Where the Sycamore Grew


                                           _________

The sun-yellow house seems smaller somehow,
viewing it now, after all these years...
The street seems narrower, and the trees have grown tall..
And where once open fields spanned both sides of the road, 
there are small tract houses, where fences have bloomed.
Neighboring orchards have all disappeared
But, somehow we knew the house would be there....
As if seen from a distance, edged by seasons, yet clear

There's the path that we laid one hot summer day,
in the yard of this house that sits at the bend
near the end of the road, where the sycamore grew....
Someone else left their footprints that lead to the door
There's a rusty-red bike, and a skate left behind
by the squeaky old gate, that tomorrow will find.

As suddenly as wind will spring from the dust
thirty years fell away, and flew into in the past
And quickly alive, all the memories rise, 
     like a whirlwind of leaves, in a springtime of lives.....
_____ 
...Our first Christmas trees, and our first holidays...
    Anniversaries we spent with just pizza and wine
   The place where I cried long into the night, 
    as the child in me grieved for a mother who died...
    Long, starry nights, I was bathed by the moon
                    rocking my babes to a lullaby tune
_____
Yes....it is all captured there, in the small yellow house
Our very first house, with the snow-white trim

Strange, it may be, but I'm glad it's still yellow...
Still wearing the face of the warm summer sun 
The sun- yellow house, with a flagstone path
Where old slate stones bring the sun to the door
It's a path we laid on a warm summer day
in a place that we knew as our very first home
 
Just a small yellow house, with its snow-white trim...
that sits 'round the bend, where the sycamore grew...

Copyright © | Year Posted 2009



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Date: 8/15/2023 11:47:00 AM
“Still wearing the face of warm summer” that line really stood out for me. I love this gives a nostalgic ambience and the detailed descriptive language throughout is so sumptuous and profound .time and life, always resonates with so many. And gets readers to think. Impeccable write
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Carrie Richards
Date: 8/15/2023 4:11:00 PM
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, with such a kind compliment. I write to express memories that perhaps each of us may have experienced the same feelings of nostalgia. Much appreciation :)
Date: 6/29/2022 9:28:00 AM
How precious are those memories, memories you share with family. A beautiful tribute to the passage of time...to a life. :)Paulette
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Carrie Richards
Date: 8/15/2023 4:13:00 PM
So kind of you. Thank you very much for reading this poem. It is one that is close to my heart :)
Date: 6/3/2022 6:35:00 AM
i felt a young girlie with sparkling eyne in this write and the vooman spilling glorious pictures uv a once and of the inevitable now. Fear not, in mine imagin; i have spruced up the house, with the yellow you remember. I have pruned the shrubs and replanted the neighbor's orchards and swept the walk ;) See what you did to me! (((((claps))))) much love, james
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Date: 4/7/2022 5:09:00 PM
love the memory walk, a nice flow thru the past and present, well done
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Date: 7/20/2021 4:27:00 PM
This may be an oldie but goodie for poetry soup. Loved all the wonderful imagery. Nancy
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Date: 6/10/2021 4:24:00 PM
What a lovely nostalgic write. Beautifully written and so touching. A wonderful read Carrie.
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Date: 12/29/2019 8:53:00 AM
This poem makes me feel warm and cozy. A lovely piece about yesteryear.
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Date: 9/11/2019 10:23:00 AM
One of my favorite poems I have read recently. You have captured something special and nostalgic in a simple and lovely way.
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Date: 7/15/2019 12:22:00 AM
Wonderful trip to yesterday. Excellent write. Ann
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Date: 6/5/2019 8:29:00 PM
Nice poem...reminds me of my old childhood home in Tampa that was paradise once but now, years later in dismal decay. But good memories remain and this poem helps bring them back. Cheers, Terry
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Date: 2/20/2019 4:35:00 PM
Hello Carrie Richards, a beautiful poem you have created. It has memories of your past that you remember well. Have a nice evening my friend.
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Date: 2/9/2019 3:45:00 PM
Carrrie, this is a beautiful, nostalgic poem. You painted a lovely picture. Blessings, Susan
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Date: 6/24/2018 8:49:00 PM
Carrie, You capture the emotions that such memories bring, and bring the reader right there, "where the sycamores grew"
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Date: 6/3/2018 10:54:00 PM
This is the first of your poems I read. It paints a picture of a place familiar to us all. First home is hard to forget. You’re good at touching a tender heart with words that read like art. RAY
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Date: 3/12/2018 1:44:00 PM
Very nicely done, with a finesse and lightness of touch that is characterized by your deftness in rhythm and word choice, nostalgic and touching. Kudos!
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Date: 2/20/2018 11:04:00 PM
A masterpiece!
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Date: 5/15/2017 2:58:00 PM
Dropping by to read this beauty again. It's so touching!
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Date: 5/7/2017 3:41:00 PM
I love your poetry! This takes me back many years as I often go back to my home by smells in my garden. My gardenia bush takes me to my front porch swing on a summer evening, with many memories. Thank you for this beautiful heart-warming memory.
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Date: 3/9/2017 8:13:00 PM
This brought tears to my eyes! What a beautiful tribute to a childhood home. We've all gone back only to find everything that seemed so big, is now only a distorted perspective in our memories. I loved your line..."where a child in me grieved for a mother who died. Just heart wrenching!
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Date: 10/11/2016 7:26:00 PM
Such a heart warming poem. I love this piece. I had added this poem to my favourites when I read it for the first time. :)
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Date: 10/10/2016 11:30:00 PM
I had to read this one again Carrie it is one of my favourite poems of all poets of all time. You are so talented. The beauty of this poem is that it is brilliant when read at face value. Yet a person like me who has a fervent imagination I can read so many things in this piece. Forgive me for that. Again one of my favourite poems of all time you are a brilliant poet.
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Date: 8/16/2016 11:30:00 AM
what an absolute charming and calming write. your work is simply amazing
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Date: 5/1/2016 6:49:00 PM
Carrie, this is one of my faves from you .. :) Congratulations on your win in Andrea's fave contest. XOX - LINDA
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Date: 4/28/2016 9:33:00 AM
What a beautiful imagery of your home, Carrie! Congrats on being Andrea's Fave!
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Date: 4/27/2016 12:31:00 PM
Congrats on your winning work..SK
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