Saturday, January 25, 2014

Journal Photos

A photo of me from my Journal


©2014 Susan Noyes Anderson

One faded girl in sepia,
eyes bright and opened wide.
Her life was sweet and simple then,
with nothing much to hide.

No worry bubbled through her veins;
no sadness scarred her soul.
The world was hers or nearly so;
she traveled without toll.

The sun shone warm upon her face;
each storm but cleared the air.
When lightning danced, the thunder clapped;
foul weather bowed to fair.

Her photo whispers, draws me in,
reminds me of a day
when innocence was all I knew
and troubles passed away.

The glow of faith had yet to face
the darkness at the door,
and loss had left no lasting stain
upon the unmarked floor.

What would it be to turn back time
and dwell behind her eyes,
when answers came in black and white
and truth steered clear of lies?

I still remember joy unbound
by grownup woes and cares,
untempered by the ups and downs
a wife and mother shares.

Those narrow shoulders left no room
for burdens on my back,
and every hope was still alive
and every dream on track.

Sometimes I long to be that girl.
Just once more, I would be
the little girl who thought she could
control her destiny.

And for a day I'd sail away
as far as I could go,
back to the years when clouds and rain
bespoke a bright rainbow.

Yet seasons change, all in their time.
Each foe and every fight
made of that girl a woman
who has learned to seek the Light.

Not only for herself but for
the ones that she holds dear.
Sweet memories in sepia
yield now to pictures clear.

Today, her golden hair is white,
and years have lined her face
with hard-earned knowledge, wisdom, and
no small amount of grace.

When courage wanes, sometimes I mourn
the girl I used to be.
And yet, to lose what I am now
would set me back, not free.

So I will keep my lessons earned,
embrace the roles I fill,
and treasure up the little girl 
that lives inside me still.

Life calls for guts and glory and
a forward-looking view.
The burdens bring forth blessings.
God sees His children through.



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27 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles...cool look back at life...and i think it did seem easier then, more simple and we had not let life pile on...i think sometimes we let everything get in the way of that faith thinking we have to carry all of it ourselves...life def requires guts...and glory...

EG CameraGirl said...

Life back then seems simpler to us now, but I bet we thought we thought we had all kinds of troubles back then when we were living through them.

You were such a cute little girl! And I think you are still cute as a big girl. ;)

EG CameraGirl said...

Hmmm. I wonder why I wrote "we thought" twice! Strange.

4 Lettre Words said...

What sweet photos to have, Sue!

Helena said...

Oh, my! Your penultimate verse got me to that teary stage you try keep at bay! What a remarkable poem, Sue. I've no doubt you felt every word!

Unknown said...

This is wonderful. I love the picture too. This is one of my favorites of yours.

Lola said...

Such thought-provoking words - plus superb photo-memories.

Thanks for the comments too!

storybeader said...

how great to have those old photos! Nice poem to go with it {:-D

carol l mckenna said...

So good to have you visit ~ hope you are well ~ lovely post and photos ~ little cutie ~
carol, xxx
www.acreativeharbor.com

Unknown said...

I loved this.

Favorite part, aside from you balancing on the sides of your little feet, would be "Those narrow shoulders left no room
for burdens on my back."

Ahh yes, that explains childhood and why they are so little. Perfect.

Pondside said...

Ah, that smile hasn't changed at all, and I can see that the eyes are wide open. As happens sometimes, just when it's needed most a little bit of help puts itself in front of me, and today it was your poem. I will hold onto '....And yet, to lose what I am now
would set me back, not free.'

Judie said...

You sweet woman! We may not think the same way, but I still adore you!!!

Leovi said...

I love these beautiful photos, you were a very pretty girl, now a woman who writes beautiful poems!

Karen Mortensen said...

Great. Love the pictures.

Gattina said...

What a lovely poem !

Nancy said...

Awww, you were so cute and still are! :)

Unknown said...

Love the pics and the poem.

Gail said...

Tears! Innocence to wisdom...what a price we pay.

Unknown said...

Don't wish all wish for a do-over? I know I do. That was beautiful Sue.

jen said...

Is it enough to say I loved it? How about I love you? And your final picture was what I kept hoping to see as I got deeper into the poem. This may be my all-time favorite. Awesome.

Grandma Honey said...

So so sweet, Sue! LOVE those little girl pictures of you….I wish you would show more.

Friko said...

The best thing would be to save the innocence of then into the experience of now.

You still look like a happy girl, Sue.

karen said...

That brought tears to my eyes. I don't think there's one of us who doesn't long for that small child that was us every once in a while. Such sweet pictures of a happy girl. I can see her in you even now.

RobinfromCA said...

Just wonderful! Love the insight!

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Beautiful poem and love love the journal pics of you. You are lovely inside and out.
Hope your doing well.
Love ya
Maggie

Splendid Little Stars said...

a stunning poem!!

Oh yes what would it be like?
"What would it be to turn back time
and dwell behind her eyes"
"treasure up the little girl that lives inside me still."
"And yet, to lose what I am now would set me back, not free."
...a few favorite lines, but the whole poem sings!

Jenny said...

This just melts my heart...

It can't be said any better than that!

Thanks for linking to the letter "J".

A+