September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

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Tom Watson
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September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

Post by Tom Watson » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:59 pm

The summer zephyrs of autumn gave way
to the little breezes of September when I first found my dream.
The little nip of coolness pulled me from the dullness
of summer as I looked into her chocolate brown eyes.
We both stood on the edge of the railing,
watching the ocean move the beach around below
as the red sky was swallowed by sunset.
I looked shyly toward her lissome figure,
wondering should I capitulate my reticence and speak?
Her hair moved softly about her face as she continued her gaze,
with an expression of malaise, and my trepidation moved to affection.

I spoke, extemporaneous and genial:
“It appears the sea welcomes the coming of Autumn’s breezes,
does it not?”

She then turned those deep brown eyes toward me,
and for an evanescent moment, a tear reflected
the sunset as a dot of gold in her eyes…
but only a moment for her answer was ebullient,
with a hint of badinage: Don’t we all?
Summer can blaze so brightly that we may
become blinded to what we have.
She smiled, reaching for my hand,
“Please walk me down the path to the sea?
I fear I may loose my balance as my shoes are designed miscreants.”

My heart skipped a bit as the softness of her hand took mine.
Though the breeze had picked up,
I warmed to the feeling of romantic possibilities,
and a sudden hope for commensurate attachment on her part.

The path was steep and narrow,
and not wishing imprecation to come to her,
I managed to hold her close and we whisper tête-à-tête
of why we were there, that evening.

As we spoke, I recalled the golden tear of earlier and wondered,
should I dare question what renegade would place that tear there?
Yet, as I thought those thoughts, she seemed to know them,
and let loose a sad sigh as the sun finally fell from the sky.
“Thank you for the walk. I can manage from here.”
displaying more golden tears, though the sun had fled moments ago.
I stood, staring at her, as she turned
toward the stretch of beach ahead.
“Perhaps we can meet again here, soon”, I shouted (whispered)
as she waded along the shore.
Not knowing what to do, I turned toward the path back
and then saw a black sandal laying along the side,
weather worn, torn.
I stared at it, recognizing it as the same as the ones she was wearing,
so I picked it up and turned to tell her I had it…but
She was no longer there…vanished into thin air.

Since that day I had learned a few things
about the one I think as “The Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”
as from Bob Dylan’s Blond on Blond epic song lyrics
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands, Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,”
Only there was a man coming
who died in the sands of Iwo Jima.

I reflect on what I have learned of this lost soul,
and see that just as shown in Nat King Coles’ ‘Pretend’,
“you'll find a love you can share
one you can call all your own
just close your eyes she'll be there
you'll never be alone
and if you sing this melody
you'll be pretending just like me
the world is mine it can be yours my friend”

On each trip to this railing,
where I stand, waiting, I hum lyrics from a song
recalled from a time of war and broken hearts,
sung by Whitney Houston, “If I should die this very day
Don’t cry 'cause on earth
We wasn’t meant to stay
And no matter what the people say
I’ll be waiting for you
After the judgement day”

I have never seen the lady of the railing again.
All I have is an old shoe,
lost to a moment of sorrow and desperation.
You know those moments that come to us
when we have nothing to hold on to
but a small rail overlooking the beckoning sea,
and as Black Sabbath wrote, we are tempted to become
the ‘Children of the Sea’, “In the misty morning,
on the edge of time
We’ve lost the rising sun, a final sign
As the misty morning rolls away to die
Reaching for the stars, we blind the sky

Oh they say that it’s over, yeah
And it just had to be
Oh they say that it’s over
Poor lost children of the sea, yeah


I stand at this rail and wonder at the sorrow
and loss she must have felt, and I found a need,
and I knelt to pray for her soul.
Life is not permanent, it is not a song to play
over and over to hear the happy tunes.

We all lose in this world, lovers; husbands; wives and children.
Stephen Curtis Chaplain recently lost an adopted daughter,
and these lyrics of a song written before her death,
from “Cinderella” So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
(even one song)
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone


And so the waves move the sand
And the heart cries for what is lost
And songs echo over the sea’s cries
For those who have have lived and who have died.

Emily Dickinson saw death
in her "Because I Could Not Stop For Death"
“Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality. “

And Robert Frost saw life
In the simple opportunity to stop,
And share his time to talk,
In his “A Time To Talk”
'When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.’


And still the waves call in their roars
And crashing until distance dims them
To *Whispers* beckoning me to return to
a lady, in her loneliness on that risen knoll.

** viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22364 **


Tom
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"Whispers of Love" a book of poetry expressing love of the heart and spirit is released worldwide on August 11, 2009. Visit my home page at
Books From Grace for more information or Amazon.com

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Re: September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

Post by Friend_forever » Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:53 am

Beautifully penned!!!

Dear Tom,

I KNEW you would definately take part and I was just looking out for your submissions because you come up with such beautifully penned verses...

This write doesnt look like it was a challenge write... It looks like it came from your heart, penned to perfection for you lost chocolate brown eyed girl...

Amazing write... I was just mesmerized and breathless while I read the whole poem!!

Beautiful poetry!!! LOVED IT!!! :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

:thewave:
And as I watch you in this light
I never realized your eyes were full of
So many colors.
~ Jadynara

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Tom Watson
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Re: September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

Post by Tom Watson » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:03 am

Thank you Naushin. You are very kind. I appreciate that you dared to present such a daunting challenge since it finally got me to write again.
I look forward to seeing many more entries on this topic.

God Bless
Tom
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"Whispers of Love" a book of poetry expressing love of the heart and spirit is released worldwide on August 11, 2009. Visit my home page at
Books From Grace for more information or Amazon.com

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Re: September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

Post by heinzs » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:17 am

:bow:

what more can I say?
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Tom Watson
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Re: September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

Post by Tom Watson » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:24 am

Thank you HeinzS. You honor me with the volumes you spoke.

Tom
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"Whispers of Love" a book of poetry expressing love of the heart and spirit is released worldwide on August 11, 2009. Visit my home page at
Books From Grace for more information or Amazon.com

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Tom Watson
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Posts: 1336
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Re: September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

Post by Tom Watson » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:06 am

Moving this to a permanent place of residency from the Challenge Forum.
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"Whispers of Love" a book of poetry expressing love of the heart and spirit is released worldwide on August 11, 2009. Visit my home page at
Books From Grace for more information or Amazon.com

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Re: September Challenge -The Lady At The Rail

Post by heinzs » Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:13 pm

He may be gone, but he lives on for all of us in his beautifyl words.

:hearts:
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An' it harm none, do what ye will. Blessed Be.
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