take a long look at Winnie
commissioned in serious sepia
here she sits before a camera lens
focused on delicate pale features
her long dark ringlets cascade
into a wild mane over her left shoulder
her sad expression as though
she knows her days are numbered
encumbered with a disease
which stole away her breathing
sent her on a journey of no return
robbing her four brothers of a sibling
the child is sixteen, has barely lived
a portrait at the behest of parents
ensures she is dressed in her best attire
buttoned and covered to the throat
i hold her in warm hands
over a century since her demise
her eyes colder with the years
gathering the dust of byegone tears
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Author:
Cassie58 (
Offline) - Published: November 27th, 2024 11:17
- Comment from author about the poem: Great Aunt Winnie died from TB aged 17 over a hundred years ago. My granddaughter Beth, has very similar features.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 59
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange, Teddy.15, Thomas W Case
Offline)
Comments13
Wow! I am honored to be the first to like, favorite and comment. This is beautiful, Cassie. So sorry to hear of your Aunty Winnie. Such a young age and that disease is a killer! My great-grandparents died young from the Flu, back during the 1918-1919 epidemic that killed so many people. It's amazing how delicately fragile life is and yet how, even having died at a young age, this woman left behind such a legacy, one that your poem breathes new life into. Glad to hear her features came through in your graddaughter. What a blessing! 🌹👏🙏❤️
Dear Tristan, thank you for your interesting share and your kindness on this poem. So pleased you you liked this poem enough to make it a favourite. Sorry to hear about your grandparents. Life was indeed fragile back then. Strange how the genes work their way through the generations. I appreciate you.
very touching Cassie....
very poetic on a subject close to my heart.
bless you x
Hello Melvin, thank you for your lovely review on a subject which is close to you as well. Pleased you stopped by today. My very best to you dear poet.
Crikey .. I had an aunt Winnie my paternal grandfathers sister who succumbed more recently than your great aunt but to the very same thing .. Much later,
I worked in what was the old sanitorium where she once used to convalesce .. .. a sad poem Cassie and one which records part of almost every existing households familial history .. I am glad you penned this my friend, your great aunt deserves to be remembered in a poem of such quality ..
Such a pretty little girl. Just had to poem her. Amazing how the genes work their way through the generations. And you had an aunt Winnie too who died from the same disease? Yes, we all have family history stored away somewhere. That just leaves me to say a big thank you for your share Neville.
They may I deed have similar features but time and science has moved us on, this is like a wake up call in the future, love it... 🌹 💜
Hello dear Teddy. Strange how the genes pass resemblance down the line. You are so right. These days TB would be easily treatable. Many thanks, pleased you enjoyed the poem I write to remember her life. 🌹💜
A fine write of a terrible disease of olden days - mainly?
Meanwhile - I been looking up KP's Album. Her ancestors are in 'The Encyclopedia of Trouts - Old Ones!' heehee.
Does she know the book '1,001 Joys of Botox'? Know it? She wrote it!
Old trouts eh? You do know Orchi, she would burn your dinner if she knew what you were saying 🙂
Sadly TB a disease of the time. No longer a death sentence. Many thanks for stopping by.
This is so touching. I see a sepia photograph clutched closely in an embrace and a grandchild running through the hallway for a visit also into that embrace! Just beautiful!
Thank you kindly for leaving me such a beautiful review. Very much appreciated. All good wishes arqios.
You are most welcome Cassie. 🙏🏻
Sad, premature death., The years do not dim the sorrow. You can hear it in this poem it bleeds through. Nicely worded.
Sad to come across her photographs in a family chest. A poem was the least I could do. Thank you so much Soren for your nice review.
It is apt that a poem via your sepia photograph should draw one back to a time when Consumption was rife.
How many poets were prematurely lost far too early to the world as a result of this disease?
A write which clearly evokes the time and place, Cassie.
Many thanks Dave. I have letters she wrote before she died. All left in a chest when my own mum died a couple of years ago. So many people lost to that awful disease which is easily cured with the advance in medicine and yes that would include poets lost prematurely. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
A very tender poem, really like it
Thank you so much for your kindness. I appreciate your visit.
You are very welcome
Truly beautiful. Outstanding work.
Thank you Thomas for all that encouragement. Much appreciated.
Wow, what a touching Poem.
Thank you.
Thank you so much Kevin. Have a good day.
Such wonderfully moving words Cassie.
Andy
Many thanks Andy for stopping by. Much appreciated.
What a lovely tribute to a much admired lady. Life was tough in those days but somehow they survived. Excellent poem
Died at 17 which was often the case back then before TB was treatable. Happened all the time. Makes us appreciate the advance in medicine. Thank you David for that encouraging review.
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