Author Candice M. Martin
"The Box", "Reflections In My Tears" & "Petals of Life"
Little Words
Written: December 30, 2004
She turns away from his glance-
And wonders what happened to their once beautiful romance.
A lovely young woman, now full of pain and fear-
Wanting him to never see her tears.
He doesn't realize his words cut so deep-
That they make her feel so little; so cheap.
Jokes he calls them, but they always sting-
Where is the love he promised to bring?
Once happy young lovers full of joy-
Now he treats her as nothing but a used toy.
This once upstanding man, now calls her names-
And does what he can to make her feel shame.
So she turns away-
To hide her pain.
She wipes the tears from her eyes-
Makes promises to do better; to try.
Laughter comes to her no more-
But she won't walk out the door.
She'll only turn away-
And pretend their marriage isn't in disarray.
Once the vow to love was his pledge-
But now it's little words with a razors edge.
Words that bring her so much pain-
She only wonders what it is he gains.
No matter what he does, she won't give in-
He can't know her pain; she won't let him win!
She will keep all her pain deep inside-
And her tears she will always hide.
©2004 Candice M. Martin
Ol' Cemetery Road
Written: August 26, 2004
She was but fifteen when he went off to war-
A new bride and now alone like before.
He wanted to make her daddy proud-
Fighting the Germans would do it he vowed.
So away he went, but wrote almost everyday-
In every letter he'd send most of his pay.
She would cling to every word-
Laugh at the things that seemed absurd.
She told all around that she was an Army man's wife-
He was over yonder saving American life!
Her daddy could see how happy she had become-
It no longer mattered where the boy had come from.
The letters still came just not like at first-
And some days, when no mail came, she'd think the worst.
But within a day or so-another letter would arrive-
This meant he was still alive!
He told her he loved her and always would-
He'd be home soon as he could.
But if anything was to happen, then he had a plan-
This is how it began:
“My darling love, so much death is around-
And I know you make think me crazy or unsound.
But this I must tell you now in case I forget-
I do pray your needs will always be met.
You hold my heart-and I shall always be true-
I no longer have anything to prove.
I want you to know I have made out my will-
Paid for our house on top of the hill.
Everything we own is left to you-
This is the least I can do.
If this war never lets me return-
Please know you were always my only concern.
No matter what happens-promise me this-
Remember the feel of my kiss.
And by chance, if into town you see me flow-
Met me at Ol' Cemetery Road.
Why here you might ask-
Because this is where I'll be when I've finished my task.
If you receive news of my death when all fighting is over-
Still meet me at Ol' Cemetery Road-by the green clovers."
Suddenly a knock on the door made her reading stop-
Up she darted-and the letter dropped.
At the door was a man in uniform-“Here with a telegram”-
It was an official letter from Uncle Sam-
Quickly she read to herself-hoping against hope-
But soon realized with this news she couldn't cope.
“Sorry to inform you ma'am-but Corporal Smith was killed in an air attack…”
The telegram fell next to his letter that read, “Whether alive or dead-I shall come back …”
©2004 Candice M. Martin
Written: Started 2001, finished March 8, 2006
Every night we knelt at the foot of her bed.
She took my hand and always said,
“Daddy, pray with me.”
And so, I would always agree.
Together we look to the sky-
And send this prayer way up high.
Now I lay me down to sleep-
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I awake-
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Daddy’s girl has since moved away-
Leaving me with only memories of those days.
Now it seems only the silence looms-
Yet, every night I go into her old room.
I kneel at the foot of her bed-
And remember what she always said-
“Daddy, pray with me.”
So, I fold my hands together and silently agree.
I look up towards the sky-
And send this prayer way up high.
Now I lay me down to sleep-
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I awake-
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Fifteen years later, she got the call to come home quick-
Daddy was not doing real well-he’d become really sick.
As she drove, all she could think about was all the memories of her childhood-
He couldn’t be dying, she must have misunderstood!
Barely parking the car, she rushed in to make sure her father was okay-
But when she saw him, she began to cry because she knew he was slipping away.
She smiled as she gently touched his hand and he awoke-
Back the tears she had to choke.
He squeezed her hand and said, “Baby girl, it’s time for me to go-
Please never forget that I love you so.”
The tears in his eyes she could see-
So she suddenly said, “Daddy, pray with me”.
His tear stained smile meant that he’d agreed.
With tears in her eyes, she looked up towards the sky-
And together they sent this prayer way up high.
Now I lay me down to sleep-
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I awake-
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
When she glanced back down, she knew he had passed away-
But for one more time, her and her daddy got to pray.
Now I lay me down to sleep-
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I awake-
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
©2006 Candice M. Martin
Written: January 11, 2006
She ran, but darkness seemed to engulf her-
Trying to focus her eyes to the darkness, they only blurred.
Her head was racing-should she go straight?
How she felt like walking bait!
If she turned and went back-
Would he be waiting there ready to attack?
Clothes torn, body bruised-
Feeling alone and confused-
Out of the darkness she came
Bloody and in need-
Looking to wash away his dirty deed.
Broken and no longer in control-
He’d just taken her soul.
One man’s evil act-
Scar’s that can never be taken back.
Out of the darkness she came-
Yet, inside it forever she remains.
Where is the light she seeks?
Why is he still walking the streets?
She fears everything and is no longer alive-
There is no will to survive.
He’s coming back to finish his deed-
She knows he wants to see her bleed.
Windows nailed shut, doors double locked, -
In this hell he has her blocked.
She don’t go out, and no one comes in-
For fear of it happening again.
He took all her will that night-
And now she no longer wants to fight.
She will just hide from the world, keeping everything inside-
Because to her, the night he raped her, she died.
Nothing seems to make her feel clean-
So it’s better to not be seen.
Out of the darkness she came
Bloody and in need-
Looking to wash away his dirty deed.
Broken and no longer in control-
He’d just taken her soul.
One man’s evil act-
Scar’s that can never be taken back.
Out of the darkness she came-
Yet, inside it forever she remains.
©2006 Candice M. Martin
Written: February 8, 2006
They met many years ago, when times were fast and free-
And for fifty-two years, they shared a love everyone could see.
Five children brought such joy to their lives-
But they glowed even more when each new grandchild would arrive.
When he first met his beloved, he wooed her with just one rose-
But to hear her tell it, that's not exactly how the story goes.
How she got that rose was a story she'd tell all who'd listen-
And as he now told me, his eyes began to glisten.
Apparently, he'd seen her around town and wanted a date-
She claimed he ran up claiming they were soul mates.
As she turned to walk away,
He begged her to just hear what he had to say.
He told of some dream, where she was his queen-
And as royalty to others, they were seen!
“I'll not have any of this hogwash-now please excuse me!”
Suddenly he dropped to his knees-
“Let me have your hand for just this day, and nothing more-
I promise from then on, ‘tis me you'll adore!”
He was an army boy, through and through-
And now he thought there was something to prove.
She gave in and let him show her the city lights-
A nice dinner and glass of wine topped off the night.
As she turned to go her separate way-
He took her hand and gave her a “bouquet.”
She was taken back at first-as it was nothing more than weeds-
Until she saw a single red rose amongst the dying leaves.
It melted her heart-
And from then on, they were never apart.
Every year, he'd give her just one rose-
As for why, now everyone knows.
I was moved by his recollection of their love and past-
Though he said it all went just way too fast.
On Valentines Day, they were married-
And in her bouquet, just one rose is all she'd carried.
But on Valentines Day this year-
He'd said goodbye to his dear.
She'd passed quietly one night-
Yet he knew she was alright.
The day of the funeral, many didn't get the meaning behind what I knew-
For I understood, why into the casket it was just one rose he threw.
©2006 Candice M. Martin
