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Carolyn
By La Belle Rouge

Carolyn was eight years old
when they put her in the ground
she was my schoolmate
and friend for only two years

I can still picture her face
after all these decades
curly golden brown hair
long lashes, doe-like eyes

she was a gentle soul
shy and introverted
soft spoken, make fun of
because she couldn’t run

we had matching dresses
often worn on the same day
we also had matching ailments
that ravaged our hearts

I knew it could have been me
they put into the ground
and wondered why it wasn’t
she deserved more years

her family were poor farmers
no expensive finery for Carolyn
but she was peaceful in a satin bed
wearing the dress that matched mine

they buried her on a hot afternoon
by twilight a summer storm broke
torrents of rain falling on graves
she was afraid of thunder

I cried for her and shivered
in my bed that stormy night
imagining how cold it must be
alone with the rain seeping down



4/6/2010 La Belle Rouge


Music "The Sound Of Silence"