Old Ethel was eighty-three-and-a-half,
She’d be eighty-four next May.
But she couldn’t remember the year, or the month,
The date, or the time of the day.
She had no idea who the Prime Minister was,
Or the price of a first-class stamp,
But she knew she was eighty-three-and-a-half,
As she lit up her old oil lamp.
With trembling hands she set it back down,
On the cluttered wood table it sat,
And she settled herself with an aching sigh,
On the leather-topped stool next to that.
Though her eyes, once blue, were rheumy and blind,
Their sparkle was not quite gone,
And she knew what she saw well enough not to see,
What had happened as time had gone on.
The diary had yellowed, ink pale from the sun,
The books were all dog-eared with age
Yet as she reached out with her thin, mottled hands,
His words shone as if new from the page.
“Forget me not, Darling, when I am gone,
For I shall not forget you,
But keep my love safe in your heart and life,
‘til we meet once again when it’s through.”
Ethel smiled as the tears rolled down her cheeks,
The smile of a girl in her youth,
And although she was eighty-three-and-a-half,
Her memories were honest in truth.
Though the name of her doctor had long slipped her mind,
And forgotten were birthdays of friends,
As she caught the faint scent of tobacco and oak,
There were things she’d recall to the end.
It had been thirteen years and six long months,
Since her husband had passed away.
But she knew he was never truly gone,
And they’d meet again, one day.
Author notes
I think this is the longest poem I've written, and the most different to my usual style. It was penned almost entirely in one flow from beginning to end, and I find myself hoping now that Ethel is reunited with her Husband one day!
Written for a contest and inspired by a picture of what I took to be her husband's belongings.
A contest entry
- Pic Inspired by Soulful Woman.
1000 points, ended September 17, 2007, 14 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Emotions. by lilblueeyesmine1978.
450 points, ended December 24, 2007, 44 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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This was an amazing poem. I litterally had chills at the end, I loved it!
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I love this
I loved this thannk you so much for sharing I can almost see the old lady sitting at the table with that beautiful smile of days gone by. The love shared between these two is totally inspiring. -
WONDERFUL
what a wonderful poem of love and old age, how beautiful life must have been for her and she will meet him again one day congrats on trophy
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A very sensitive piece. Thank you for your entry and good luck in the contest.
Soulful Woman -
so beautiful... I feel so bad for her! You actually made me feel that, which is proof enough that it's realy well written. keep writing!
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