Song In the Dark

~
There are legends I've heard, old songs in the dark
of the old folklore tales, and the old gypsy trails,
where traveling caravans of rugged old wagons
still echo, with longing, in valleys below...

Where each treasured belonging,
was packed in a hurry 
all the stories, all the worry, all the heartache would travel
all the sunshine, and the sorrow, celebrations to marvel
and  dreams of tomorrow, were kept on the road....

The trail was a friend, and the loam was their home
Their needs were quite small,
They didn't expect, to be wealthy or rich.
All the riches they had, were scarce and so few...but they knew
that happiness could be the sun on your back, or a sky, wide and blue...
Not much to expect,  and not even respect...
would be theirs to be owned.

As the twilight would come, under a red setting sun,
with the fragrance of loam, and the tired walk done... 
they would bed under trees where the heather was strewn
they would burn a small fire, and prepare a warm meal,
with smoke in the breeze, while the whippoorwill's song 
and accordion tunes, would drift by the face of the moon

On their heels was the dust, in the noontime sun
They rose with the dawn, and the gold of the past, 
wearing the colorful hope of tomorrow's new task 
Working wherever a meal, and dollar would come
Then moving again with their band until dusk
over, and over and over again...

Some called them tramps, or small petty thieves
But the heart of the matter, was the love of the sun,
the love of the life that came from the moon,
from the stars, and the grass, and the rust of the leaves

For those who encountered, and who gave them a chance
could learn many things by watching them dance,
and learn many things by hearing them sing,
and pay close attention to how much they knew
that fortune is something that comes from inside
It comes with the pride, of knowing what matters
The tattered, lost life of the old gypsy tribes  ....
      might be the saddest of stories, or loneliest song... 
                    a song that has faded,
                                that has dwindled and died....






_______________________________________
5/18/12 
101 in a ROW contest - 12
Sponsored by PD
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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12
Lamoureux Avatar
September 12, 2016 at 8:35 AM
Like the romantic notion of the gypsy life. A well expressed piece. Congrats on your win.
Arnone Avatar
September 9, 2016 at 11:33 AM
Those poor, disappearing Gypsy tribes -- and, they were so good at reversing the curse of lycanthopy. ;-) Congrats on your win....
A   Avatar
September 8, 2016 at 10:58 AM
Carrie, Congratulations on your awesome win. Stop by my blog "Tonight I will Write" and enjoy your win. Always & Forever ~LINDA~
Guzzi Avatar
March 21, 2014 at 7:58 PM
Such a rich, sad & long history, I think there still are Traveler's in the UK & EU? Congrad's on your win. Light & Love
Johnson Avatar
March 21, 2014 at 7:17 PM
I remember when they came through and Daddy let them bed down on our land. I thought they must have a wonderful life. Well done as always Carrie. Congratulations. Love, Joyce
Callus Avatar
March 21, 2014 at 3:05 PM
Congrats Carrie. Loved this poem with its imagery taking us back through time. // paul
Dillard Avatar
March 21, 2014 at 1:52 PM
I'm far from gypsy at heart, but, can feel and see the picture you paint with this effort, Congratulations, RAY
Onclaud Avatar
March 21, 2014 at 11:40 AM
you give darkness a new meaning, carrie... a deep write!.. sweet congrats!,, huggs
Stephens Avatar
March 21, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Hi Carrie, I was quite carried away with thoughts of olden times you evoked in your excellent portrayal. Congrats on your win. Regards Theresa xx
Mehta Avatar
March 21, 2014 at 6:33 AM
It was a pleasure to read the poem you consider your favorite and best. Congratulations on the win, carrie
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 7:51 PM
This is almost a forgotten era. Your poem brings it back to life. There was a kind of mystery, a touch of class and a freedom in those tribes that few will ever know. Guess if I can't look at Norman Rockwell, I can read your poetry and get the same effect.
Deschler Avatar
September 25, 2013 at 4:32 PM
Wow! I really enjoyed the story you told here. I loved the rhymes, and the imagery was also amazing. This was a great entry for the "epic" contest. Congratulations on your win, as well! Excellent work, Carrie!...Thank you for the nice comments, once again!
Andresen Avatar
September 25, 2013 at 6:25 AM
- I looked into the past winners list .. where I found this .... a second place!! - Well deserved!! - CONGRATULATIONS, CARRIE !!! - oxox / / Anne-Lise :)
Mehta Avatar
September 25, 2013 at 4:27 AM
Congrats on the win in the contest, Carrie
Adams Avatar
September 24, 2013 at 7:20 PM
since I first started reading this, the song "gypsy's, Tramps and Thieves" has been playing in my head...you tell this tale beautifully in your unique poetic style...congrats on your win :)
Hamilton Avatar
September 24, 2013 at 5:19 PM
true romany gypsy's are wonderful people with great honor you do them proud congrats on win in epic contest Shadow x smile
A  Avatar
September 24, 2013 at 4:52 PM
Nice win Carrie.......Congrats................. Love~SKAT~
Cogan Avatar
September 24, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Beautiful. Congrats on the win. I particularly liked the line: 'As the twilight would come, under a red setting sun, with the fragrance of loam, and the tired walk done...' - just lovely imagery here. Well done. Shane
A   Avatar
September 24, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Carrie, , :)Congratulations!!! Thanks for supporting my EPIC contest with this amazing deep imagery. Exactly what I was looking for. If you'd like:-) stop by my latest poem ""In The Stars"" OR my latest blog! " Wartime Memories " at -----> http://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry_blogs/blog_detail.aspx?BlogID=15948&PoetID=18720 always & forever **LINDA
Dietrich Avatar
May 28, 2012 at 4:08 PM
I really enjoyed yours. I love how you included nature and their love of sun and moon. How you very easily got the other words into it: tramps and theives. sure wish I'd thought of that. Congrats!
Onclaud Avatar
May 24, 2012 at 11:42 PM
congrats on your fascinating win, carrie.:) huggs!
A   Avatar
May 24, 2012 at 6:58 PM
Carrie, another wonderful win,, Congratulations in, Lisa's contest. It's been sweet reading many of the winners out here this week.. Take care~ PD
Brown Avatar
May 24, 2012 at 6:59 AM
Congratulations on another well deserved win Carrie. Love, Carol
Williams Avatar
May 24, 2012 at 1:48 AM
Carrie congrats on your well deserved win..David
Madonsela Avatar
May 22, 2012 at 11:05 AM
carrie. What an amaizing poem. I became an instant fan of this poem. I actual added it to my fav, poems and poets. Such talent so reach wow. You blew me away with this one.
12
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