The Lone Sentinel- a Challenge by Bill Holland-Aka Billybuc
The old rugged fireplace standing alone and so majestically tall
Concrete bricks chipped and worn, some lying quietly against the old stone wall
The memories it must cherish held within the hollow wall inside
Mom, Dad, Timmy and Susie, Grandma Millie and Grandpa Bob, Sammie their beloved dog who embraced the happy family until the sad day he died
The fireplace kept the family warm and cozy so many winters yore
It kept the homemade bread warm wrapped in cheesecloth just outside the old hinged door
It popped corn for many years, with lit candles emitting a scent, a celebration of happy cheer
It kept an iron pot of water warm hanging from the polished hearth
It kept the newborn babies warm after each joyful birth
The old home place stood for a century after the family left their earthly abode
Until a tornado swept it away one dark march day, wooden shingles ripped apart covering the old country road
The Fireplace refused to surrender standing tall among the fallen trees
Today the trees returned to give shade to the lone sentinel, caressing it with their soft summer breeze.
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Comments
AUTHORThanks again Ann, you're very kind.
You're welcome, Ruby. It's all down to you!
- AUTHOR
What more could I ask for than Ann to say she felt my words and was there? Thank you so much. I love your generous comment.
I didn't realise I'd already read this response, Ruby, so here's my reaction to it today (written before I looked through others' comments and saw mine!):
History, atmosphere, nostalgia, warmth, happiness and sadness; you've wrapped it all up in this beautiful prose poem. I was there with all those people and could even feel the trees rustling and shading the old fireplace. Wonderful, Ruby!
Ann
- AUTHOR
Hello Peggy. I am thrilled that you liked this story/poem. Thanks so much.
You did a beautiful job with this photo prompt of Bill's. The story you told spoke of many family memories woven around that fireplace.
- AUTHOR
Hello Genna. I've been housebound for days. The snow and ice is treacherous and I'm sick of it! If it not for challenges, I would probably hibernate too. Thank you for a beautiful comment Sweet friend....
Ruby, I almost missed this gem. (I’ve been hibernating during the past couple of weeks.) If the sentinel could but speak, it would echo your words with the life it helped to give and sustain…a beautiful response to Bill’s challenge. Voted way up and shared.
- AUTHOR
Hello my sweet friend. Thank you for an enduring comment. Hugs..
Nostalgic, warm and loving...such beautiful work, dear Ruby.
- AUTHOR
Hello Nadine. I'm glad you liked my focus on the fireplace and it's love for the family. Thank you...
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Hello Pstraubie. Yes, the fireplace was a true friend to the family. I'm glad it brought back memories. Thank you for sharing.
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Hello Theresa. I used to live in Missouri and the area was called tornado alley. We would spend many nights in the basement. Thank's for the lovely comment.
Blessings..
Congratulations you did a great job by telling the fireplace's own story. Well done.
Defiant, determined, trusted the sentinel stood after its loved ones left. A fitting tribute..they lived and it lives on for them.
For those of us who have had one of these in our past, this was a lovely journey back into time.
Voted up+++ and shared
Angels are on the way to you this evening ps
Lovely contribution to the challenge, Ruby! I live in a state where tornadoes are the norm, and I have seen the destruction they can cause. Glad the fireplace still stands tall as a beacon to all the love the family shared there.
Blessings
- AUTHOR
Hello DDE. Wow four fireplaces, that's cool' I only have one and it's in the kitchen. Thank you....
- AUTHOR
Hello sujaya. Thank yo. Happy you enjoyed..
- AUTHOR
Hello Sarah. Nice to see you again. I loved writing this. Thank you for a well written comment. I hope everyone reads yours. It is a beautiful story. You are an excellent writer...
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Hello Audrey. I guess I am a deep thinker. I love to write about happy families, that changes when my muse wants to take over and write about sad times in my life. I'm so glad you liked this. Thank you. Smiling back...
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Hello Clive. So glad you enjoyed. Thank you..
You had a unique idea about this challenge and I did have four fire places but only used two.
very good narrative
Stories of a lifetime summarized beautifully in a few verses. Well written and nostalgic.
This is poignant and beautiful Ruby! I think you must feel on a deep level--at least that is what I get from your work! Smiles to you!
beautiful poem exploring
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Hello Jo. I love your comment and I believe that too. Thank you so much...
Ruby, this a beautiful poem. What we love will always live on. The sentinel, although broken and discarded, is no less loved.
- AUTHOR
Hello Manatita. I didn't grow up in a house with a fireplace but if I had, I'd like to think we had the good times as this family. Thank you for a beautiful comment
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Hello Shauna. I'm thrilled! Thank you for a beautiful comment...
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Hello Shyron. I'm so happy you could relive old memories through this piece. Thank you so much. Hugs..
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Hello Ann. I'm so glad you enjoyed my take on this. Thank you...
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Hello Sallybea. I just read yours and I loved your beautiful story. Thank you for coming to read mine..
A great poem! You used the memory or reminiscence's idea excellently, and you gave that Lone Sentinel a beautiful conclusion. Happy week-end, Ruby.
A great poem! You used the memory or reminisences idea excellently, and you gave that Lone Sentinel a beautiful conclusion. Happy week-end, Ruby.
- AUTHOR
Hello Homeplace Series. You are welcome. Happy to share. Thank you..
- AUTHOR
Hello Jodah. At first I couldn't decide if I was going to write a short story or poetry. Rhyming is what I love to do, so I went with the poem. So glad you enjoyed the video. I was an Elvis groupie and still am. Thank you..
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Hello Mike. You of all people know that I love Elvis. Thank you for the card and video. I loved them both. Your critique makes me a happy camper. Thank you..
- AUTHOR
Hello DJ., when I look at the picture of Elvis as a child, I feel sad. They were so poor. I'm thrilled you thought this was lovely. Thank you..
Ruby, you've painted quite a beautiful picture with your words. A lifetime of love and warmth was supplied by that old fireplace. Its pillar of strength symbolizes the unity of the family that lived within its protection.
Excellent job of Bill's challenge!
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Hello Lady Guinevere. Nice to see you. I've never seen a wind like that. We have tornadoes here, in fact one did some damage to my home three years ago. Thank you for reading and commenting..
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Hello daghoglund. I wanted to focus on the fireplace and tell the story about the family and how much the fireplace added to their life. Thank you..
- AUTHOR
Hello Mary. I'm so happy you liked this. I love challenges. Thank you..
Ruby, this is so beautiful, in this I see my own family when I lived with my grand parents, in the house that had two fire places.
Voted up, UABI but mostly Beautiful. Loved it.
Blessings and Hugs
Beautiful poetry! I enjoyed the walk through the history of this fireplace and now it's being looked after in its turn. Lovely.
Ann
Short and sweet, thanks for sharing your take on this fascinating challenge.
Thanks for sharing your vision of the Lone Sentinel... ;-)
A brief but delightful story/poem, Ruby, in response to the challenge. I loved Elvis' version of Green Green Grass of Home and the pics with it...brought back memories. Voted up.
Hello Ruby - Hey you are an Elvis fan - who knew (I think everyone.) You have spun a nice tale. It is strong and rich with the right amount of image building.
So sweet, Ruby.
I have not heard the "Green, Green Grass of Home" in a long time.
It make one think about how quickly we come and we go, but there are
some things that do not succumb to age quite as quickly.
Your story is lovely.
DJ.
I could have been there as well as you gave the description. Then the tornado. We do not get many tornadoes here but we get what is called Straight Winds and they actually twist trees off their trunks before they fall.
That is a nice poem, Ruby. It does well in focusing on the fireplace and its life cycle..
Oh Ruby what experiences you told us about in such a small space, Bill is so right. The life of the family and the home. Of course your choice of song/video is perfect.
Voted up, awesome, and beautiful.
- AUTHOR
Hello Bill, so glad you approve. I loved writing it. More challenges please! Thank you..
That was lovely, Ruby! You packed a lifetime into a few short lines....perfection in brevity. Well done! Thank you for taking part in the challenge. I truly do appreciate it.
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