Connie Marcum Wong | + Follow Poet |
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Notes About The Poem

Shades of Roses

All their peach faces have now bowed their heads,
Eighteen lovely roses cut from their beds.

In their wilt lies a sadness I have known
Of inferior complexities tone.

Seeing them like this caused me to recall
Tortures of childhood from when I was small.

Unfriendly faces greeted me at school.
Over and over I felt such a fool.

It's hard to make friends when you're the new kid.
Shy and obnoxious, followed, I just hid.

Then just as I finally found a friend,
Uprooted from that home, it would all end.

I felt like a nomad moving around.
No place to call home, staid on solid ground.

With humble clothing and holes in my shoes
It didn't take much to give me the blues.

But children grow up, and when they have grown
They can make a new life to call their own.

Yet there are still shadows that linger on
From the sadness of childhood, now long gone.

My kids had it better, this I made sure.
No school after school for them to endure.

But we all have lessons to help us learn...
There-in lies the gold that love helps us earn.

© July 19, 2016

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Debbie Duncan Date: 4/10/2017 7:27:00 PM nicely done, I do know about holes in your shoes, walking to school in the rain. My mother never had a car. Cuz she didn't drive. Now you got me thinking about my mom, I wrote a poem about her called Lillian. :) Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 4/12/2017 7:04:00 AM We didn't have a car either. I will go check out your poem. Thanks Debbie.; )

James Inman Date: 8/9/2016 9:55:00 AM Connie, I can commiserate with you. I lived in 7 different places and went to 4 different schools by the time I was 10 and in the 3rd grade. I have always been very introverted probably because of this but I have also found it easy to adapt and have found benefits and appreciation for what my new surrounds have to offer. (Nothing to do with the military) A lovely heart felt write. Login to Reply

Vladislav Raven Date: 8/8/2016 5:08:00 AM Hi Connie, it is sad the way kids can be sometimes. I was never the new kid at school. Funny thing is the new kids were treated better than me but i could understand that. I never felt bad towards them at all. You are correct, from what happens in our childhood we can learn and make sure that doesn't happen to your own children. This is a deep and powerful write Connie. The content really touches the reader. This is a seven and a fave. Hugs....Mike. XX Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 8/8/2016 10:15:00 PM Wow....a fave! That makes my day Mike! Thank you so much. I appreciate your insights on this poem as well. Mahalo! ; )

CayCay Jennings Date: 7/27/2016 9:11:00 AM CONTINUED ... an upside once an adolescent when the lifestyle emotionally hits us. I wonder if you wrote when young. Do you know how to answer when asked where you are from? A very touching write in very personal ways, this poem is mine to embrace if you don't mind - I want to keep it with me ... CayCay Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/28/2016 3:01:00 AM CayCay...yes, I am honored you liked this poem enough to fave it. Thank you also for your thoughtful comments. We are birds of a feather. Thank you so much CayCay. Love, Connie

CayCay Jennings Date: 7/27/2016 9:08:00 AM You meant it when you wrote the you relate to my army brat pains/aches AND blessings. While never poor (my Mom tells me we struggled early in Dad's career, but I never noticed), every other couplet is about me and I am saving this in favs, you did an excellent job describing emotions I have yet to accurately convey. Just about ever year, for approximately a month, my name was, 'new kid.' So nice to talk and share with another person named, 'new kid' and, I hope, that like me, you always found Login to Reply

Pashang Salehi Date: 7/27/2016 2:57:00 AM Very nice Connie, we do our best for our kids to do better. Yes, there are still shadows from our past. I have something about my shadows as well..... Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 7/25/2016 5:31:00 PM You dug very deep after introducing us to the symbol of the wilting roses. VERY powerful message and good writing, my friend. Login to Reply

Daver Austin Date: 7/21/2016 12:30:00 PM There are similarities - Loss of childhood friends was what saddened me. Every time I found a good friend he would be gone in a short time. Hard times didn't seem to bother me, but it finally killed my parent. Kids have no idea of responsibilities. Your love pulled you through, Connie. Love, daver Login to Reply Daver Austin Date: 7/29/2016 9:51:00 AM "When life gives you lemons you make lemonade." Priceless! Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/23/2016 11:15:00 PM It is all part of life and lessons we are here to learn I feel Daver. I have always believed when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Sorry you had to go through that same kind of experience daver. Love Connie

Nette Onclaud Date: 7/20/2016 4:50:00 PM there is softness in this wrenching verse, connie... relishing your artwords!..huggs Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/20/2016 5:17:00 PM Thank you Nette. I regret nothing. I lived and learned and am content with the life I have made for myself. Cheers, Connie u

Wendy Rycroft Date: 7/20/2016 9:09:00 AM What a sad but beautiful poem, it hurts to hear that people can bully, we ignore it and pretend bad stuff does not happen x sorry x But good came out in the end x Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/20/2016 12:37:00 PM I never thought of it as bulluing Wendy. It was just kids being kids. Now days things are different. I think people pay more attention to their kids, I know I sure do. Other kids had it much worse that me. Thanks a lot for your nice comment Wendy. : ) xxoo

Joanna Daniel Date: 7/20/2016 12:48:00 AM Beautiful comparison of wilted roses with a nomadic childhood:) Love the ending:) Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/20/2016 1:01:00 PM Thank you very much Jo. ; )

Viv Wigley Date: 7/19/2016 11:50:00 PM A poignant write, Connie, that finishes in such an uplifting way, worth a read for the last two lines alone. Love it. Viv x Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/20/2016 12:06:00 AM I am happy you appreciated my ending lines. Who wants to go through life without learning something? Those are the kind of riches you can take with you. Thanks so much Viv. Really nice hearing from you. I hope all is well? Blessings, Connie : )

Laura Leiser Date: 7/19/2016 11:12:00 PM Beautifully written and with a sadness that is poignant, Connie. Wondered if you grew up in a military family? Cyber hugs :) Login to Reply Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/19/2016 11:20:00 PM No, it would appear that way, but my mom was a kind of Gypsy who was always moving. I went to 15 different schools by the time 9th grade was over. Thank you for your nice comment Laura. : )