Someone Missing? Someone Gone? Poem by Ernestine Northover

Someone Missing? Someone Gone?

Rating: 5.0


I listened to the old man’s sighs,
he bowed his head and closed his eyes.
Back in time his memories went.
His shoulders and his back were bent.
His face took on a haunted look,
as he scrolled through his minds scrapbook.

A smile appeared and up he glanced,
remembering some time enhanced
by pictures entering his mind,
something that he had left behind
in those faint far away spent days,
recollected down distant ways.

And then his countenance turned grim,
a stark event came back to him,
forgotten for a long, long spell,
making the shining tears to dwell,
within those seeing orbs that shone.
Is someone missing? Someone gone?

I saw before me a man wise,
and watched him as he tried to rise.
Stumbling, weary, along the road,
carrying such a heavy load
of sorrows, pain and things now past.
On cobblestones his shadow cast.

So slowly he advanced towards,
a shelter made of plywood boards.
And climbing in, was out of view,
his name, his age, I never knew.
I turned and walked across the square,
thinking that life was so unfair.

Next day I heard that he had died,
and that’s when I sat down and cried.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Andrew Blakemore 04 November 2009

A sad and thought provoking piece Ernestine. It really makes you stop and think of all those poor souls less fortunate than yourself. Love, Andrew xxx

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Meggie Gultiano 27 October 2009

This pulls my heart string, Ern..as this was how I felt about an old man that I knew 20 years agoI have made a poem about him..A SAD TALE.. Your last lines really touched me. Take care always..I love you so much... Meggie

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David Harris 20 October 2009

Ernestine, what a beautiful heartfelt and poignant poem you have treated us with today. Just reading made me remember only a couple of years ago when I saw the laughter in your eyes. Top marks and thank you for sharing this with us. Hugs David

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Duncan Wyllie 20 October 2009

I love the old story tellers feel about this one Ernestine and the moral that we are divided seemgling only by circumstances makes this a very moving poem indeed Excellent Ernestine, , up to your usual standard Love duncan X

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Tai Chi Italy 20 October 2009

A heart wrenching and yet poignantly beautiful expression of human kind here Ernestine! You seemed to have caught him in his last moments of searching for the end of his rainbow. Don't cry for him, he is free Fabulous read, thank you for sharing his journey with us. hug from Tai

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