Across a field of lilacs spread
Like downy blanket soft and fine
Beneath the heat of summer's day
Your freckled face smiled out at mine.
Your pig-tails flying in the breeze
Brought out the first-grade love in me
As futures lie before us spread
Like pathways to eternity.
Through school we went, inseparable
My class ring on your finger small
Our names in hearts with blackboard chalk
Proclaiming puppy love to all.
Then I was called to go away
As duty to my country came
And lilac tears were shared as we
Vowed one day things would be the same.
What happens to a soldier's mind
When faced with war's insanity
Humanity turned inhumane
With young men dying needlessly?
Somewhere the 'little boy' got lost
As innocence was blown away
And, by the time that I was through
I found that I had lost my way.
I wandered through the years alone
A soldier in civilian clothes
Who couldn't wash the blood away
Or lose the shame a soldier knows.
On nights when pain was less intense
My dreams would bring your face in view
With pig-tails flying in the breeze
And lilac fields that we once knew.
My life has entered winter's chill
With summer's fire extinguished now.
The path has finally brought me home
Fulfilled at last my childhood vow.
They tell me that you never married
Lived a nice life quietly
Became a teacher in the school
And always spoke the best of me.
They say the whole town wept for you
And even Jesus shed a tear
With open arms to welcome you
When sickness took your life last year.
So here I stand...I place a lilac
Lovingly upon your stone.
I bid farewell to childhood romance
And to life I might have known.
Across a field of lilacs spread
I see the sadness in your eye.
You say you love me one last time
Then slowly turn and wave goodbye.
Author notes
Written July 8th, 2003
In a list
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1 - 17 of 17
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In a field of lilacs...no wonder I love them so much. What endures more than the fragrance of love uncontaminated where hearts bloom, young or old? Antiquity's gardens have nothing at all on the lilac softness lingering here. I found it in Mark Rickerby's lists, and even though I can only observe, it's like coming home here on your page among a field of gentler memories. ~ Karen
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Oh jeez... could you pass the tissue box please?
What a beautiful, poignant story. You've moved me to tears, yet I find a smile in knowing that, even though brief, the gift of love was given time to share. Simply beautiful.
Amazingly well written. Kudos!
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Thank you, SandyToo. I'm very glad you enjoyed it and always a pleasure to meet a fellow show me'er
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Wonderful
Mark Rickerby suggested I read this poem, I'm very glad he did. I'm glad I read it today too being ANZAC Day in Australia. It reminded me that for some the sacrifice they gave was not just losing their lives on the battle field, it was losing their ability to live a life when they came home. Sometimes you wonder who was better off. Lest We Forget! -
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Thank you, miss. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem and yours thoughts are absolutely. It is not easy for soldiers to leave their memories on the battlefield and they relive them forever.
My thanks to my friend Mark for steering you my way. I've always had a soft spot for Aussies and I pray to Greg Norman nightly. I wrote one poem you may enjoy if you have time....Never Marry an Aussie http://allpoetry.com/poem/248769
Since you are happily married, your hubby may disagree but it may bring a smile.
Wishing you the best,
Michael
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Found it! Nevermind the previous request. God, I love this poem. So nice to read it again.
Mark
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Incredibly beautiful
ohhhh.....*tears*...that is incredibly sad!!! Oh my gosh...
wow...it's extremely touching...I don't think I could
write something this beautiful yet sad, without shedding
a tear. This is definetly going on my bookmark list. I'm
even going to print it. Amazing....*sniffs*...lovely.
God Bless you!
~sweetgurl -
alright -- i had to read this again cuz this is sooo beautiful -- almost made me cry
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this...wow. so touching. I have to say, this moved me like not many rhyming poems can....thank you for a beautiful poem, and a wonderful reading experience.
-Moon
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Turn of events worked well in this. And if this is personal real event, I offer my apologies, condolences.
Good work. -
A hanky alert would have spared my keyboard! What makes this even more sad is realizing that so many have suffered a similar fate as the characters in your poem. Too many. So sad.
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Extremely beautiful.. I can sit here and feel the words flow through me.. The thoughts and feeling you have in your words are amazing.. thank you for sharing.... I enjoyed reading these beautiful words... thank you for your lovely comments on "Within myself"....
Carin~~ -
I wonder how many times lovers parted, vowing to pick up where they left off, i imagine the number is staggering, and the list goes on and on. My first love joined the navy, and at that young age of 16, (i liked em a bit older!) he was 20, and those four years seemed like a lifetime. It was never the same, too much time had passed. Puppy love can't hang. Sad poem, no chance to change it, to go back and try to find a little piece of lilac sky.
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As ever...I nod my head in respect for the wonderful way you express those thoughts you hold near your heart.
Wonderful write my friend..
Warm Arizona hugs...
Mary Ann -
Mike I didn't expect the turn of events in this one I have to say.
So poignant, but what a mixture. Innocence, puppy love, war, loneliness, lost love and death. It all fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Beautifull written, as always
~Von~ -
Lewis...thank you, sir. I appreciate your comments and your respect...I wish you the best.
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FUCKING AMAZING
WHOLY SHIT...WHOLY SHIT WHOLY SHIT WHOLY SHIT...
okay i'll stop... now that was amazing.
alright... now this is why:
I'll start with the basics why this was amazing: your rhymes and rythem are flawless none seemed a bit forced -- all perfect.
Alright, now the story you told was amazing, not because of the plot, for the plot is trite, overused, cliched -- but because you told it in a such a manner that is beautiful and moving and of course sad.
I especially love this line: "They say the whole town wept for you
And even Jesus shed a tear
With open arms to welcome you
When sickness took your life last year. "
amazing -- this almost made me cry.. it is so wonderfully and skillyfully done.
Balladeer, you have my greatest respect.
~Lewis Z. Liu
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