Tom Cunningham Poet Rhyme

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 August 4, 2022 at 4:02 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 August 4, 2022 at 4:24 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 August 13, 2019 at 12:06 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 August 13, 2019 at 2:26 PM Thank you very much Susan, it was challenging keeping each line eight syllables. I'm happy you liked it. Tom

Linda Milgate August 7, 2019 at 10:22 PM wonderful poem and so true! very direct! enjoyed that directness with rhyme. Tom Cunningham August 8, 2019 at 2:48 AM Thank you very much Linda, happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Gordon Mcconnell July 21, 2019 at 3:23 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 July 22, 2019 at 2:16 AM Thank you Gordon, like you say many return and find so many changes and the pleasant memories gone forever. Tom

Ann Gilmour July 21, 2019 at 3:19 AM Only just seen your POTD and sending so many congrats for this wonderful poem Tom. With kindest thoughts Ann xx Tom Cunningham July 21, 2019 at 3:32 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 July 20, 2019 at 11:02 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 July 21, 2019 at 2:00 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 July 19, 2019 at 7:50 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 July 20, 2019 at 2:28 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 July 19, 2019 at 12:52 PM Congratulations on POTD! Tom Cunningham July 19, 2019 at 2:25 PM Thank you for your return visit Kim. Tom

Constance La France July 19, 2019 at 10:02 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 July 19, 2019 at 2:28 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 July 18, 2019 at 4:51 AM Congratulations on your wonderful POTD! I loved this Tom! : ) xxoo Tom Cunningham July 18, 2019 at 6:36 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 July 17, 2019 at 12:01 AM A bittersweet poem on going home. Nicely penned. Congratulations on POTD! Tom Cunningham July 17, 2019 at 3:14 AM Thank you very much Jeanne. Tom

Brenda Chiri July 16, 2019 at 8:29 PM Tom lovely write! Congrats on your win!;) Tom Cunningham July 17, 2019 at 3:11 AM Thank you very much Brenda. Tom

Brandy Nicole July 16, 2019 at 8:09 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 July 17, 2019 at 3:13 AM Thank you Brandy, revisiting old haunts certainly stirs up old memories. Tom

Robert Lindley July 16, 2019 at 2:38 PM Huge congratulations on your very fine poem being honored as POTD.. I enjoyed each and every verse of this wonderful creation. Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 2:48 PM Thank you very much Robert, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Anne-Lise Andresen July 16, 2019 at 2:27 PM - Congratulations, Tom :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 2:46 PM Thank you Anne, quite a nice surprise today. Tom

Kim Rodrigues July 16, 2019 at 1:18 PM A great story with the refrain! Nicely done, Tom! Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 1:22 PM Thank you very much Kim, Tom

CayCay Godwin July 16, 2019 at 1:02 PM Just so crisp, many feelings delivered with poetic brevity - a great job, Tom. Poetry hugs ... CayCay Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 1:06 PM Thank you very much CayCay, glad that you liked it. I hope you're well. Tom

Alexis Y. July 16, 2019 at 10:45 AM Hi Tom, I'm just coming back to congratulations on getting the poem of day. It was well deserved:-) Alexis Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 10:54 AM Thank you Alexis, wasn't expecting and it was a nice surprise this morning. Tom.

Sunlite Wanter July 16, 2019 at 10:12 AM Very touching, Tom. Congratulations! Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 10:18 AM Thank you very much for your congratulations Sunlite. Tom.

Eve Roper July 16, 2019 at 9:54 AM You have put together a verse with me memories and emotions, well done, Paul. Congratulations on POTD.. Hugs Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 10:17 AM Thank you Eve, I'm happy that you liked it. Tom

Maria Williams July 16, 2019 at 9:46 AM Such an excellent poem Tom. I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Congratulations on POTD my dear friend....Maria Hugs Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 10:15 AM Thank you very much Maria for your good wishes. I hope you are well. Tom

Heidi Sands July 16, 2019 at 8:52 AM Congratulations for POTD Tom :) Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 9:07 AM Thank you for your return visit Heidi and congratulations. Tom

Arturo Michael July 16, 2019 at 8:00 AM I enjoyed the reading...Congratulations Tom... Really nice one,,, Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 8:25 AM Thank you Arturo, happy you enjoyed the read. Tom

Winged Warrior July 16, 2019 at 7:54 AM You sentimental old fool you lol...lovely write my friend and Congrats!! on POTD!!...sending my sentiments...^WW^ :o) Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 8:24 AM Haha love your comment W.W. Tom

Silent One July 16, 2019 at 7:37 AM My mum still lives in my childhood home..so I'm lucky. A nostalgic poem worthy of potd... Congrats. Tom Cunningham July 16, 2019 at 8:24 AM Thank you very much S.O, sadly my mother is no longer here, enjoy every moment. Tom

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