She knelt her knees into the soft ground that had been wet by the morning dew. Her small soft hand pressed into the engraved letters of her deceased husband’s name. The cold hard feeling of the gravestone reflected in her heart.1
The woman wept; the tears falling onto the bodice of her black mourning dress. She wept not for the loss of the love, the love she never received, but for the loss of her provider. He was the one who brought food to the table and a foul mood to her.2
But what of the children? Her little girl would be needing a new dress and her toddler boy would get his first pair of shoes this year. Without a father who would bring in money, what would happen? 3
The clouds that had been holding off all morning finally started to release their life. The water trickled down her face to mix with the tears before falling to the muddy ground. Soon the mud was splattering up, but she continued to cry.4
Why had he left her like this? How dare he? The North had not needed more soldiers; the war was almost over. She would never miss him for his care though, not him. He had always shunned her everywhere as not what he deserved. She had always been not beautiful enough or didn’t work hard enough.5
She suddenly felt a warm hand on her quivering shoulder. As she turned her head, a great feeling of hope and relief rushed into her chest when she saw the meadow of green. His eyes locked and held hers bringing her back to the reality she had to live with. He would help her now that HE was gone. Everything would be fine. This man loved her, not like HIM. She would move on.6
A rough hand gripped her soft one as she picked herself up off the ground. She brushed the mud off her knees as best she could, staining her hands brown. She went over to a small basin and washed away the mud and her old life. She was ready for a new beginning and a better life. She left with him, ready to live out her days with her children and, hopefully, someone who really loved her. 7
Author notes
A Woman at Her Husband's Grave
by Joseph Seamon Cotter
Peace to his ashes!
I cannot for the soul of me
Sorrowing bow,
Tho I search through the heart of me
Grieve for him now.
'Tis well he is gone
And heart-break is over,
A husband he was
But never a lover.
thats the poem. i am really proud of this wrote actually. i also want to say that this took place at the end of the civil war, if u didnt catch that. also....the caps are meant to b italics...i couldnt figure out how to make it that way. 
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
-
Hey i actually read this one good job. It was very sad and very upseting. good job and congradulations
How long have you been on all poetry.
Kati -
WOW. This is ver touching. Sad enough to make some one cry, so hopefilled to make some one cry. I think you did a very good job matching the story with the poem. Perfect match. I hope you did well.
Kayla Dawn -
Very nice.Very very nice.I am impressed.Great job on this one.I really like it.I look forward to reading more of your stuff.Keep up the good work.
-
Touching... very nice.
-
Nice me like!
-
so sorry to waste ur points but i need to get off the computer. so i will applaud ur story, hopefully that will make it better.
-
I think that you did a very good job on writing this story. it is hard for people to move on after a loved one dies. trust me i kno. i lost my friend wesley in january and i still havent moved on. so the way i take this story is that life is short and when someone is gone make the best of it and move on because you never know when it will be your time to go. oh my god that rhymed. lol..anyway good write and check out my stuff if ya like...thanks for sharing..love lonelyfairy
-
perfection
wow this was great wow you have amazing talent iam sure you do well on the contest.when i have contest i hope you enter it !
-hadesword- -
this is exellent,like others you bought me there .hummmm? your only 14.very vivid and creative you are truley talented ,I was going to quote on a few lines that I liked best, but I can't it ,is all perfectly written! I applaud this poem.
-
wow this was very descriptive and unique!! I love it and and its really powerfull.
-
I love the depth of understanding in this story, a story that begins with sadness and ends on hope, short and very well written and you brought to life the woman at the grave of her husband in this write. Good luck and very well done.
-
Very discriptive...I love it...felt like I was there...watching her cry...nice work, thanks for sharing
-
beautifully penned...great job! though, the last stanza wasn't the best..my opinion..i dont know..it seemed to switch tones and speed up...neways..i enjoyed the read! great job
~*~blu~*~
~*~Blu~*~ -
extremely captivating and very well written. i felt as i was there watching everymove of the main charachter. you are trully taleneted. incredable!
-
I love it when a story isn't very long, but it still hits hard. I could feel the woman's helplessness, and I loved the effect of the rain mingling with her tears. The hopeful ending was wonderful and didn't take away from the effect of the earlier sadness. Very well done.
Liz -
Nicely done! Emotionally vivid, excellent imagery. The description is great and the writing so in sync with the poem.
Thank you for entering this
-
Amazing. I'm so glad someone else entered this contest and with this poem. Yeah I think all my chances of winning were just killed, but this just left me speachless.
I love overly descriptive things like this because it's how I tend to write. You really can make the reader feel like they are right there with the women and feeling every emotion for her. It's just wow, and I love the little touch of history in here it just makes me smile.
-Amber -
tongue or no tongue ;)
...wow...
Im speechless Mary,
Your an incredible story writer.
seriously,
I really felt this story,
but how can you write something like this,
with so much emotin, when youve never been in such
a situation as close to as horrid as this?
-Eric
Adding your comment:
1 - 18 of 18
