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Where Once We Played

Across our childhood’s street we trod on carpet lawn and holy sod. We walked along where some had prayed. Where once we played, he now is laid. The dead’s abodes we visited. But times we ran and sometimes hid. Such escapades by fancy made! Where once we played, he now is laid. Our bikes we’d ride on many a track that wound around and further back. A decade near this place I stayed. Where once we played, he now is laid. He left. We followed, each our way. until the fateful sorry day we all returned and farewells bade. Where once we played, he now is laid. Another decade passed, then two. Cruel time -its passing how I rue. My place for his I would not trade. Where once we played, he now is laid. *Dedicated to my brother Dale, who died much too young and was buried across the street from our old family house in a place called the Greenwood Cemetery, a very large one where kids rode bikes and played. Well, at least WE did!

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014




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Date: 10/4/2014 5:24:00 PM
I remember when I read this poem the first time...and it made me cry...I was so touched...I thought my heart...I thought it was going to burst...when there's an arrest...they have to crack the rib cage...to resuscitate. These words were the illness and the remedy. All I knew was that I read something...no larger than a speck...moved me...changed me just a tiny bit...no larger than a speck...that is what a poet does they take a little something from us...replace it with something grand...
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Date: 10/2/2014 9:25:00 PM
Excellent poem.
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Date: 9/5/2014 9:28:00 AM
This is a wonderful, tender write. So easy to feel your love. Beautiful.
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Date: 8/31/2014 4:54:00 PM
You have tugged my heartstrings with this one. Sending you a big hug !!! This had to be bittersweet to write. Bows head, in honor of a memory scripted so sweetly.
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Date: 8/30/2014 10:12:00 AM
beautiful, nostalgia, Andrea. I especially enjoyed this one. My thinking is much about death these days. It's only natural. When a poet of your skills and talent writes about death the result, as here, is bound to be wonderful. Love, daver
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Date: 8/30/2014 8:09:00 AM
Sad and so tender. How soothing to be buried where one had so much joy as a child. Every time you visit you remember the love and fun. "Cruel time" we never stop missing our siblings.
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Date: 8/29/2014 7:27:00 PM
Andrea, this is a very emotional poem and well suited to the kyrielle form. We used to play in the cemetery when we were children. They had a huge gold fish pond there and we would take picnic lunches and feed the fish with our scraps. Congratulations on your win. Thanks, also, for the win in your contest.
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Date: 8/29/2014 6:00:00 PM
you threw me a curve ball in the form of a dreaded kyrielle, andrea! but I did like the very personal subject matter, the lines infused with emotion (actually it ties in with my new contest) - congrats on your win in this one!
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Dietrich Avatar
Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/29/2014 7:34:00 PM
hahaha, yes, I knew you did not like those repeating poems and I wanted to see if the emotions would override your distaste of the form. I am glad I was right@!
Date: 8/29/2014 4:44:00 PM
dropping back with my congrats Andrea - it was lovely to re-read this wonderful tribute to your brother. Hugs jan xx
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Date: 8/28/2014 10:37:00 AM
This made me cry sweetheart. Time can only heal so much. A loss like this is never out of touch. Peace. :)
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Date: 8/27/2014 10:54:00 PM
Andrea A very heartfelt and emotional write. Every sentiment and caring word came out of your heart, soul and memories. Thank you for the nice comment on my Paradise poem.
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Date: 8/27/2014 1:18:00 AM
I can't imagine losing a sibling so young. A beautiful tribute, Andrea. bfn Lainie
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Date: 8/26/2014 9:38:00 AM
made me remember our cemetery where young lovers would meet and make love under the stars....back then felt like one of the safest places on earth.....
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Date: 8/26/2014 6:44:00 AM
I know you love Kyrielle and what a to pay tributes to Dale bringing back the memories of the childhood, Andrea
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Date: 8/25/2014 8:24:00 PM
andrea - you are in a category by yourself and are truly a master of creating vivid pictures with the most gorgeous language. the rhyme in this poem is just amazing. bravo!
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Date: 8/25/2014 7:48:00 PM
So hard to lay to rest a sibling yet alone one too young...I had to do the same with my older brother who passed 14 years ago...hugs Tim
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Date: 8/25/2014 6:48:00 PM
Andrea, this on brought a tear to my eye for many reasons. A melancholy remembrance of sibling chivalry and a love that will always be. Thank you for sharing this piece of your heart.
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Date: 8/25/2014 6:30:00 PM
so bittersweet Andrea you do him proud with these wondrous words a courageous write hugs
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Date: 8/25/2014 6:25:00 PM
So honestly glad that I stopped by this particular poem of yours, Andrea. Truly heartwrenching and I like the flow of this piece... I think the emotion is something that we all can relate to, that recognition of a life fulfilled when one is cut short. I can imagine the mixed emotions for your parents... wanted him close by and yet constantly reminded of the loss when they gazed across the street.
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Date: 8/25/2014 6:04:00 PM
Sorry to hear about your brother, a burden I'm sure..as for the graveyard, I grew up across from a grave yard, some of the graves went back to the civil war..we use to turn some of the stones over looking for snakes, we'd put them back.. no bikes though..
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Date: 8/25/2014 5:25:00 PM
What a emotional write Andrea, each repitition of that like where once we played, he now is laid, digs the emotional grave deeper. Hugs to you.
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Date: 8/25/2014 4:20:00 PM
i admire your tenacity in tackling such a difficult subject in the form of poetry. you did your brother proud. this is an important poignant write.
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Date: 8/25/2014 3:35:00 PM
A beautiful tribute Andrea to your brother - i love the repetition of the line it really hits home hard, you will always have these memories of the good times :-) Hugs jan xx
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