Number of Entries
The Write Stories
.............................................................................1
The Write Poetry
.............................................................................4
Learn from the Masters
.............................................................................1
The Write "Stuff"
.............................................................................2
The Write Ads
.............................................................................
As the car pulled slowly into the cemetery, my eyes were already threatening to brim over. I sniffed loudly, and stared blankly out the window at the tranquil scene. We slowly circled around a long, winding path, until abruptly we stopped. Mom climbed out of the car and walked off, leaving me to search for my friend's grave. Mechanically, I wandered the rows of little metal plaques, searching for the one marking a place I hadn't been to in three years.
I was about to give up, when I stumbled on a marker, and, looking down at my feet, realized it was his. My vision blurred, as my senses flooded with a thousand memories. The peaceful breeze, chirping birds and other reminders of my surroundings faded away, and all I saw was a vision of the last day I saw him. In my mind, I appeared very young and light hearted, blissfully unaware of how life could change so quickly.
That day was much like today -- sunny and warm. The calmness seems oddly out of place, and yet it's all that I feel. Not anger or confusion as I had for so long, only a cool, quiet grief. There's an ache in my heart that never quite leaves. It serves as a reminder of lessons learned, and of friends nearly forgotten. I feel old, as if it had happened a million years ago; a chapter of my life that is now completely finished.
Collapsing on the thick, green grass, I finally let my tears flow freely, drenching the cold, unadorned metal plate with salty drops. As I cry, somehow the ache lessens, and comfort comes. A hint of color catches my eye, and I look to the side and see a little cluster of forget-me-nots growing amid the tall green grass and dandelions. Just then, the gentle breeze brushes my wet cheeks, as if to wipe away the tears. My skin feels warm; I wrap my arms around myself in a big bear hug, knowing everything is alright. I rise to my feet, looking up at the bright, sunny sky, and strangely, I smile.
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;--
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me. She was a child and I was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea,
But we loved with a love that was more than love--
I and my Annabel Lee--
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me. And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud by night
Chilling my Annabel Lee;
So that her high-born kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea. The angels, not half so happy in Heaven,
Went envying her and me:--
Yes! that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of a cloud, chilling
And killing my Annabel Lee. But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we--
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in Heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:-- For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea--
In her tomb by the side of the sea.
