Thursday 6 February 2014

The Ballad of Susie


Afternoon sun touches lightly the hair of Susie
As she waits with one suitcase & one way ticket
She is smiling with that light that drive away blues
As she thinks of her love like a secret

A rebel, she's walking away from her family's fortune
As she counts down the time, her hands clasp
& unfolds his letter like flint to her cold hands:
This fire we make,  this love to last

Though Susie is 19 & just out of college,
She knows he's the one she's going to marry first
Dashing & wild among men, she followed her guts:
This fire we make,   this love to last   

No rings nor flowers nor money, but she didn't care 
Here he comes now in an old white car at last
She feels the world bursting inside her, when he said:
This fire we make, this love to last

Though Susie is 19 & just out of college,
She knows he's the one she's going to marry first
After 50 years, she tells me:  she won the lottery when he said:
This fire we make, this love to last

  


Posted for:   D'verse Poets Pub - Thanks for bearing up with my amateur lyrics, smiles ~
and Poets United - Mid-week Motif:   Love  - This is based on my mom's story, who eloped at age 19 with my dad.    

Picture credit:   here

48 comments:

  1. What a beautiful love story, Grace. She walked away from her family's fortune and found her own! Wonderful to read of young love like this that lasts!

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    1. A lot of challenges but they stuck together, smiles ~ Thanks Mary ~

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  2. Aw. What a romantic story. Fifty years huh? That's something to sing about. I hope you show your Mom this lovely poem.

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    1. More than 50 years, I think ~ Thanks Myrna ~

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  3. ah this is beautiful... when he is the right one, you just know... and you're ready to leave everything else behind...it's brave...it's crazy...it's love...

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    1. It's very brave alright ~ I didn't meet my mother's side until I was like 6 yrs old, when she reconciled with her family ~ Don't think I can be that rash ~ Thanks Claudia ~

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  4. Aw. And YAY for making choices that turn out to be right! I like this Ballad. For a song, I might add a refrain like "You Go, Susie, Show us the Way, Susie!" (Just kidding.) And then to read this is a true story!

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    1. I might just add that line, thanks Susan ~

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  5. Sounds a little on the Johnny Cash side Grace. Nice song. >KB

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  6. It is a def a ballad, a song of hope, faith, & renewal; so cool to even just hear that some folks did not court or spark for years, and still found a lasting union; three marriages for me, and my "real" wife and I are now on our 21st year.

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    1. Congrats on your milestone Glenn ~ Thanks ~

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  7. Wonderful sweet love story.. Some relationships just clicks... Others just end

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  8. I know couples like that - it's quite an adventure. Would make a heck of a country song I think. I can hear Reba singing it. Nice work Grace.

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  9. Very sweet story! It makes me feel good that it is based on your parents' real love story.

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  10. i would like to hear the tune you heard when you were writing this...a love that endures is a beautiful thing....and when you have love truly...all that extra is just that...extra...

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    1. Some sappy ballad song, smiles ~ Thanks Brian ~

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  11. Love this. Glad to see a happy ending (or should that be continuing??) in a first marriage! :-)

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  12. Though Susie is 19 & just out of college

    a very pliable line, just right to be sung.

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  13. Love Susie for being strong...I think I hear a little Johnny or June Carter Cash as well ;)

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  14. Aah, true love, what a wonderful thing... Good for her!

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  15. nicely done... a good story told that'd be worth singing

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  16. This fire we make, this love to last

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  17. Wonderful story, beautifully told. And I love the picture too.

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  18. The leap of faith. "This fire we make, this love to last" Damn that's so good! So beautifully told and the accompanying picture makes it all the more perfect.

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  19. love your repeating line
    "this fire we make, this love to last"
    sigh...

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  20. just a lovely ballad, Grace - your lyrics sang to me

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  21. 50 years, and taking the plunge, sounds like they knew indeed

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    1. It's like a lottery, she would tell me ~ Sometimes you are lucky ~ Sometimes you are not ~ Thanks Pat ~

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  22. I read that and think of my daughters, and my hope that they find love so true

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    1. It took a lot of work, I can assure you ~ Thanks for your visit ~

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  23. You'll walk away from fortunes when you're in love at that age. What a beautiful tale, Grace...and happy it lasted.

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  24. Love that lasts is something to sing about...I really like the repeating line.

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  25. I unfortunately probably chested and put up music and wrote the words. I do not think I could make anything quite as beautiful as some of what I have read and yours is no exception Grace. So glad they have such a wonderful relationship still ~ smiles

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  26. 50 years it held on! More than just a love story but a risk and sacrifice that worked wonders. It's just amazing! Great write Grace!

    Hank

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  27. Love that is a rarity these days. Well done.

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  28. I love happy endings. What an inspiration (in more ways than one) your parents give. :-) Happy weekend, Grace. :-)

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  29. She must have been quite the catch for him beautiful, background of class/culture, and smart enough to have finished collage by age 19. Fairy tale love story; the kind all us tortured romantics crave.

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  30. I love refains and yours is perfect. love that line about the letter like flint to start the fire. Excellent! :-)

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  31. Amateur? Doubtful, my friend. It reminds me of when I knew Senior would be my first husband. Beautiful. As always, thank you and have a fantastic week!

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~