Seen With Sadness

Cassie58

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 

  • Author: Cassie58 (Offline 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: 85
  • Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange, Teddy.15, Thomas W Case, NafisaSB
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Comments +

Comments14

  • Tristan Robert Lange

    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! 🌹👏🙏❤️

    • Cassie58

      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.

    • aDarkerMind

      very touching Cassie....
      very poetic on a subject close to my heart.
      bless you x

      • Cassie58

        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.

      • Neville


        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 ..

        • Cassie58

          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.

        • Teddy.15

          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... 🌹 💜

          • Cassie58

            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. 🌹💜

          • orchidee

            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!

            • Cassie58

              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.

            • arqios

              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!

              • Cassie58

                Thank you kindly for leaving me such a beautiful review. Very much appreciated. All good wishes arqios.

                • arqios

                  You are most welcome Cassie. 🙏🏻

                • sorenbarrett

                  Sad, premature death., The years do not dim the sorrow. You can hear it in this poem it bleeds through. Nicely worded.

                  • Cassie58

                    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.

                  • Doggerel Dave

                    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.

                    • Cassie58

                      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.

                    • TobaniNataiella

                      A very tender poem, really like it

                      • Cassie58

                        Thank you so much for your kindness. I appreciate your visit.

                        • TobaniNataiella

                          You are very welcome

                        • Thomas W Case

                          Truly beautiful. Outstanding work.

                          • Cassie58

                            Thank you Thomas for all that encouragement. Much appreciated.

                          • Kevin Hulme

                            Wow, what a touching Poem.
                            Thank you.

                            • Cassie58

                              Thank you so much Kevin. Have a good day.

                            • Goldfinch60

                              Such wonderfully moving words Cassie.

                              Andy

                              • Cassie58

                                Many thanks Andy for stopping by. Much appreciated.

                              • David Wakeling

                                What a lovely tribute to a much admired lady. Life was tough in those days but somehow they survived. Excellent poem

                                • Cassie58

                                  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.

                                • NafisaSB

                                  such a hauntingly tender, beautiful and tragic poem that immediately touches your heart-strings.
                                  may her soul rest in peace, Amen
                                  May you continue sharing such amazingly lovely poems..

                                  • Cassie58

                                    Thank you dear Safina. Your reviews are highly valued. Your encouragement means alot. 🌹

                                    • NafisaSB

                                      your poems are on such a higher up lane, i can only admire and appreciate the outpourings of your heart

                                      • Cassie58

                                        Bless you for all your encouragement. It means a great deal. 🌹



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