I loved that stanza... you have such a beautiful way of expressing yourself... thank you for sharing this... enjoyed very much
Blessings and Smiles
~LadyStarlight~ -
Beautiful
The old rocking chair
Many memories could share
Still rocks,someone there?
Beautiful poem stirs memories in my old brain.Thanks.Bill
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reminds me of all the homes I used to drive by when I lived in NC.. very vivid
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Where people leave, nature takes over again. The atmosphere of this gentle coup reflects meticulously from the eloquent words in your poem. You took me there. Thank you. Take care,
Rage of Reason -
This was beautiful, it reminded me of a warm summer night sitting outside on your porch or deck and talking with friends out in the middle of the country..Its been awhile since i have done that, maybe you and i should do that so we could catch up on our gossip. Love ya hun and wonderful job.
~*Lynn*~ -
So beautiful and vivid.You took me to this place the moment I began reading.The descriptivness you have used is so amazing.It really paints the picture in your mind.I like this piece alot.It's well penned, descriptive, relaxing and even soothing. Great Write!
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As ever you paint a beautiful serene picture.
Amazing and vivid. You take me inside your
words. Hugs, Daoine. -
Ahhh, wow! What an image, of the once bright memories, a once bright family, It's true that as time goes on..things change. I felt deeply for that cottage, left alone to be by itself..And only that old rocker as company. A strong write, with good form, I enjoyed this muchly!
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A great piece, brought back memories of my childhood. My Grandma had a rocking chair on her porch and when I would visit she would rock me in her arms till I feel asleep. A precious memory you rekindled! Thanks, Kelly
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hmmm...so is this really about a cottage...or is it about a person? I know sometimes I feel just like this....weathered and worn...all used up.....empty. For the cottage it sounds picturesque....perhaps that's what I am now as well.....hmmm...."The PicturesqueMan"...mmmmm. Nah! :-)
Good job, conjures up excellent imagery! Can I ride the swing? :-) -
Amazingly Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
Incredible images were etched before my eyes with your lovely words
Hugs and Love,
Karen
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Very nice indeed, life once flourished in this place you speak of, but as with all things, it goes to seed somehow with time. But a beautiful picture you paint, tire swings and bonnets are delightful images that speak to us of happier times in this world. Very nice indeed.
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This is so sweet and sad, I loved it, you really have afine style,you evoke such pictures and feelings of desolation, as a kid when we used to travel by train I used to see alot of old broken building with a sign saying abondoned, there used to be such a sad lonely air about them, I get the same feeling in this poem, once a place of love and laughter now only echoes it is like a big gaping hole needing to be filled but where no one will ever laugh or grow or play again.
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Most heartfelt sincerity
I like the atmosphere, and I like solitude. Thanks for sharing that old rockingchair. When I was a boy, 50 years ago, we were so poor the only rockingchairs I saw were empty "Old Rockingchair" whiskey bottles. Do you remember those horrible times? Good luck to you, and the best of country living. -
Susan.....this is both absolutely amazing and beautiful. This one touched me so very deeply.
The imagery in this piece is truly astounding.
I don't know what fountain you dip the tip of your pen into, but I sure pray that it *never* runs dry.....
~~~~~ Blessings, Janet ~~~~~
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Wow... there is an acute feeling on lonliness in this poem.
I really enjoyed reading it, I loved the images you created.
You are brilliant at creating beautiful pictures!
Good poem hun
-Heather -
A lovely write, it's a shame everything gets old, I think some of the best things made were made long ago, well penned!
Thanks for sharing, great piece!
-Timothy -
Oh this took me back to my child and teen years . There was an old abandoned cottage up on a hill . Noone knew what happened to the owners. We used to go up there and play in the reeds and on the porch , but unlike most would do we never did ny dammage and cleaned up our mess. I most destinctly remember the scent of wild hedgeroses in full bloom . Some said it was haunted , but the group I hung with , we were not afraid...this brought back wonderful memories ......thx as usual Susan
Reenie
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Excellent
Hi Susan dear Im at Prairies house hon sorry not forgot you, this had beauty and sadness of the wonderful memories that ended in sadness of changes........Well written hon...hugs,Sherry -
Very is one that everyone should be able to realte to... there is a house like this in every city everywhere around the world... where only echos of life, love and laughter remain.
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This is beautiful, yet kinda sad. The memories always linger. Love the old rocking chair. And the tire swing. The pic is just so suitable.
Thanks for sharing such a peaceful write with me! Appreciate your comment on ~Fingerprinted. much appreciated.
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Excellent!
Very nicely done, Sis! You sure have a way with words! Your beautiful poem made me feel nostalgic and peaceful. Loved it!
Luv Ya,
< 3 Maureen
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Reminds me of a place not to far from me, every time I pass by I seem to wonder about it..Poems like these always tend to make you think,It was beautiful as always,Your poems never tend to let the readers down...Excellent write
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I so love this. There is a simple beauty behind your well chosen and well placed words. Your images are haunting. It's a fantastic portrait you paint in prose. A stunning write my dear. Bittersweet, but lovely just the same.
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this is great hun. reminds me of my grandma's place, on a mountain in tennessee. beautiful imagery and wonderful lines as always
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Sweetie... This is just beautiful..
I have a passion for old homesteads..and this write gives my spirit a longing to visit this one..
Wonderful! I LOVE this!!
Much Love ~Pamela -
Oh i sooooo love this one Susan!!
You have out done yourself once again!!
Just absolutely beautiful and sad all at the same time
Wonderful lines.. it makes the imagery so much more special
A tattered sunbonnet hangs on a nail
An on the bench a faded shawl lays~
I could see your little cottage
how beautiful it must of been when it was new
I could see and hear the chair rocking
Just a Super Great job on this Hon!
Loved it!
Love to Youuuuu Susan ~Mina
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Excellent
Oh my... I nearly got tears to my eyes on this one. You have such a rich imagination and you describe things wonderfully. I can feel the wind and smell the grass... Amazing. You've nearly left me without words on this one! One thing I can say is that I have never had the pleasure of enjoying a place like that, but your poem makes me feel that I have. -
Ahhh, Miss! The picture, background and poem are all beautiful. You did an excellent job with this one. May you and the chair rock on!!
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