Far Away

I dream of the old house, five thousand miles
away, across the sea, high on the hill,
the garden where the rhododendrons shade
the black and white tiled steps up to the door.

I enter, walk from room to room, and see
my mother on the balcony; she sits
beneath the tumbling vines and reads her book.
My dad is in his study playing chess.

The house smells like it always did. Each thing
still lives in its accustomed place. This is
 a journey back in time: I am a child, 
was gone a little while and now am home. 

The light falls through the windows differently.
The trees have grown, obscure the view, and hide
The house from outside glance. Mom’s hair is white,
And father walks the stairs with halting steps.

I hope there will still be a few more years
For me to make this journey. Far away
Are home and childhood, and the church bells toll
The hours relentlessly. 

7/11/2017

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017



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Date: 11/12/2018 4:15:00 PM
Back with congrats on your win, Agnes.
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 11/12/2018 5:05:00 PM
Thank you, Line.
Date: 11/12/2018 2:54:00 PM
Congratulations on your first place win, Agnes. Well deserved!
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 11/12/2018 5:03:00 PM
Thank you, Warren.
Date: 8/6/2018 10:20:00 PM
A heartfelt read, beautifully penned, Agnes.
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Date: 8/30/2017 10:08:00 AM
Wonderful Agnes! What a great feeling of nostalgia in this piece. Congratulations!
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Date: 8/30/2017 4:53:00 AM
Congrats Agnes, for your well-deserved first placement with this awesome piece!! ;-)
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Date: 8/29/2017 7:04:00 PM
Very nice.
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Date: 8/29/2017 5:10:00 PM
Absolutely beautiful--my newest favorite, Agnes. congrats!
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Date: 8/29/2017 3:56:00 PM
Congrats agnes
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Date: 8/29/2017 3:38:00 PM
Congratulations Agnes :)
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Date: 8/29/2017 2:15:00 PM
Beautiful. Congrats on your win.
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Date: 7/12/2017 12:25:00 PM
Be it ever so humble... Heartwarming write, Mrs Agnes.
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/13/2017 6:15:00 PM
Thank you, Daniel.
Date: 7/12/2017 9:39:00 AM
This is beautiful... Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.... I need to drop to your next page. Brilliant!
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/13/2017 6:14:00 PM
Thanks, Funom.
Date: 7/12/2017 7:54:00 AM
You took us to an altogether different world, Agnes ... a deep peace for a few minutes ...
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/13/2017 6:14:00 PM
Thank you, Probir.
Date: 7/12/2017 6:03:00 AM
Lovely nostalgic write Agnes with beautiful description of childhood memories:-) hugs Jan xx
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/13/2017 6:14:00 PM
Thank you, Jan.
Date: 7/11/2017 6:53:00 PM
EXCELLENT portrayal of blank verse with this theme Far Away. I used an oldie that also focused on memories from long ago. Sometimes we think so much alike, Agnes. I love this one. (love your enjambment here too. Don't know why some people hate enjambment)
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/11/2017 10:30:00 PM
Thanks, Andrea. I am a bit disappointed I was too slow, and the poem didn't come together in time for the contest, but can't force it. Enjambment makes blank verse unboring, in my opinion. I just got back from watching a 1.5 hour long play in blank verse, and without enjambment that would have been unbearable.
Date: 7/11/2017 6:50:00 PM
Wonderful soft nostalgia and hope. Beautiful images. I want to go there.
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/11/2017 10:30:00 PM
Thank you, Sunlite.
Date: 7/11/2017 6:26:00 PM
your line about the rhododendrons really did it for me.
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/11/2017 10:31:00 PM
Thanks, Dale. They are really there; they are about one hundred years old and huge and cavernous.
Date: 7/11/2017 5:54:00 PM
Very good one with great descriptive details Agnes :)
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/11/2017 10:31:00 PM
Thank you, Heidi.
Date: 7/11/2017 5:53:00 PM
Such a nice poem Agnes. Though the being far away is a little sad the poem brings beautiful memories along with smiles to the reader. Nicely done my friend.
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Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/11/2017 10:32:00 PM
Thank you, Chris. I am sometimes quite sad about being so far from home. Most of the time, it's OK, but sometimes it hits me that the clock is ticking.
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