Monday, March 4, 2013

An Empty Bench--By Jan Henson--Turkey

An Empty Bench

An empty bench, this cold, misty Autumn day,
Normally two lovers sit, of elderly sway.
William and Norma held hands upon this bench
They laughed out loud together when he called her ‘wench!’!

William sits at home now, sad and very alone,
Norma’s here no longer, to heaven she has gone.
He’ll go to the bench, when his tears no longer flow
For the sweetheart he married all those years ago.

Inside his head and heart she wanders all the time.
Just what was the reason ,and what was the rhyme,
That took her way too early from his warm embrace?
Leaving empty tomorrows that he cannot face.

Please go , William, and sit upon your love bench
Remember with fondness your sweet and loving wench,
And when the Autumn leaves fall on the softest sigh
It will be Norma blowing kisses from the sky.

Jan Henson has written poetry for a few years. She finds it an enjoyable experience.  When she attended school in England (in the ‘50’s) poetry seemed such a dry medium and she wasn’t all that impressed.  After school, she became a hairdresser and continued the profession after her marriage and birth of her four children.  When her youngest was three, she started working nights at a nursing home.  She realized her passion for the profession and became a nurse.  She worked in the healthcare industry for 20 years.  After her children were grown, she retired to Turkey where she currently lives.

14 comments:

  1. Thank you, Phyllis Babcock, for the following comment:

    Jan--Life and sadness of losing a partner comes forth in this wonderful poem.

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    1. Many thanks to you, Phyliss..losing a loved spouse is very hard, especially if the marriage is a long one..this was written for my friend William, whose wife died very suddenly last year..
      Jan x

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  2. Jan:
    I love the uplifting ending
    such a sweet image.

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  3. Such a beautiful poem Jan, it captures treasured moments evolving life and love. Always a pleasure to read your work.

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    1. Thank to you, Anielica..your words are most kind..
      Jan x

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  4. Very emotional write here Jan - so nice reading you. So much love is shared in this poetry, the last verse is the best, for sure!!!
    Thank you for sharing this poem with us here on 'Whispers...'

    Rhoda

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    1. Thank you so much Rhoda..I am glad you enjoyed the read

      Jan x

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  5. Dear Jan,

    Thank you for the comments you left for other writers. You are always ready to encourage people and a blessing to the writing community. I am so glad to have you a part of Whispers.

    Karen

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  6. Dear Jan,

    I remember very well this touching poem you wrote for your friends. So very nicely written and I'm glad I had a chance to read it again thank you for sharing it.

    Love Sandra

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  7. I love the word "wench"....
    I am sure that William misses his wench very much...
    She waits for him....with that same twinkle in her eye...
    What a loving heart beats within you, Dear Lady...
    Thank you for the beautiful share....
    Brightest Blessings to you and yours!!
    ~Dena

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  8. Thank you, Jack Horne, for the following comment--

    Jan Henson: What a tender and touching write - just beautiful.

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  9. Touching,inspiring and beautiful poem.

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  10. Dear Jan -

    I can relate very sadly to this remarkable poem. You've capture the longing, the missing, the angst for a love lost.

    love,
    Kathy

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