Sweeping The Back Yard Poem by ANDREW BLAKEMORE
Sweeping The Back Yard
A key turned slowly in the latch
The creaking hinges on the door,
Did groan as it was opened
By a frail and bony hand,
That clenched the handle of a brush
Its wooden shaft was worn and smooth,
And then stepped out a lady
Curlers in her snow white hair.
She staggered as she made her way
Then down the steps into the yard,
To sweep the smoothen cobbled stones
With all the strength she had,
The bristles were so hard and coarse
They scraped and scubbed and scratched the floor,
Again, again she stroked and stroked
Until the job complete.
She puffed upon a cigarette
And never paused to tap the ash,
That grew there ever longer
Till it fell onto the ground,
Her bramley cheeks were grooved and lined
And bore the years that she had lived,
A life of toil in service
Yet she was now all alone.
She wore a tattered apron
That was grey as winter skies,
And dirty tartan slippers
For the bunions on her feet,
And still she swept in motion
Like the ticking of a clock,
Again, again she stroked and stroked
And knew no other way.
the imagery inside is really moving, Andrew...good write...thought provoking...10
I always feel like an onlooker when I read your poetry, so brilliant is the imagery. A portrait of an old lady set in her ways, well done Andy, 10 Lynda xx
Hi Andrew. Your poem gave the image of a hard life in a style that suggests time running out. a great read, athough it made me feel sad. Thank you. regards Ann
I love the picture you have painted in this andrew... Your writtings are always filled with so much charactor..... It is penned so cleverly you can actually smell the cigarette and hear the stroking of the broom upon the cobbled path... Very nice job indeed! ! !
I love the way that you place so much emotion into the ordinary, that it becomes extra ordinary Thankyou again Andrew You are a fine writer Love duncan X
Wonderful picture etched here I can see her so clearly. Perhaps from a Dickens novel? ? ? ? Liked it lots. Love and hugs Ernestine XXX
We didn't clean the backyard but let us take a clue and clean our foreyard. CP
My goodness Andrew, you have used such strong words to bring this lady to a form of life that luckily I hope never to experience. Just reading the somber story I feel blessed to have you tell it and be an onlooker. Great work where you placed and positioned the words, where only you know how. Top marks! Karin Anderson
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/25/2024 8:54:23 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Andrew, Have very sensitively shown us grey days of the old lady, it's the remarkable poem, 10.... Kindest regards, Tsira