Where the Old Sycamore Grew

“to hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature”  William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1601


                                          +++++



The house seemed smaller, seen with older eyes...
The street seemed narrower, the trees taller..
Where once were open fields across the road
New construction had bloomed
The small fruit orchard had disappeared

But somehow we knew it would still be there....
Strangely different, ...yet the same
There was an unfamiliar small red tricycle
On the flagstone path that we laid...
In front of this little house that lies
Beyond the curve, where the old sycamore grew...

Suddenly, thirty years faded into that autumn day
And quickly had become a springtime of our lives..... 
...of first Christmas trees,..of first anniversaries...
            ...a place where I cried night after night when mother died...
                       ...and spent long, starry nights holding newborn babes....
Yes....it is all still there, in the little yellow house

Funny, but I'm glad they kept the yellow...
It has the same white shutters...
The little yellow house, with a flagstone pathway that we laid
That sits beyond the curve, where the old sycamore grew...

                                                ++++++


4/20/11  Submitted for Constance La'France's Contest "The Tree"
By Carrie Richards
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Ronthorpe Avatar
April 26, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Excellent. This was a great 'ride'. Very nice, I liked this a lot.
Brown Avatar
April 26, 2011 at 5:59 AM
Congratulations Carrie on your win in Constance's "The Tree" contest. Love, Carol
Durbin Avatar
April 25, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Congratulations on your 1st place win, Carrie! :)
Poet Avatar
April 25, 2011 at 7:18 AM
Very nice nostalgic poem.Congrats Carrie on your 1st place win.Thanks for your kind comments at my pages---kashinath
Mannan Avatar
April 25, 2011 at 4:34 AM
Laine this is so lovely. Beautiful. Many many congrats.
Mehta Avatar
April 24, 2011 at 3:02 PM
Congratulations on the win in the contest of Constance, Carrie
Horne Avatar
April 24, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Many congrats on your first place and all your other super wins : )
Onclaud Avatar
April 24, 2011 at 5:31 AM
you are in a roll, carrie.. love your metaphors here.. congrats for the topping the list with hugggs! :)
Puddifoot Avatar
April 24, 2011 at 4:13 AM
congratulations on your 1st place win with this vivid nostalgic take on the theme...
Sweetheart Avatar
April 23, 2011 at 8:51 PM
Congrats Carrie on your first place win in the Tree contest.. a great way to celebrate the Easter holiday with this wonderful win luv..
Freeman Avatar
April 23, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Awesome to see you at the top again Carrie, Congratulations on your worthy poem honor in first place.
Dietrich Avatar
April 23, 2011 at 5:36 PM
Hey, so I gave you that book? I did not even remember. well, I am proud to share a spot with THIS poem.Outstanding it is. Congratulations. Luv ya,andrea
Devonshire Avatar
April 23, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Carrie, Congratulations on your first-place win! Have a happy Easter. Love, Carolyn
George   Avatar
April 23, 2011 at 5:05 PM
This is so very touching, Carrie. I am so happy to see it at the top of the winners circle where it belongs. Love, Lainie
La France Avatar
April 23, 2011 at 4:37 PM
Congratulations, Carrie, on first place in my contest, your poem really spoke to my soul, as I too, went back to my childhood home and my favorite tree was still there, well done, amazing poetry, I will forward your certificate to the address I have~~
Foulk Avatar
April 22, 2011 at 8:45 AM
a touching piece of moving poetry, enjoyed it. thank you for commenting on Quite Little Child.
Devonshire Avatar
April 21, 2011 at 9:29 PM
It's too bad the orchard is gone, Carrie. Seeing this house again must bring back memories both joyful and painful. I can't go back and look at the place where I grew up. I think it would be too overwhelming now that my parents are gone. Sending winnng wishes your way, dear. Love, Carolyn
Dietrich Avatar
April 21, 2011 at 3:05 PM
carrie, this is just wonderful and I hope to see it very high in the contest. I love these kinds of poems reminding us of the Old days. How things change and yet the remnants are there looking a bit out of place. If you ever publish a book with all the hot poems of yours that i love, be sure to let me know.
Eastman Avatar
April 21, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Well done....
Peranteau Avatar
April 21, 2011 at 6:22 AM
This is so thoughtful dear poet ! I just love when the poets write to charm our hearts of yester-year ! And what a wonderful thought to prologue this write with a bard we all admire ! Have a wonderful week Carrie....much love, james
La France Avatar
April 21, 2011 at 5:39 AM
Thank you for supporting my contest. Beautiful!
Gorelick Avatar
April 20, 2011 at 7:44 PM
Oh, youve done it again..just lovely..it made me think of going back to see the first house we owned..how dare they change the color? lol..BG
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