Tarnished Reflections


Tarnished Reflections


September, nineteen-fifty-eight,
     aboard a large Marine Corps base,  
          with child, I shared with moms so great.
               My friend came over to our place,  

aboard a large Marine Corps base...  
     asked me to guard her precious one.  
          My friend came over to our place;  
               to hold and watch her, oh, what fun! 

Asked me to guard her precious one; 
     her bottle done, slept on my bed.
          To hold and watch her, oh, what fun!
               Mom picked her up, and off they fled. 

Her bottle done, slept on my bed.  
     But that next day, it haunts me still. 
          Mom picked her up, and off they fled... 
               to face the pain of fate's grim will.  

But that next day, it haunts me still. 
     Forever, I will sadly mourn, 
          to face the pain of fate's grim will...
               the crib death of her sweet newborn. 

Forever, I will sadly mourn, 
     with child, I shared with moms so great,
          the crib death of her sweet newborn.
               September, nineteen-fifty-eight.


Sandra M. Haight

~3rd Place~
Contest: Tarnished Reflections
Sponsor: John Lawless
Judged: 04/01/2018  

True Story - Late September 1958

babyremembersadpantoum

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Line Gauthier

Date: 4/4/2018 11:22:00 PM

Beautiful, Sandra. Congrats on your podium finish.

Sandra Haight
Date: 4/9/2018 2:29:00 PM

Thank you so much, Line. Hugs, Sandra

Judith S

Date: 4/2/2018 6:53:00 PM

Tears. Beautifully expressed Sandra. Congratulations on your well deserved win!! ~Judy

Sandra Haight
Date: 4/3/2018 4:37:00 PM

Thank you, Judith, for your visit, congratulations, and uplifting comments. Much appreciated. Hugs, Sandra

Susan Gentry

Date: 4/1/2018 3:54:00 PM

Goodness! What a touching, powerfully written Pantoum! I never particularly liked this form until now. How sad this topic is anyway, a personal experience is painfully unthinkable. This was written so well.

Sandra Haight
Date: 4/3/2018 4:36:00 PM

Yes, Susan...still sad to me after all these years. Thank you so much for your congratulations and supportive comments. Hugs, Sandra

John Lawless

Date: 4/1/2018 10:30:00 AM

A masterfully written Pantoum. It hit me hard as a close friend of my son just had a similar situation with a 2-1/2 month old. The pain will never fade. Thank you for participating in the contest.