She watched him tanned, tall, and lean
With bib overalls and a head of dark hair
Thinking how handsome he was
How strong and capable a man he had become
He was only sixteen //but gave the appearance of eighteen
His gait was long // intense // full of determination
She loved that about him // the boy/man from across the field
Smart and fun to be around // his smile was full of laughter.
There he was, driving his father’s four milk cows up her lane
To share pasture with twenty-five more
Self-conscious // she picked up her father’s tee shirt
Hanging it on the porch line strung between two posts
Glancing towards the lane she caught his attention
He waved and gave a hearty, “Hi Beatrice! How are you today!”
Tongue tied, she could only reply, “I’m fine!”
And then he was gone // on up the lane and over the hill
It was evident he was special // graduating from high school at sixteen
She // only fourteen // knew she was in love
She would wait for him and follow him to the ends of the earth…
And she did
My mom when she was in high school
In memory of my mother who lived across the field from my father when they were growing up in the early part of the last century.
Today, Bjorn asked us to look at different perspectives in poetry and write a poem that reflected that for d’Verse. I chose to write from my mother’s perspective when she and my father were both teenagers.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
Photos: Audrey Hartzler’s family album
This is wonderful Dwight! Poem and pictures.
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Thank you so much Peter! I discovered it was a very emotional write for me.
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Aww, sweet and true love. And the detail about the cows:) I’m afraid I can’t relate though; just glad I didn’t end up with the boy I was “so in love with” at 14!
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Thanks Amaya! They lived in Amish Farming country in Central Pennsylvania, so farming for them was a way of life. My father went off at 17 to college to become a teacher, but came back and married my mother.
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Such a tender and heartfelt writing. What a precious memory that has become your own.
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Thank you so much. It is one to pass on to the grandchildren!
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yes it is ❤
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A beautiful love story that holds so much meaning.
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Thank you Astrid. It is a great story to save.
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Beautiful piece mate ✔️ 💯
Amazingly penned 👏 💯
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Thank you so much for your kind words!
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Pleasure always 😉 🎀
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this is so soft and so moving. this kind of love is precious. ❤ very creative take!
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Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind words.
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such a cute story and beautifully portrayed
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Thank you so much!
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Dwight, your poem really touches me. A tender and strong love story.
From very tender years, the strong boy/man and the shy young girl who just knew he was going to be her man.
Beautiful
Miriam
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad it connected with you. It is a great love story!
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Super post, Dwight!! You knocked this outta the park!!! Great piece, photos and love story!!!
Bellissimo!!!
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So glad you enjoyed it Chuck. Your are one of my biggest fans and I really appreciate that!
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet and commented:
Come read Dwight’s wonderful – A LOVE STORY
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Thanks Chuck!
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Always happy to share your writing, Dwight!!
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Beautifully done!
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Thanks Jan!
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Wonderfully touching and well realised with such fondness- a true pleasure to read tonight…
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Thank you so much for your comments. It was special!
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Dwight this was tender, loving, real as rain, and uplifting to read. Your heart was in your words, thank you for sharing this wonderful story of genuine love!
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Thank you! As Bjorn said earlier we cannot help but project some of ourselves and our feelings into our writing. This is mostly true and partly me!
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What a sweet tale of love in a more innocent time. Thanks for sharing
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Thank you for reading and for your kind words.
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My pleasure.
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Such precious memories Dwight. They were lucky to have found each other. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Wishing you Happy Holidays and joyful new year!
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Thank you Grace. They were very special! Merry Christmas to you as well!
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Oh I’m glad you told your mother’s story… and I think you can understand your mother so well… after all you are the fruit
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Yes, my feelings were her feelings and vice versa! Can’t help but put ourselves into the writing. Thank you so much!
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What a sweet poem- so glad you added your mom’s picture. I can picture the scene so easily and yes, this is how teenage girls think.
PS perhaps you meant ‘gait’ rather than ‘gate’? Spell check is such a bummer, sometimes!
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Thank you so much and also for the correction. You are right spell check is only helpful until a word is spelled two different way.
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Oh you’re welcome. I worried about mentioning, but I’d want to know if it was me.
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Yes corrections are always welcome!
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Lovely, Dwight. Your poem has made my day.
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I am so glad you liked it. You comment is greatly appreciated.
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This is the most beautifully emotive poem I have ever read 😀 and it makes my belief and faith in love stronger than ever! Long live romance! ❤️
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Thank you! You are too kind. I appreciate your affirmation! Here’s to love and romance!! :>)
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Nice description of your parents as teenagers.
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Thanks Frank!
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these love stories are so rare these days, when the presence of someone special was admired from afar long before the first hello. I had often asked my dad how he met my mother and love their little encounter. Just as sweet as your poem here Dwight, your poem made me so gooey inside, which was what i needed so much!!
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Thanks Gina. I heard this story after my parents died. She kept a diary all her life and this was one of her early entries. I am so glad it connected with you!
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Story as poetry. Lovely.
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Yes, thank you so much!
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Beautifully crafted poem.
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Thank you so much for your kind words!
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Love is the only real thing isn’t it? The journalistic pace and rhythm underscores the sweet reality and emotion, brought out simply by a reporting of what they did, clinched by the straightforward “and she did”
Yay!
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Thank you… Yes theirs was one to last! I appreciate your comment!
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Beautiful love story
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Thank you so much!
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Thank you for sharing this story about your parents. It is a lovely story, and you did such a wonderful job of telling it, Dwight!
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Great poem – so touching. You just gained another follower!
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Thank you so much for stopping by. I am glad you enjoyed my poem!
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Loved this! So heart-felt!
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Thank you so much!
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That is a beautiful story. You are so lucky to know that your parents were a true love story. I love to see, read and write about love. I didn’t put it to a poem but I came across a true love and shared with others. https://noelliesplace.com/2017/09/19/his-amazing-grace/
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This is story is has so much emotions. Very well done.
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