Past Hardships Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

Narrow was our shelter
low its ceiling, floor
windows tiny, grainy
paint chipped off the door

In the yard were brambles
grass just would not grow
neighbors cold, unfriendly
many years ago

Cold was our well water
yet our little brood
never did go hungry
love was our food

Those were days of sorrow
unimagined blows
crucibles of heartaches
sackcloth, ashen clothes

Yet a fire flickered
an eternal torch
shielding and protecting
from hell's searing scorch

Narrow was our shelter
low its ceiling, floor
windows tiny, grainy
paint chipped off the door.