A Deserted Graveyard

A Deserted Graveyard

By Larry Linville

Far out in the county

in a deserted field

where grass has died and wilted

a graveyard is revealed.

The graves of family members

who worked hard with the land

were marked by simple stones

some of which still stand.

The stones not costly granite

some simple limestone gray

most were just poured concrete

where family bowed to pray.

Names and date were crudely

carved in each stone in love

some broken and fallen

others pointing straight above.

Each grave holds a treasure

and a story of a life

some died in golden years

others from some strife.

Some shared a common date

perhaps from some disease

and now they laid together

below a grove of trees.

After winter blankets them

and dresses them with snow

spring will come hide them

with tall grass that will grow.

No one will come and mow it

or bring flowers in a vase

God alone will tend them

with a special loving grace.

© Copyright 2009 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.

Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Little Black Haired Girl

Little Black Haired Girl
By Larry Linville

He was only ten years old
and girls were the enemy.
A girl walked out from the crowd
just as pretty as could be.

He saw her black curly hair
and did not know what to think.
Her smile and her big brown eyes
stood out with her dress of pink.

Enemies don’t look like that.
It made the boy so confused.
His big hatred for girls
he was beginning to lose.

He hid behind his mommy
but her movements he would track.
When he peeked around mother
that pretty girl looked back.

And when the night was over
as he walked out the door
he stopped as he was leaving
and looked at that girl once more.

He never saw that girl again
but in every crowd he looked.
Although he still hated girls
on that girl this boy was hooked.

© Copyright 2009 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Woman Eating Out Alone

Woman Eating Out Alone
By Larry Linville

She drove alone in her car
to eat alone at a salad bar.
Her pastel pant suit neatly pressed
had replaced her former fancy dress.

Had the waitress not smiled and spoke
and shared a funny little joke
she would have eaten quietly
sitting where everyone could see.

When she finished she got out a mirror
to see if her lipstick would smear.
She smiled at the waitress by the door
like she’d done many time before.

Alone she drove back to her house
thinking of her departed spouse
and how they ate out every week
and many times they didn’t speak
but communicated without using a word
and both understood just like they’d heard.

She recalled how hard he had worked
and never did his saving shirk.
He left her with ample funds
so she could make these weekly runs.
She paused when inside the door
to thank him as she’d done before.

© Copyright 2009 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Arguing With Myself

Arguing with Self
By Larry Linville

My best arguments are with myself.
I place my prejudgments on a shelf
and have a good look at every side
where thoughtless views seem to collide.

As logical as I try to be
I point out things the way I see
and then I assume another view
and see things different when I’m through.

The Devil’s advocate I become
even if that view seems very dumb
but it helps me see what I might miss
overlooked in a world of bliss.

Each argument I both win and lose
but the best answer I can choose
and walk away all the better
with my mind freed from a fetter.

© Copyright 2009 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.