Line Gauthier Poet Quatrain

Candlelit Vigil

The sewing machine, long idle, gathered dust
Their farmland sapping every last ounce of energy
Animals and crops, entrusted and on her own to adjust
With welcome visits of encouragement from the clergy

All the men had enlisted swearing they’d be back
Leaving behind wives who hushed their worst fears
Nights spent dreaming of men riding home on horseback
Godforsaken days turned to months turned to tears

The war years seemed like only yesterday
Like a treacherous nightmare that could be swept aside
With each sunrise, all held their breath for judgment day
Dreams of lighthearted love and happy times gone astride

A woman has premonitions others call foresight
Setting aside the unopened envelope with its postmark
Sat alone with his bloodstained letter well into the night
The candle sputtered, spent, and all was dark



AP: 3rd place 2020

Submitted on April 13, 2018 for contest ONE NINE AND SIXTEEN sponsored by VIV WIGLEY  -  RANKED 4TH

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Kim Rodrigues May 3, 2018 at 10:40 PM Congrats, Line! Line Gauthier May 3, 2018 at 11:24 PM Thanks, Kim.

Subimal Sinha-Roy May 3, 2018 at 1:37 AM Congratulations, Line on your win. A sad tale so well depicted. Line Gauthier May 3, 2018 at 6:59 AM Thanks, Subimal, for your much appreciated visit.

Elaine George May 2, 2018 at 8:59 PM Great story...great write. Many congrats my poetic friend. Elaine Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 9:23 PM Thank you so much, Elaine. Most appreciated.

Pandita Sietesantos May 2, 2018 at 8:39 PM Well done, Line - what an enjoyable piece that magically transported me to another time and place! Congratulations on your well-deserved win! Hugs. Pandita Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 9:23 PM Thank you so much, Pandita. Most appreciated.

Joyce Johnson May 2, 2018 at 3:14 PM Another great one. This contest certainly brought some great poetry. Congratulations. Joyce Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:06 PM Thank you for your lovely visit and comment, Joyce.

Carolyn Devonshire May 2, 2018 at 2:08 PM Congratulations, Line! In decades past it was the women who stayed behind and experienced the loss in ways different from men. A touching poem... Hugs, Carolyn Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:07 PM Yes, Carolyn. Thanks for your visit and comment.

Theresa Stephens May 2, 2018 at 1:17 PM Congratulations on your placement Line. I was held in it's evocative, emotional thrall from first to last. Theresa xxx Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:08 PM Thank you so much, Theresa. most appreciated.

Jean Murray May 2, 2018 at 12:47 PM Fantastic Line. So atmospheric. Congratulations. Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:10 PM Thank you very much for your visit and comment, Jean.

Eve Roper May 2, 2018 at 12:03 PM Line, congratulations on your win..Great nostalgic imagery.. Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:14 PM Thank you, Eve, for your much appreciated visit and comment.

Jan Allison May 2, 2018 at 11:57 AM Many congratulations on your win in the contest Line:-) hugs Jan xx Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:15 PM Thank you so much, Jan. Much appreciated.

Reason A. Poteet May 2, 2018 at 11:31 AM Delightful dark, the candle goes out. Salutations on your placement; a serious showing of what the plaque of war brings at home as well as elsewhere. Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:16 PM Thank you for your visit and comment, Reason. Much appreciated.

Susan Gentry May 2, 2018 at 10:22 AM Oh Line! Your imagery is so amazing. Was like watching a movie play out 8n my head... a movie with emotion. Congratulations on your win! Excellent! Line Gauthier May 2, 2018 at 4:16 PM Thank you so much, Susan. Most appreciated.

Gregory Richard Barden April 17, 2018 at 11:15 PM Very tender and sad, with heart-wrenching poignancy ... I truly enjoyed this thoroughly. A situation and tragedy far too many had to endure. Exquisite poetry, Line. Gorgeous! Line Gauthier April 17, 2018 at 11:42 PM Thank you so much for your visit and comment, Gregory.

Artsieladie Sharon Donnelly April 15, 2018 at 12:42 PM Such a harsh, somber reality for far too many, which you've painted so well the surrealism of, Line. Lives are taken along with hopes and dreams but humans don't learn no matter how many times war has proven to be nothing but destructive. The best of luck in the contest with this fab' write. :) ~ Artsie Line Gauthier April 15, 2018 at 3:58 PM Thank you so much for your lovely visit, Artsieladie. Most appreciated.

Kim Rodrigues April 14, 2018 at 6:26 PM Wow! A heartfelt write! Spooky! Line Gauthier April 15, 2018 at 12:54 AM Thanks for your visit and comment, Kim.

Nette Onclaud April 14, 2018 at 11:04 AM written from the soul-- deep and haunting, line... you made me choke lightly, and that is really good!.. huggs Line Gauthier April 14, 2018 at 4:05 PM O thank you, nette. What a compliment.

Tom Cunningham April 14, 2018 at 8:28 AM Beautifully done line. Good luck. Tom. Line Gauthier April 14, 2018 at 4:05 PM Thank you, Tom. Much appreciated.

Kyle Kriticos April 14, 2018 at 7:16 AM Very well done, as always Line :) Line Gauthier April 14, 2018 at 4:06 PM Thank you, Kyle. Very kind.

Agnes Krampe April 13, 2018 at 8:19 PM Great take on the contest prompt, especially the last stanza is chilling. Line Gauthier April 13, 2018 at 8:25 PM Thank you so much, Agnes. Much appreciated visit and comment.

Jan Allison April 13, 2018 at 2:37 PM I can imagine the scene so vividly Line and that final stanza is one that I am sure happened far too often:-( good luck in the contest Line:-) hugs jan xx Line Gauthier April 13, 2018 at 4:05 PM Thank you, Jan. Most appreciated visit and comment.