Distinction Leaves Its Mark 2

Sewing machine, long idle, gathered dust;
it's now a desk which seems a breach of trust.
Clothes made at home had always been a must.  
Married in the "dirty thirties" hard years 
for dust bowl folk who stayed despite the jeers.
Dependence on social welfare brought tears   
to one proud farmer.  Bills he could not pay,
he chose to join the army straightaway. 
The war years seemed like only yesterday
rememb'ring those who fought that war in vain.
Soon he would send his sons to war again; 
his daughter, a skilled seamstress, caught the train
to work sewing bags at a powder plant.
Burning her candle at both ends, my aunt
never came home; but she had made her mark; 
the candle sputtered, spent, and all was dark.


Lines 1, 9, and 16 were written by Viv Wigley
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Dietrich Avatar
May 3, 2018 at 11:46 PM
Awesome, REason. So many poets here were very well inspired by Viv's challenge. Congrats to you.
Johnson Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 3:57 PM
A great poem and story. Very well done. Congratulations. Love, Joyce
Allison Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 3:39 PM
you worked that final line into the piece so beautifully, i found that the biggest challenge in the poem:-) Many congratulations on your win Reason:-) hugs Jan xx
Gentry Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 12:31 PM
Congratulations on your placement. Enjoyed!
Gauthier Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 7:35 AM
Fitting line about burning the candle at both ends, Reason. Well done. Congrats.
Poteet Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 11:24 AM
Thanks, Line, the candle line being the last was the most difficult for me to work into a piece successfully. I appreciate your comment.
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