Barbara Leigh

The news came via the telephone,

‘You must come on home at once,’

The voice had rasped with an urgent tone

As if talking to a dunce.

He wouldn’t say what was going on

He just said, ‘Come home and see,’

My heart had fluttered before I uttered

‘What’s up with Barbara Leigh?’

I held my breath as I heard the click

When he put the handset down,

And breathed a curse just under my breath

As I called the fool a clown.

He knew that I’d be worried sick

When he left me up in the air,

It could only be that Barbara Leigh

Was hurt, or in despair.

I knew full well that he hated me

Because of his blighted love,

He’d made it plain that Barbara Leigh

Should be his, from heaven above,

But she’d turned her graceful smile on me

And had left him in the lurch,

And the only time he saw her was

When we married, in the church.

I had to drive three hundred miles

To get home to Barbara Leigh,

And had bitten through my bottom lip

As I counted every tree,

I felt the tears course down my cheek

As imagination bled,

And thought through every scenario

That I’d find my lover dead.

For hour on hour the road sped by

And the daylight fled to night,

My headlight beams, they were lost in dreams

Of the one, my one delight,

My hands were shaking so badly

When I pulled into our drive,

Until I saw, and was hoping for

That my Barbara was alive.

She rushed on out of the cottage door

With one of her winning smiles,

I said, ‘By God,’ with relief, a nod,

‘I’ve just raced three hundred miles!’

‘I didn’t want to distress you, love,’

But her face was creased with joy,

‘I simply wanted to tell you first,

We’re having a baby boy.’

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha a roller coaster ride as he flies home ... sheesh! you rung me through it sir .. so that the joy in closing almost shoots me out of me chair in a cheer ... but there is a nagging bugger in asking me self .. why did antagonist do the calling???? is something small and sinister hiding??? .. hmmmmm you know how much i enjoy your story telling poetry .. a delight every time for me!
E.

[Robert Trakofler]

ha ha LOL you got me! Your words weave a lovely melody I really like your structure and flow:) and in particular this poems outcome:)

[Rye]

Wow! This is such an heart tugging, emotional read. Very heartfelt. I like this

[Grace]

I loved the suspense in this one, believing that it very well could be the spurned, would be lover. I imagined a few things but not the baby, so well done to you. Well written David.

Grace.

[Susan 🦋]

So who called??? The other lover?? I simply love how your poetry unfolds in such awesome stories! I really just don't want them to end.

[flaco]

this is very nice--good job

steve