Between These Pages
Returned To Sender: Service Suspended58 total reviews
Comment from Mark Valentine
Wow - what a story - what a poem! The sound of the Poem has a haunting Poe-like quality to it. You know that some ghosts from the past have been unearthed.
I like how you bookend it with the lines "Some treasures are buried deep in the ground; / Some are in plain sight, waiting to be found"
And in between those bookends, a great story of how family history intersects with world history. The most compelling stanza, I think, is
"My father spoke of hunting days,
Of siblings' joys and laughing ways,
Of holidays and winter eves.
Through it all, brother's love did weave."
For the men, barely adults, who fought that war, there was such a short time between boyhood innocence and unfathomable global horror.
How many families have similar stories. And your author's notes are equally poignant - especially the image of your grandmother waiting in vain for her son to return.
An incredible story.
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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Wow - what a story - what a poem! The sound of the Poem has a haunting Poe-like quality to it. You know that some ghosts from the past have been unearthed.
I like how you bookend it with the lines "Some treasures are buried deep in the ground; / Some are in plain sight, waiting to be found"
And in between those bookends, a great story of how family history intersects with world history. The most compelling stanza, I think, is
"My father spoke of hunting days,
Of siblings' joys and laughing ways,
Of holidays and winter eves.
Through it all, brother's love did weave."
For the men, barely adults, who fought that war, there was such a short time between boyhood innocence and unfathomable global horror.
How many families have similar stories. And your author's notes are equally poignant - especially the image of your grandmother waiting in vain for her son to return.
An incredible story.
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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Oh my goodness, Mark!
I am more than honored by your exceptional rating and thoughtful review.
You are the first member to cite the "bookend couplets." (They are pentameter as opposed to the body being tetrameter. That was intentional).
It's difficult for me to fathom my uncle leaving home - within just a few weeks of graduating high school in September of 1939, joining the ArmyAirforce, and then perishing on October 24, 1944 by American torpedoes - without ever seeing his loved ones again...
So many people know of the atrocities that took place in Europe, but few really know the horrors that took place in the Pacific...
My grandmother never gave up hope. I've written about her as well..."Lucy Rose" is a poem in my portfolio...
Thank you again, Mark.
So very pleased my words resonated with you...
diane
Comment from MissMerri
This was SO interesting! Two of my father's brothers were prisoners of war in a Japanese camp and only one survived the ordeal and was liberated. My mother also had a brother taken captive. She was able to write to him though. Thank you so much for sharing these treasures with us. Your poem is so nicely written and tells the story with rhyme and meter. I am impressed with how you did this. I hope there will be more soon. MM
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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This was SO interesting! Two of my father's brothers were prisoners of war in a Japanese camp and only one survived the ordeal and was liberated. My mother also had a brother taken captive. She was able to write to him though. Thank you so much for sharing these treasures with us. Your poem is so nicely written and tells the story with rhyme and meter. I am impressed with how you did this. I hope there will be more soon. MM
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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Hello Adonna!
So pleased my words resonated with you.
I am quite certain that this poem will be the last re: my uncle. All that I have written about him have been for my children and their children...and to help others remember...
Thank you again!
diane
Comment from kahpot
What a wonderful read, "these letters had travelled through time" and what a beautiful image that line gives, and an inspiration to be passed on through the generations, great photo for this poem, very well written and presented****kahpot
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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What a wonderful read, "these letters had travelled through time" and what a beautiful image that line gives, and an inspiration to be passed on through the generations, great photo for this poem, very well written and presented****kahpot
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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Thank you kahpot!
So pleased my words resonated with you!
diane
Comment from Begin Again
What a wonderful yet deeply emotional discovery hidden within your family's books. Thank you for sharing and it was done so elegantly. Wishing you the best! Have a great day!
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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What a wonderful yet deeply emotional discovery hidden within your family's books. Thank you for sharing and it was done so elegantly. Wishing you the best! Have a great day!
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2020
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Hello Begin Again!
Thank you for your excellent rating and complimentary review!
diane
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
What a shock that must have been, Diane. Such sad letters to be returned. So many families had letters returned, but to find them all these years later, that must have been hard. Reading your fathers handwriting, the pain they suffered in silence all those years. Your poem really touched my, my friend. Thank you so much for sharing those with us. Big hugs, Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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What a shock that must have been, Diane. Such sad letters to be returned. So many families had letters returned, but to find them all these years later, that must have been hard. Reading your fathers handwriting, the pain they suffered in silence all those years. Your poem really touched my, my friend. Thank you so much for sharing those with us. Big hugs, Sandra xxx
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Hello Sandra,
It was a shock to discover the letters. But afterward, it was like I had been given a Christmas gift...from my father, as well as my mother, for on the backside of the blue letter, my mother wrote a paragraph to my uncle. She had the most beautiful penmanship I have ever read...
Thank you for your excellent rating and thoughtful review...
diane
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Between These Pages
by Mrs. KT
two old envelops found, they were returned to sender. I kept thinking of a letter of my dad, who passed away in 2006. Good job, my friend.
gypsy
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Between These Pages
by Mrs. KT
two old envelops found, they were returned to sender. I kept thinking of a letter of my dad, who passed away in 2006. Good job, my friend.
gypsy
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Hello Gypsy,
Thank you for your excellent rating and review.
So pleased you enjoyed...
Thank you!
diane
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Awwww, hell, Beautiful Lady -- you've got me all teared up here. Can't even explain it (maybe because I'm a big student of military history, especially the 'personal' side of it ... then, of course, my students as they enlisted or academy'd), but I've always had a strong admiration and fierce heart for the members of the service. Something that just gets ya 'right here', ya know? I know I've read other of your offerings, but this one - so vividly from a personal discovery POV - really hit home! :) Wonderfully written and encompassing, my friend!! :) Yvette
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Awwww, hell, Beautiful Lady -- you've got me all teared up here. Can't even explain it (maybe because I'm a big student of military history, especially the 'personal' side of it ... then, of course, my students as they enlisted or academy'd), but I've always had a strong admiration and fierce heart for the members of the service. Something that just gets ya 'right here', ya know? I know I've read other of your offerings, but this one - so vividly from a personal discovery POV - really hit home! :) Wonderfully written and encompassing, my friend!! :) Yvette
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Hooray!
Hello dear Yvette!
Thank you for your exceptional rating and stellar review. This one came from my heart, indeed.
I hope to gather all of my writings regarding my/our family and collate them into a book for my children and their children.
Might take me a while, but I do hope to do so!
So pleased my words resonated with you!
Thank you!
diane
Comment from ExperiencingLiphe
Those are certainly treasures to find from time to time. And to know the stories of each one is even more special. I love that your parents hid things in books. It's like a little treasure hunt every time you open a book. You did a great job and I love that you carry their stories on like you :)
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Those are certainly treasures to find from time to time. And to know the stories of each one is even more special. I love that your parents hid things in books. It's like a little treasure hunt every time you open a book. You did a great job and I love that you carry their stories on like you :)
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Hello Meghan!
So pleased my words resonated with you!
Thank you!
diane
Comment from dragonpoet
Diane,
This is a wonder treasure of the past you found in that book. It was a fitting hiding place because of your father's service and his love of reading. You are lucky to have found them.
Keep writing
Joan
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Diane,
This is a wonder treasure of the past you found in that book. It was a fitting hiding place because of your father's service and his love of reading. You are lucky to have found them.
Keep writing
Joan
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Hello Joan!
So pleased you enjoyed!
Thank you!
diane
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Hi Diane,
I did. You're welcome.
Joan
Comment from bob cullen
I can't help but wonder how you reacted the day you discovered the treasures contained in this book. And I imagine that elation resurfaces every time you read the letters that were written almost eighty years ago. Have you thought about donating them to a military museum. It really represents a great piece of British history.
Your poem here is exceptional. The rhyme and meter gave it a great flow. While the story itself is this post's hero.
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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I can't help but wonder how you reacted the day you discovered the treasures contained in this book. And I imagine that elation resurfaces every time you read the letters that were written almost eighty years ago. Have you thought about donating them to a military museum. It really represents a great piece of British history.
Your poem here is exceptional. The rhyme and meter gave it a great flow. While the story itself is this post's hero.
Comment Written 09-Mar-2020
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2020
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Hello Bob!
So pleased my offering resonated with you.
No, I have not thought about donating these letters. But I do hope to collate all of my family writings into a book for my family. These letters will be given to my children as well...
Thank you so much!
diane