Sunbonnet

She shuffled by our house, so slow and bent,
No second thought of where the lady went.
On her return, no one around to see.
A shaded path, she blended with the trees.

We children always giggled, as she passed.
A group emboldens others to harrass.
Our high pitched jeering from a hidden niche,
The frail, sunbonnet lady, we yelled "witch".

One day a fever kept me home from class.
I saw her weary shuffle down the path.
My over-active need to know convened.
I followed with excitement and unseen.

A house engulfed by weeds grown thick and tall,
As vines of every species claimed the walls.
Around the side, a window to peek in; 
A man in bed with twisted, throbbing limbs.
.
The lady rubbed a salve to ease his pain.
And hummed a long forgotten song's refrain.

I blurted all I'd seen to mom and dad.
He stood in shocked alert and mom grew sad.

How soon the path was plowed into a drive,
A grocer truck and red-light cops arrived.
I last recall a fancy bike, brand new.
Events seem blurred, with growing up to do.
.


Gene Bourne.
07-17-14




.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 8/31/2014 5:56:00 PM
I read this one for pure enjoyment, and was caught up in the storyline and mischevious advendures of a young lad and what we learned though curiosity. He got a big dose of it here. The plotline of the protagonist read like a short story but with the fluid cadence that iambic pentameter can give the reader when written with quality as this piece was. Much enjoyed my friend GB. Thomas
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Gene Bourne
Date: 8/31/2014 6:55:00 PM
Thomas, from one so gifted in plot and character development, I consider your comments very special and greatly appreciate them. This poem is about half biographical and half fiction. Snippets from our past and the emotion remembered often yield the poems we enjoy most to write. I look forward to reading your future posts....Your friend....Gene.
Date: 8/5/2014 10:20:00 PM
Beautifully recaptured Gene. I have enjoyed this reading... For some reasons my comments are being posted to previous poems I have read and therefore, repeat the post to the one intended... Soup must be having problems.... Verlena :0))s.
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Gene Bourne
Date: 8/6/2014 5:32:00 AM
Hi, Verlena...PS has been having some format problems. I would post a four stanza poem and it would post as a long vertical line with one or two words in it. ....I contacted ConnecTech, who maintainw my P'C and fied it. Thanks for the comment...YF....Gene.
Date: 8/2/2014 5:19:00 PM
When We are young We do stuff innocently and without thought,till life experiences make us realize some people suffer in silence..and are not the boogie man or woman we thought they are.This poem has a powerful message and am adding it to my fvs!!!Charma
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Gene Bourne
Date: 8/6/2014 5:40:00 AM
Thanks, Charmaine ....You worded your comment beautifully and captured the theme of the poem so well. It's alwaus a pleasure to read your comments. I hope all is well with you and yours....Your Friend...Gene.
Date: 7/19/2014 4:25:00 PM
This is an awesome write and you make such a great point with this poem. I will put it in one of my fav. It struck the heart. Well done Gene. love phyl
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Gene Bourne
Date: 7/19/2014 5:17:00 PM
How good to hear from you, phyl. Such comments would "make any writer's day". You sure made mine...You were among the first members to read and comment on one of my poems, which makes you a Charter PS Friend. It's such an honor to have one of my humble poems on a fav list of such a respected member. Love to you, as well Gene Bourne.
Date: 7/17/2014 6:20:00 AM
Wonderful write Gene. the phrase dont judge a book by its cover comes to mind - we can be too quick to make a judgement and your poem proves this is true. Hugs Jan xxx
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Gene Bourne
Date: 7/23/2014 7:37:00 PM
Correction....I wrote "AND a slightly down day", but meant to write..."ON a slightly down day"..........(while I'm confessing, I often write "And" when I meant "An"..... and can't spell "nescceessary.....Y/f, Gene
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Jan Allison
Date: 7/18/2014 4:43:00 PM
:-) Hugs Jan and I hope your day gets better and better xxx
Bourne Avatar
Gene Bourne
Date: 7/18/2014 4:41:00 PM
Jan...you've really given me a "pick me up" and a slightly down day. So true about judging people. This poem is partially biographical. Our street dead-ended at a wooded area and there was an elderly lady who took care of an invalid husband. My parents had a phone installed...and Dad was contantly checking on them. Finally the lady's daughter came...and the couple were taken to Phoenix, Ariz. Thanks for commenting....YF.....Gene.
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