Because She Loved Me

A quite personal one about my childhood

It happened when I was only three..

Mama and Daddy both got TB.

He brought the germ back from WWII,

And she got infected before they knew.

Someone had to care for brother, sister, and me

But no one had room to take all three.

So 'he' went with Grandfather and Grandmother

And 'she' went to Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Arthur,

But I went to live on the other side of town

Where my mama's Aunt Addie lived all alone.

 

I remember sitting upon her knee

When I was just a child of three,

Memories are spotty from one so young,

But those I have are special ones.

She took me to the store across the street

And bought Grape Truade for special treats.

She got miniature dolls; dresses she crocheted,

Made beautiful memories that won't ever fade.

 

When I was five,

My mama died......

But I was not alone....

Aunt Addie took me home.

 

By then Daddy's health was slowly improving,

And it wouldn't be long until he would move on.

As time went on, he married another,

And this child feared a wicked step-mother,

But Aunt Addie rocked me; her words reassured

That I would be happy and should look forward

To living with my new mommy and my dad...

 

But not many moments in life are so sad

As the day that we parted....

And a new life started.

 

Honorable mention - Because She Loved Me
in the "Everything Poem Contest"

Author's Note

This was written some years ago. Please forgive the names being used. When I wrote it, I was not thinking of sharing it with others. Should I ever decide to include it in anything being published, I would definitely make some changes. I'm simply shariing it here because of something that someone else posted. Thanks for understanding

Reviews

[KAREN]

Beautiful story about how love and life and how it moves on! Excellent write from the heart!

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

This was excellent! a poem that desrves a metal!! Your memories flowed so effortlessly into this poem!

[Star Bright]

Very well-written. (: I like how it flows and it is really creative. This poem kind of reminds me of my grandma. Inspiring.

[Christy Sargent]

This reminds me of my grandma Pearl whose mother dropped over dead at the age of thirty-one. There were four little girls and one a baby. Of course their papa remarried shortly and the new mom did'nt want kids, so now their mother and fahter were both gone. An aunt took the baby and the two older girls went off on their own. My gramma was only in the sixth grade. She had to go find someone to take her in. It is they way things happened back then. Sometimes all of the children were just dumped inot orphanages. So sad. Saying good-bye, like you had to, is horrible. A child that young would be so full of fear and misunderstanding. I can just imagine. I hope things turnedout k. Thank you for aharing this part of your early life.

[InkSlinger]

A delicate story, told by a weary heart... Even long after the loss, the pain still echoes on your words. Crafted with honesty, making this a superb writing.. Thanks for sharing a part of your past with all of us, painful as the memory may be.

[writernubbin]

You've written about being double whammied--you suffered loss twice, first with your mother, then Aunt Addie. I can't imagine how unsettling that was to have experienced such as a small child when everything should be a feeling of safety and security. Nicely done and if you were to ever want to submit it I don't think you would have any trouble doing so--it has good 'bones'. Nice G.K.

[Kerry O'Connor]

Wow! This is so beautiful - it gave me goosebumps. You told it with such a delicate touch. Superb.