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"Home and Family Treasures"


Chapter 1
Memories

By Cynthia1

Windswept vestiges
empty relics of the past
circle back through time
yesterday's footprints falling
leaving imprints on my soul

Author Notes Landmarks from the past bring to our memory the many experiences of life.


Chapter 2
Returning Home

By Cynthia1

Quiet village, nestled in your blanket of faith,
you are content to be
as always
the same

Loving people, cradled in a community of care,
lullabies of sameness rock you
gently
as you
sleep

Soft shadows dance on walls of Plato's cave
imploring you to rouse.
You do not heed-
instead you
slumber

My home was here so long ago.
I sang with joy
the hymns of
your
reality

From dreamlike sleep, my soul was stirred
with wonder. I traveled far
to search
beyond
Illusions

The knowledge gained of worlds beyond,
the words of wisdom
life conveyed
created
doubts

I have returned with knowing eyes. Inclusive, open, unafraid
I've glimpsed a wider, deeper world
I view life
differently

I find it hard to reconcile what I once knew
with what is now,
for I am
not
the same














Author Notes When I retired from my work at the university, I returned to my hometown to be near my family. I found things very much the same- but I had changed.

Many thanks to Cleo85 for the beautiful artwork entitled The New Dress. Lovely addition, Cleo.


Chapter 3
White on White

By Cynthia1

White crosses dot winding country roads,
Alabaster steeples whisper hope
Across cottage rooftops
Laden with snow.

Faithfully, you tend the flock,
Guiding each soul with care
And preaching of
God's abiding love.

In your youth, you discovered love.
In the silken grasses,
You chased white butterflies
And girls in eyelet dresses

Lifting gossamer net,
You skipped through sunlit meadows
In joyful abandonment-
A butterfly catcher in the wind.

You fashioned love poems
To a lovely maiden
With skin as white as snow.
You lived devoted to that love

That love was long ago.
Today, you sit far removed
From the love that you once knew.
You sit at the table with strangers.

Quietly, you lift your white napkin
To your lips. You fold it carefully
Crease on crease-
And you remember...

Soft Alabama mornings,
Linen tablecloths and crystal glasses
Reflecting Southern light.
You are once again at home.

Your mother's voice drifts
Like clouds across a distant sky.
Her white hair glistens In the evening light.
Her woolen shawl warms the empty room
And you remember love-

Napkins of white,
March silently in place.
Stand row by row on the solemn hill.
Protect the resting place
Of one so dear.

Pearl white gates,
Swing open wide!
White butterflies,
Sing love songs to the stars!


Chapter 4
Juanita

By Cynthia1

I watch you dance amid the flowers,
Ribbons of violets entwine your hair.
You twirl through morning blossoms
Glistening with dew. It is your time
Of golden dreams.

Too soon, the stealthy shroud of evening
Conceals the blueness of the sky.
Across the field, a lonely lamb is bleating
Hushed woodland crickets play
Their violin cascade.

Pale moonlight kisses your bare shoulders,
And bends its rays in rhythm
To your sway. The still night
Lies in waiting, as soft winds hum
A haunting lullaby.

You glide through dark in satin slippers
Twirling your billowing skirts
Like pillows fluffed for sleeping,
And through the air, down feathers drift
In prayerful benediction.

Author Notes This poem was written after the death of my mother.


Chapter 5
Our Yellow Butterfly

By Cynthia1

We glanced around, and you were there--
a windswept air
chasing sweet dreams
in mountain streams.

Your golden wings waved in delight
mid graceful flight-
a love token
softly spoken.

At special times, you reappear.
When you are near,
we remember
sweet September.

Author Notes On a fall day, several years ago, my great grandson sat with me beside a mountain stream. Soon, a yellow butterfly appeared, and we marveled in its presence. Since that day, we have seen our yellow butterfly many times reminding us of that special day of love.

Note: the word air is used to suggest song.


Chapter 6
Seaside Reflections

By Cynthia1

Summer slips softly through the sands
pausing to play with ripples on the shore.
She waves a gentle hand, and with a winsome
smile, she whispers her
sad farewell.

Childhood, too, can no longer linger
Lifting dainty skirts, she skips gracefully toward the sea.
Her bare toes wiggle in the sand as
she giggles a
last goodbye.

A lonely seagull glides gently toward the morning.
With sunlit sails, she searches the horizon-
another day is dawning.
A bright new day lies
just ahead.

Though rains may fall and winter winds blow,
courage will lift her ever onward toward
life's sweet mysteries
that are yet
to be

And YOU...

Tripping toward your teenage years
stand in awe beside the rippling waters.
New worlds gleam just beyond your view.
What future lies ahead? We can
only wonder...

Author Notes This poem was inspired by a recent picture of my great granddaughter standing on the beach looking out toward the horizon. She remarked that summer was almost gone and her high school days were about to begin.


Chapter 7
On Your Twentieth Birthday

By Cynthia1

You sat so still on the wing-back chair
 
bewildered by strange surroundings,
 
lonely and a bit afraid.
 
I smiled at you, and you
 
quickly stole my heart.
 
Soon, I loved you
 
as my own.
 
Now you're
 
gone.

Author Notes My granddaughter's stepson became a part of our family when he was four years old.
I remember the very first day he came to my house. He has just had his twentieth birthday and has recently joined the navy. This poem expresses how I felt then and now.

This is my first time to try the "nonet"....I enjoyed doing it.


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