pictures travel through my mind like an old silent movie. this one was just running through the reel. click click click click..........


Mountain Echoes

Squawking pesky crows
flutter above the line,
nipping her red, raw,
swollen, cold fingers
as she places the pins
so expertly on the
damp white sheets
that billow in the freezing
mountain air
She is tired and worn
from scrubbing and rubbing
on the wooden washboard
in the frigid stream that runs
down by the old sycamore tree
along the path to her dreams.
She is just seventeen
already a mother and carrying
another in her swollen belly
Oh, to dance, to play, to enjoy
being a mere girl

She sings as she washes

She would escape to the city
and ride the ferris wheel
go round and round
up and over
climbing to the top of the world

Then down she came to reality.

The baby's nose is running
she wipes it with the tattered diaper
that is tucked inside her torn
sweater pocket.
She turns to gather another
sheet and then she
falls to the ground
slumped over the broken
sycamore limb,
limp
she lies
and
the baby
cries.

The wind whips the sheets
like sails on a ship
traveling to
eternity...

kathy lockhart
9/18/06






Poetry by Kathy Lockhart
Read 546 times
Written on 2006-09-19 at 04:22

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Arti
I can't say anything original, everything I could say has already been said... Guess I should have joined this party sooner... lolol
I KNEW her too, at first read... second read had me seeing the poor baby with his running nose and poor belly, wondering what was wrong with his mother....
2006-09-20


Will
There are enough words to describe you Kathy, so I'll use one I've used before to describe you .

KATHY YOU ARE A MASTER STORYTELLER.

Enjoyed the read
2006-09-19


Malin Johansson
This poem is beautifully described... I could se her, the girl carrying her child!!
nice kathy!!
hugs from sweden
2006-09-19


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
Katherine this movie is some wonderful film and you captured the images with your excellent skill well done rgds mike
2006-09-19


BlueyedSoul
awesome write Kathy...just drew me in like a breath of clean fresh linens
loved this

~blue
2006-09-19


Zachary P. B.
oh my dear kathy...

this picture is now dear to me... thanks for sharing, your words make me see...

oh reality, poetry's fanciful muse...
2006-09-19


Phyllis J. Rhodes
Oh my dear Lord! These few lines told me everything about her. I KNEW her. I Knew the mountain home. I saw the sheets and smelled the air and heard the crying baby! Get her back up! I love her!
2006-09-19


Saga
A wonderful and visionary movie Kathy
2006-09-19


keith nunes
superb piece of writing kathy. such strong and vivid images. it's a movie scene played in bold colour!
2006-09-19