How utterly real and gravely sad John
in any decade broken hearts are so loud
to the soul of lonely...

May Love Always Embrace You
Vickie

A very compelling and vivid offering, Jon. Thank you for sharing it. Love and peace to you,

Regis

I echo Gene's and John's comments. You create wonderful ambiance.

NEVER SAW THIS MOVIE, BUT, YOUR IMAGERY IS SO VIVID, I'M THINKING...I MIGHT GO ON LINE AND LOOK AT IT. DONE VERY WELL. THANKS FOR SHARING, LOVE AND BLESSINGS, JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

I've seen the movie numerous times. Your poem has captured her in eleoquent somber detail. Life and death seemed to go hand in hand in that barren windswept place. Great write.....M

The sense of time and place are palpable, Jon, such that the images live and breathe - painfully so in view of the subject matter. Having spent just a few days in the desert-lands of the American south-west last spring, I can picture this vividly. Yes indeed. The pioneers must have been of sterling stuff, vibrant faith and profound vision to even attempt to make their way in such temperate hostility. We had a car problem on a desert high road in Texas and I was totally petrified of having to spend time in that fan-oven heat... and that was just a few hours in the relative comfort otherwise of an air-conditioned car! This really hits home to me. Also reminds me muchly of the scenescapes of the Nicole Kidman film, Australia. And boy do I now need a drink! :)) Par excellence as per u. xx

Haha, I know what you mean, or meant until I started watching the chinese martial arts historical films. Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen etc. Makes the wild west look like kinder garden and the women are simply mega stunning.

Thanks for this.

Oh Jon..I was there felt it all..my soul wrenched in pain..oh God!
Superb work Jon..just splendid!

Needless to say YOU are one marvelous poet..proud to be your friend...

PS..I'm saving this one....thank you..brilliant!

Vesna

M a r v e l o u s ~~!!

This is a perfect example of how great a poem can be when a writer shows, rather than tells. You make us see the poor woman (love Vandyke eyes!), the desolate prairie that is swallowing her alive, , the rough-hewn casket and crude wooden cross that marks the grave
where the man whose wife she hoped to be lies. And we think life
is hard!

Give us more. Give us MORE!!

xOx Phyllis xOx

Do we have a novel incubating?

Ron

You captured one of the many hardships of life in that era for a woman. That is a period of history that has fascinated my imagination many times too, wondering why people would choose to homestead in such a
a unforgiving area. Wonderful write, Jon Michael
Peace and love, Carole~

much depth to this skillfully crafted depiction ...

Jon, I can actually feel the heat as I read or hmmm I should say watch this film in my head..really good!!!

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY TALENTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liana Margiva

Jon,
This is fine writing with superior word choice and phrasing. The stanza Gene elects to quote is for me, too, the truly moving one, finely wrought, but the entire work stirs my heart and the heroine's lot is well summed at the close.

John

a paradox gripping prairie flowers
tears drying in the mesa’s heat
silence broken by powdered earth

Jon, I'm moved by the beauty and the caring in your words.

-gene.

Extreme departure from your usual style, Jon. There's a nice sense of authenticity to the imagery and story. I'm not sure if the rhyme in the last verse was coincidental or intended, but I think it adds to the dramatic end. Great poem. Hugs,
Sheila

The Old West lives and breathes in this fine poem. Deeply immotive and so realistic. Wonderfully penned Jon.

Little House on the Prairie expanded into a feature length...The Old West put them in their graves...lies buried and the prairie sage blooms.

Love,
Sage

Beautifully written.

Tender depiction of loss for a bride to be in the old west.

Gorgeous poem! This is so real, so wistful and haunting.
Life is just this way, so easy to identify with your poem in my heart.
Blessings,
Christine

Oh, by the way I play a few of the pieces from this movie, the music is passionate and fun to play from this~

Jon,

I know you said this was from a movie, but you have written it with such feeling, it makes me want to cry. What a tragedy!

Mary

As always sweet Jon such a pleasure to read your wonderful writing...nice to read you again I have missed ya... stay safe and well sweet friend..Hugss
Love,
Chanti Lace xoxo

Very heart touching display of what life often deals many of us.

A hard life, fraught with danger ... beautifully told, Jon. Well done.

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.