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Going Home

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I haven’t been here for many many years. Finally I took the plunge to revisit my childhood haunts. I approach your deserted dilapidated old house where I'd spent so many happy hours with you and Grandpa – all I have left are precious memories. I can almost smell the aroma of freshly baked bread, which wafted from your kitchen. overgrown jungle where once red roses blossomed faded memories As we walk down the garden path, my young son looks up at me and squeezes my hand tightly. emerald velvet covering the cracked pathway time taking its toll Years have passed so quickly, but now I have returned to visit as I promised. Slowly my son and I walk to the churchyard where we find your gravestone. The only thing my son has is your photograph and my memories - he never got to meet his great grandmother. carved in black marble your name is all that remains river of tears flow 07~11~15

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James Inman

Date: 9/29/2022 7:06:00 PM

I have come to read some of the poems that I have fav'd over the years. This one I really liked. I know this was fictional, but it reminds me of how my wife felt when we took the kids to PR after both of her parents passed away. She insisted on raising our kids near my parents so they would know at least one set of their grandparents.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 2/10/2020 2:35:00 AM

Wow Jan, I can’t believe this is your first haibun! The emotions are raw and poignant....your haiku spot on! Bravo on your deserving win with this special gem I am putting straight into my Faves! Congratulations! I hope you write more of these. xxoo

Carole Duet

Date: 1/7/2019 6:50:00 PM

I remember reading this entrancing poem before and how could one forget it? It is so sentimental with such precious memories. Very lovely. Congrats on your placement in the contest, Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/7/2019 6:55:00 PM

Thanks Carole, it was my first attempt at the haibun form and I'm delighted to have such positive comments:-) hugs JanXX

Line Gauthier

Date: 1/5/2019 7:22:00 PM

Wow Jan. Super effective delivery of a very emotionally charged write. Congrats on your well deserved win.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/5/2019 7:31:00 PM

Thanks Line It was my first attempt at a haibun so i was delighted the sponsor liked this poem:-) hugs Jan xx

Craig Cornish

Date: 1/4/2019 9:14:00 PM

Jan, I was never a fan of Haibun...until now--well done and in a difficult form.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/5/2019 8:44:00 AM

I do appreciate your comment Craig, this was my first attempt at the form:-) hugs Jan xx

Janice Canerdy

Date: 1/4/2019 7:34:00 PM

CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win! Janice

Jan Allison
Date: 1/4/2019 7:36:00 PM

thanks janice :-) hugs Jan x

Mark Toney

Date: 1/4/2019 5:44:00 PM

Jan, I very much enjoyed your haibun. They can't take away our memories, yeah? Last contest you were the "Belle at the Ball," and now you're "Going Home" :) Congrats for your win on mile 8 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon contest! By continuing to place in the top ten you are accumulating points toward the final. ~Mark

Jan Allison
Date: 1/4/2019 5:47:00 PM

Thanks so much Mark, I was ready to stop the entries in the marathon as i was lagging behind I think someone tried to tie my shoelaces together lol I will try and see if I can find another poem for your next challenge:-) hugs jan xx

Carole Duet

Date: 9/2/2017 6:06:00 PM

So sad and yet so beautiful. Congratulations, Jan, on your placement in the contest.

Jan Allison
Date: 9/2/2017 6:11:00 PM

Thanks Carole i was delighted to be on the winner's list:-) hugs jan xx

Anisha Dutta

Date: 8/30/2017 1:17:00 PM

Congrats Jan to win on such an Emotional poem.Love.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/30/2017 1:25:00 PM

Thanks Anisha i was delighted to be on Debbie's list:-)hugs jan xx

Teddy Kimathi

Date: 8/28/2017 8:09:00 AM

Your verse touches a soul with a picture of vivid memories of emotional moments... Congrats Jan, for your WIN in the contest!! ;-)

Jan Allison
Date: 8/28/2017 8:49:00 AM

Thanks Teddy i was delighted to place in Debbie's contest especially as this was the first haibun I wrote back in 2015:-) hugs jan xx

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 8/26/2017 5:10:00 PM

Ahhh, home [sigh] the house I was born in & my grandparents home no longer exist so I do know the feeling. Keep up the FINE work. Congrads Light & Love

Jan Allison
Date: 8/26/2017 5:30:00 PM

Thanks Debbie:-) the poem is total fiction I never knew my paternal grandparents as they died many years before I was born I rarely saw my maternal grandfather and my mum's step step mother so I have few memories of my own childhood:-( hugs jan xx

Paul Callus

Date: 8/26/2017 2:06:00 PM

Undoubtedly a very sentimental poem, Jan, and also a worthy winning one, too; Congratulations!! Hugs // paul

Jan Allison
Date: 8/26/2017 2:15:00 PM

Thanks Paul I was delighted to place in Debbie's contest. This was my first ever haibun i wrote for a contest in 2015 and to be on her list was a real honour:-) hugs Jan xx

Dale Gregory Cozart

Date: 8/26/2017 8:48:00 AM

Congrats, Jan!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/26/2017 9:00:00 AM

Thanks Dale I hope folks can see there is a little more to me than a humourist:- hugs jan xx

Joseph May

Date: 8/25/2017 9:41:00 PM

A moving write Jan...you did the haikus very well...Congrats on your win

Jan Allison
Date: 8/26/2017 3:19:00 AM

Thanks for that comment Joseph as i do struggle with writing haiku. This was my first ever haibun and I am so delighted to be on Debbie's list:-) hugs Jan xx

Eve Roper

Date: 8/25/2017 4:46:00 PM

Back to congratulate you again on this win ~*

Jan Allison
Date: 8/25/2017 5:05:00 PM

Thanks Eve I am delighted to be on Debbie's winners list - this is the first haibun I ever wrote back in 2015:-) hugs Jan xx

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 8/25/2017 3:42:00 PM

Congrats on this sentimental piece!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/25/2017 4:36:00 PM

Many thanks Kim:-) hugs jan xx

Scott Thirtyseven

Date: 8/30/2015 8:48:00 AM

I'm tweeting the links to the top two tonight. So here goes, thanks again for supporting this contest.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/30/2015 10:00:00 AM

Oh thank you so much Scott :-)I am so delighted you liked my poem to place it so highly - I hope other's enjoy reading it too:-) hugs Jan xx

Jan Terry

Date: 8/23/2015 10:40:00 AM

Brings memories of my own grandmother. She never met my son, either. This story rings so true; Hard to believe it is fiction. Great write and masterful use of the haiku. Congrats on a well deserved win. Hugs. :) Jan

Jan Allison
Date: 8/23/2015 10:48:00 AM

Thanks Janece - yet it is pure fiction on my part I do love it when people think it is real makes me feel like I have done a credible write:-) hugs Jan xx

Joseph May

Date: 8/22/2015 8:48:00 PM

Great write tinged with sadness Jan...Congrats on your win

Anindya Mohan Tagore

Date: 8/22/2015 12:15:00 PM

Wonderful write... you brought us all to that place with the magic of your golden pen... hugs, Bobby

Jan Allison
Date: 8/22/2015 12:16:00 PM

Thanks Bobby:-) hugs Jan xx

James Inman

Date: 8/22/2015 10:35:00 AM

Jan, Jan, this is awesome! Sweet and tender. Great write!

James Inman
Date: 8/22/2015 1:58:00 PM

Imagination!! The mark of a great artist!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/22/2015 11:13:00 AM

Thanks James - its total fiction on my part I just was inspired by the contest:-) hugs jan xx

Edward Ebbs

Date: 8/22/2015 9:06:00 AM

Congrats on your win Jan, smiles for you :)

Jan Allison
Date: 8/22/2015 11:12:00 AM

Thanks Ed and I do like your new avatar:-) hugs Jan xx

D.W. Rodgers

Date: 8/21/2015 7:34:00 PM

A moving and deep blend of prose and haiku. Congrats on your win.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/21/2015 8:05:00 PM

Thanks so much Dave:-) hugs Jan xx

Abdul Malik

Date: 8/21/2015 10:27:00 AM

This is pretty good, Jan. You did damn good in this. Very well-written piece. Many congrats.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/21/2015 8:04:00 PM

Thanks so much for the lovely comment Abdul:-) hugs Jan xx

Scott Thirtyseven

Date: 8/21/2015 10:27:00 AM

WOW I wish I had seen those pictures before now. A wonderful write and your last sentence in the third prose is just magnificent. Thanks for entering this one into my contest.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/21/2015 8:04:00 PM

I was delighted to place so highly Scott thank you so much:-) I know some people don't like the photo feature on soup but I personally think these images do add to the overall theme of this poem:-) Hugs Jan xx