A Long Life
A long life,
nine and one quarter decades
in the making.
war and depression
present,
although memories are what can be
seen
through the old owl eyes.
not learning to ride a bike, home ec: freshman year.
a chimney fire, sitting on a friend’s handlebars.
old bones barely hidden from the wind,
snow pale hair, swirling in the storm
sharp wit, slow mind
strong woman,
standing still through time
harmonious in her ever aging mind.
wise eyes watch
teaching her craft,
telling her tale.
hardly seen
shrouded in the whispered wind
sights and places.
old is new, in her memory.
the swirling winds, golden fields, summer sweet
lighting her sight.
the age of mind has her lost in time.
-Brittany Calnan
This poem won one of the teen awards in the North Conway Library poetry contest in April 2009.
The Snow Fell Lonely
The snow fell lonely on the ground below
From the fitful heavens yawning wide
And across the fields it did cruelly blow,
Hurrying swiftly to her weeping side.
The cold brought to her cheeks a cherry red
And gave her face the brightest, burning glow,
Though from those darkened eyes true anguish bled
And fell like fiery ice into the snow.
To look at her you should have never thought
Such sadness could befall so fair a face,
But she alone knew why the tears were brought;
For her heart had left without a trace.
And the pain echoed for the world to hear:
Love, and there was nothing more to fear.
-Beth Flood Fairlamb
