Elton Camp Poet Blank verse

Miz Potter Goes Home

Miz Potter Goes Home

By Elton Camp

I’m going home later today, you know
My oldest son's coming to take me back 
The attendant smiled and patted her arm
She had heard it every day now for years

Miz Potter donned her blue dress for the trip
Smeared a bit of rouge onto her wrinkled face
Her few possessions she placed in her suitcase
A faded photograph of husband and children

My man must wonder where I’ve been so long
I’ll cook up a mess of fried chicken for him
It always was his favorite and I did it the best
And biscuits—there has to be biscuits with it

The crops must be about ready now to come in
I can pick three hundred pound of cotton easy
Some lean over and pack it into their sacks
But I go along on my knees so it’s easier

I sure hope our old cow ain’t gone dry
I’ll churn us butter like Maw learned me
The children all love my hot apple pie
But sugar, we have to stop at the store

I’ll sit here at the window and watch
I can see when he turns in off the road
If you’ll help me, I’ll go right on out
I wouldn’t want Joshua to have to wait

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Ilene Bauer June 27, 2013 at 3:56 PM oh, so sad! i love this poignant picture of miz potter and all the little details you included to make it sound so real... Elton Camp June 27, 2013 at 4:33 PM This is a composite of old folks I've seen in the Albertville Nursing Home where a number of my relatives have lived. Some of them never get any visitors, yet continue to speak lovingly about their families. Miz Potter's husband is dead and their home lies in ruins, but dementia spares her from that too-harsh reality. Such cases are truly tragic.