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Many, Many Long Years Ago

Going home after forty years I came back to conquer my fears Brush with the law forced me to go Many, many long years ago. The old homestead no longer stood With its old porch of sun bleached wood My folks had died, I got to know Many, many long years ago. Met with friends , they too had got old Drank some beers, old stories were told We'd built a dam, stopped rivers flow Many, many long years ago. Was going home a big mistake? Had to know, a chance I did take Demons gone , wasn't always so Many, many long years ago. Written 15th July 2019. Writing Challenge 1, July 2019 - Repeating Refrain Poetry Contest. Sponsored by Dear Heart.

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Valsa George

Date: 8/4/2022 4:02:00 AM

On going home after so many years, there would be a sea of changes ! We might feel as if we have landed in an alien land with no familiar faces and no body to recognize us ! Really enjoyed this poem, Tom........

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/4/2022 4:24:00 AM

Thank you very much Valsa, when I visit places after a long time the memories of what it was like are shattered and I wish I hadn't bothered. Glad you enjoyed it. Tom

Susan Ashley

Date: 8/13/2019 12:06:00 PM

I enjoyed the poignant introspective spirit of your lovely poem, Tom. Such a beautiful, intimate and heartfelt piece. Please accept my belated double congratulations on your wonderful contest win and your well deserved POTD honors. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/13/2019 2:26:00 PM

Thank you very much Susan, it was challenging keeping each line eight syllables. I'm happy you liked it. Tom

Linda Milgate

Date: 8/7/2019 10:22:00 PM

wonderful poem and so true! very direct! enjoyed that directness with rhyme.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/8/2019 2:48:00 AM

Thank you very much Linda, happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Sandra L. Weiss

Date: 7/24/2019 12:32:00 PM

POTD!! Congratulations Tom, happy for you. This is a meaningful verse, so well written. Going back, not sure what we are going back to. But I think it is something we may need to do for ourselves.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/24/2019 12:54:00 PM

Thank you very much Sandra, hope al is well with you. Going back to an old haunt can sometimes be disappointing as so much changes and happy memories you had fade, I wont be going back to my childhood place as I want to remember how it was. Tom

Gordon Mcconnell

Date: 7/21/2019 3:23:00 PM

Such a lovely piece Tom, always difficult to go back to where one has so many memories, sometimes it's special, sometimes it's not quite what it was. Congrats on POTD

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/22/2019 2:16:00 AM

Thank you Gordon, like you say many return and find so many changes and the pleasant memories gone forever. Tom

Ann Gilmour

Date: 7/21/2019 3:19:00 AM

Only just seen your POTD and sending so many congrats for this wonderful poem Tom. With kindest thoughts Ann xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/21/2019 3:32:00 AM

Thank you very much Ann, its hard to keep up sometimes, one needs to be on soup 24/7 but life gets in the way lol. Have a great day. Tom

Debjani Mitra

Date: 7/20/2019 11:02:00 PM

Such a unique creation on the theme,.. most others wrote on conventional love.. I liked this very much. Congratulate you for the placements this piece won

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/21/2019 2:00:00 AM

Thank you very much Debjani, I could have wrote more but we could only use four stanza's and 8 syllables, quite a challenge, happy you liked it. Tom

Pandita Sietesantos

Date: 7/19/2019 7:50:00 PM

Double congratulations for POTD and for your wonderful win in Dear Heart's contest! It reminded me of that great sense of nostalgia and joyful expectations when I thought of returning home - only the musings and the reality were so vastly different! Awesome write! Hugs. Pandita

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/20/2019 2:28:00 AM

Thank you very much Pandita, on both counts . Many have their memories shattered when they return home after a long absence, but they say nothing stays the same. Tom.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 7/19/2019 12:52:00 PM

Congratulations on POTD!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/19/2019 2:25:00 PM

Thank you for your return visit Kim. Tom

Constance La France

Date: 7/19/2019 10:02:00 AM

Tom, congratulations on your win in my Writing Challenge with this great poem, going back to the home your remember is hard to do, I went back to the neighborhood of my childhood and it was a slum, wish I had kept the beautiful memories instead.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/19/2019 2:28:00 PM

Thank you Constance, and also for hosting , I know what you mean I'm reluctant to go back to my old neighbourhood because it's changed and not for the better. Tom.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 7/18/2019 4:51:00 AM

Congratulations on your wonderful POTD! I loved this Tom! : ) xxoo

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/18/2019 6:36:00 AM

Thank you Connie, would love to have added more but we were only allowed four stanzas and eight syllables per line, happy you liked it. Tom

Jeanne Mcgee

Date: 7/17/2019 12:01:00 AM

A bittersweet poem on going home. Nicely penned. Congratulations on POTD!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/17/2019 3:14:00 AM

Thank you very much Jeanne. Tom

Brenda Chiri

Date: 7/16/2019 8:29:00 PM

Tom lovely write! Congrats on your win!;)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/17/2019 3:11:00 AM

Thank you very much Brenda. Tom

Brandy Nicole

Date: 7/16/2019 8:09:00 PM

With moments and memories being tucked somewhere deep inside the heart. Sometimes they bring us back to another time, another place. Congratulations Tom, on Poem of the Day. ~ Brandy

Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/17/2019 3:13:00 AM

Thank you Brandy, revisiting old haunts certainly stirs up old memories. Tom