Rocking Chair

The watcher on her porch, alone,
Where Fortune lived in days bygone,
She knows the stories; knows the names
Of all the miners and their claims.

She came out here a slip of four
Calling it home for ninety more.
Shotgun in hands, she rocks her chair,
Guarding the miners and their claims.

She waits for packrats, dawn to dusk,
Who’d cart her town off brick and board,
Taking the markers of her life
With all the miners and their claims.

She loved too well the life that flamed
To say goodbye and limp away
Down dusty streets where whirlwinds play
‘Round all the miners and their claims.

The secrets of the sage-clad hills
Are safely stored inside her head;
Beyond the reach of stranger’s probes
Of all the miners and their claims.

Behind her vague blue eyes, she dreams
Her dreams of better days to come,
When smiling Fortune comes back home
To all the miners and their claims.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Gauthier Avatar
February 7, 2019 at 12:11 AM
Congrats on your well deserved win, David.
Toney Avatar
February 6, 2019 at 3:52 PM
David, I must say, you do not disappoint! Congratulations on your win on Mile 16 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest! Thank you so much for supporting my contests. By continuing to place in the contests you are accumulating points toward the final. ~Mark
Devonshire Avatar
February 6, 2019 at 3:48 PM
Wow, just imagine this woman spending 90 years in a once-fortunate prospecting area. You bring her and her character to life so well, David, that I enjoyed reading it a second time. Excellent! Congratulations on your win! Hugs, Carolyn
Man Avatar
June 25, 2018 at 10:00 PM
This is just a wonderful poem!!
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