Home » Poems » Donna Jones » The Roll Top Desk

The Roll Top Desk

She sits alone..
Everyone has said their final goodbyes
To her husband of sixty some years
Her seven children have never known
Or at least never mentioned..
How she never smiled

Just day to day
Did her job
Like the old man said
Woman..
Bring me my......

Now there across the room
The forbidden..
His roll top desk

Head always hung low
Eyes never meeting his

She rises
Lifts her head
Approaches defiantly

Rolls back the heavy top
She's dusted a million times
She touches the things unfamiliar

 Keys to the truck she never learned to drive
A checkbook she didn't know how to use
Legal papers she knew nothing about
His favorite cigarettes she couldn't smoke
His stash of booze she despised
Sat in the chair that was no longer HIS

Was this feeling loss?

7-29-2013
©Donna Jones

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Cal Bambi The Word Artist

Date: 7/2/2018 7:37:00 AM

Hi Donna, I love your poem The Roll Top Desk. It reminded me of the life my Mother lived. I am also a poet and do all my writing at a Roll Top Desk. I have your poem framed and sitting on my desk.

Donna Jones
Date: 7/24/2018 7:56:00 AM

thank you Cal...that means alot to me....have a great day

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 3/13/2014 7:49:00 AM

Busy but a good week.

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 3/11/2014 9:29:00 AM

This is so powerful, I really felt this deep inside. So many woman of a certain generation are depicted here. So glad I reread this beauty.

Donna Jones
Date: 3/12/2014 10:44:00 PM

Thanks Richard..hope you are having a great week...

Alozor Michael Ikechukwu

Date: 8/23/2013 5:16:00 AM

Captivating read...

Donna Jones
Date: 8/23/2013 4:38:00 PM

Thank you very much

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 8/7/2013 6:57:00 PM

Again so many woman lived like this, the woman's role, I bet a lot still do and why? why? Congrad's on your win. Light & Love

Donna Jones
Date: 8/23/2013 4:33:00 PM

Thanks so much Debbie....sorry so late...so little time in the summer....I just know some people are stronger than others....

Keith Bickerstaffe

Date: 8/7/2013 6:45:00 PM

Some memorable phrases here... '...how she never smiled,' '...she's dusted a million times.' A poignant piece so well delivered. BRAVO Donna! Best wishes, Keith

Donna Jones
Date: 8/23/2013 4:28:00 PM

Hey Keith....thanks....hope all is well.....:-)

Mustapha Mohammed

Date: 8/7/2013 12:52:00 AM

Your story was inspiring Donna.Enjoyed reading this back here in the caribbean isle of Trinidad.

Donna Jones
Date: 8/23/2013 4:18:00 PM

Thanks so much....ahhh wish I could visit just once somewhere like that..

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 8/6/2013 3:11:00 PM

Wow...the tone of this is brilliant. The sudden abscence of Patriarchy is is an exhilarating mix of loss and freedom, simultaneously. So well written. Congratulations. SuZ

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:14:00 PM

Thank you very much...

Audrey Haick

Date: 8/5/2013 9:02:00 PM

Congratulations on a very fine win, Donna! Excellent!

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:15:00 PM

Appreciated .:-)

Eileen Manassian

Date: 8/5/2013 12:05:00 PM

MD....how touching! WOW! This is so true of many women here. You captured the essence of liberation so well here. I'm so proud of you! Congrats on your win! HUGS!!!

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:16:00 PM

Hugs hugs .thanks

Skat A

Date: 8/5/2013 9:50:00 AM

Donna, Congratulations!!! ~SKAT~

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:17:00 PM

Thanks. :-)

Delysia Hendricks

Date: 8/5/2013 9:38:00 AM

Well done on a super win, Donna. Richard knows how to pick them. Certainly well-deserved. Licia :-)

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:17:00 PM

So nice of you...thanks...

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 8/5/2013 9:02:00 AM

Donna, ... Congratulations in Richard's "Girl Rising." contest.... always *LINDA

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:18:00 PM

Hey....thanks!

Poet. Undertaker

Date: 8/5/2013 8:44:00 AM

really a great one.this poem shows the might of love the other way (in loss)touches deep. great write Donna.Congrats on your win. (:c Jenish.

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:20:00 PM

Very kind..thank you

Joseph May

Date: 8/5/2013 8:16:00 AM

congrats on a great win Donna

Donna Jones
Date: 8/6/2013 9:21:00 PM

Hi Joseph...thanks

Cherie Thomas

Date: 8/5/2013 6:23:00 AM

I have known these woman,,they where.locked in a time period which was.difficult, to challenge, in that dominant generation. Excellent write. Very enlightened, read truly enjoyed Donna:) ty4sharing..cheriex

Cherie Thomas
Date: 8/5/2013 8:28:00 AM

Congratulations on your win:)

Carrie Richards

Date: 8/2/2013 4:50:00 PM

My grandmother was very much the same...... It was so different in those days for women to branch out on their own.......it took such courage! Well done, Donna!

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 6:04:00 PM

Than you a lot Carrie ..

Delysia Hendricks

Date: 8/1/2013 6:43:00 PM

A powerful write, Donna. Thank you for highlighting the scourge of female oppression. Well done, Donna. :-)

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 5:59:00 PM

:-) thanks delysia

Joseph May

Date: 7/31/2013 2:45:00 PM

a powerful piece illustrating the plight of women in another era....well penned

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 5:58:00 PM

Thanks Joseph

Sara Kendrick

Date: 7/31/2013 10:44:00 AM

This work describes very defined roles in a family..Roles that say so very loud statements..However,some women were worse off in that the husband's control was more subtle..I hope that the future for women will be much better than previous years..Enjoyed reading this unique, descriptive and expressive work..I am glad that I chose it to read today..Thanks for the visit to my work..Sara

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 5:56:00 PM

Hi Sara....yes things have for the most part changed...since women started working outside the home...but when they were totally dependent on men for money they felt trapped I guess or maybe just a different time in history...many things in history have changed for the better in my lifetime...and hopefully many more..

Robert Johnson

Date: 7/30/2013 3:54:00 PM

Your final question say's so much. Just what she thought without the crutch. She sat there in the masters chair. With so many emotions in the air. Peace. :)

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 5:53:00 PM

Thank you Robert.....lost more than loss I think....

Michael J. Falotico

Date: 7/30/2013 2:49:00 PM

Excellent piece of deep soul poetry.. Michael

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 5:52:00 PM

Very kind compliment

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/30/2013 12:30:00 AM

oh boy, now THIS is good stuff. I LOVE it. Hope it gets top place!!! fave

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 5:52:00 PM

Thanks Andrea....and for the honor too.....really...

Lucilla Carrillo

Date: 7/29/2013 10:02:00 PM

Hi Donna; i like this poem about the roll top desk. Back in the early 1960's I use to have one of those. I just loved it . I thought it as the greatest thing. I have a sister that never learned to drive. Thanks for sharing and good luck in the contest...... Lucilla

Donna Jones
Date: 8/2/2013 5:51:00 PM

Hi Lucilla....they are nice pieces of furniture...glad you liked the poem and thanks....