Home » Poems » Line Gauthier » Candlelit Vigil

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

Date: 5/3/2018 10:40:00 PM

Congrats, Line!

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/3/2018 11:24:00 PM

Thanks, Kim.

Subimal Sinha-Roy

Date: 5/3/2018 1:37:00 AM

Congratulations, Line on your win. A sad tale so well depicted.

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/3/2018 6:59:00 AM

Thanks, Subimal, for your much appreciated visit.

Elaine George

Date: 5/2/2018 8:59:00 PM

Great story...great write. Many congrats my poetic friend. Elaine

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/2/2018 9:23:00 PM

Thank you so much, Elaine. Most appreciated.

Pandita Sietesantos

Date: 5/2/2018 8:39:00 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
Date: 5/2/2018 9:23:00 PM

Thank you so much, Pandita. Most appreciated.

Joyce Johnson

Date: 5/2/2018 3:14:00 PM

Another great one. This contest certainly brought some great poetry. Congratulations. Joyce

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/2/2018 4:06:00 PM

Thank you for your lovely visit and comment, Joyce.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 5/2/2018 2:08:00 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
Date: 5/2/2018 4:07:00 PM

Yes, Carolyn. Thanks for your visit and comment.

Theresa Stephens

Date: 5/2/2018 1:17:00 PM

Congratulations on your placement Line. I was held in it's evocative, emotional thrall from first to last. Theresa xxx

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/2/2018 4:08:00 PM

Thank you so much, Theresa. most appreciated.

Jean Murray

Date: 5/2/2018 12:47:00 PM

Fantastic Line. So atmospheric. Congratulations.

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/2/2018 4:10:00 PM

Thank you very much for your visit and comment, Jean.

Eve Roper

Date: 5/2/2018 12:03:00 PM

Line, congratulations on your win..Great nostalgic imagery..

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/2/2018 4:14:00 PM

Thank you, Eve, for your much appreciated visit and comment.

Jan Allison

Date: 5/2/2018 11:57:00 AM

Many congratulations on your win in the contest Line:-) hugs Jan xx

Line Gauthier
Date: 5/2/2018 4:15:00 PM

Thank you so much, Jan. Much appreciated.

Reason A. Poteet

Date: 5/2/2018 11:31:00 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
Date: 5/2/2018 4:16:00 PM

Thank you for your visit and comment, Reason. Much appreciated.

Susan Gentry

Date: 5/2/2018 10:22:00 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
Date: 5/2/2018 4:16:00 PM

Thank you so much, Susan. Most appreciated.

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 4/17/2018 11:15:00 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
Date: 4/17/2018 11:42:00 PM

Thank you so much for your visit and comment, Gregory.

Artsieladie Sharon Donnelly

Date: 4/15/2018 12:42:00 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
Date: 4/15/2018 3:58:00 PM

Thank you so much for your lovely visit, Artsieladie. Most appreciated.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 4/14/2018 6:26:00 PM

Wow! A heartfelt write! Spooky!

Line Gauthier
Date: 4/15/2018 12:54:00 AM

Thanks for your visit and comment, Kim.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 4/14/2018 11:04:00 AM

written from the soul-- deep and haunting, line... you made me choke lightly, and that is really good!.. huggs

Line Gauthier
Date: 4/14/2018 4:05:00 PM

O thank you, nette. What a compliment.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 4/14/2018 8:28:00 AM

Beautifully done line. Good luck. Tom.

Line Gauthier
Date: 4/14/2018 4:05:00 PM

Thank you, Tom. Much appreciated.

Kyle Kriticos

Date: 4/14/2018 7:16:00 AM

Very well done, as always Line :)

Line Gauthier
Date: 4/14/2018 4:06:00 PM

Thank you, Kyle. Very kind.

Agnes Krampe

Date: 4/13/2018 8:19:00 PM

Great take on the contest prompt, especially the last stanza is chilling.

Line Gauthier
Date: 4/13/2018 8:25:00 PM

Thank you so much, Agnes. Much appreciated visit and comment.

Jan Allison

Date: 4/13/2018 2:37:00 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
Date: 4/13/2018 4:05:00 PM

Thank you, Jan. Most appreciated visit and comment.