TALLAHASSEE LAND

A few days back we took a trip

my cousin Jean and I

to the pretty capital of our state

to find some info on our kin

or at least give it a try

We looked in buildings filled with deeds and wills

and dusty books stacked high

and we made copies from hand written pages

till our arms were limp and throats were dry

The R. A. Building was just one

named not for the color, but for the man

and it stands now on busy Bronough Street

in Tallahassee land

That day we trod the trails of time

and our memories went wild

for it was here great grand Pa lived

when he was just a child

and with horse and wagons, our family came

over rugged trails of Florida sand

and here they stayed and built their homes

near tallahassee land

They came from Georgia's red clay hills

to make a better life

and great grand pa had a land grant given

for himself, his children and his wife

He built a small log cabin

and cleared his homestead place

he worked all day and into the night

while sweat streamed down his sunburned face

sometimes my thoughts will ramble

back to the troubles they had to stand

as they lived benieth great moss hung oaks

near Tallahassee land

As pangs of happiness full up my heart

I walk these sacred hills

for this is where they laughed and cried

and in my soul I see them

as if their spirits lived here still

This is where great grand pa Jasper

put the ring on great grand ma's hand

and here they wed in candle light

in Tallahassee land

Their lives were happy in this time

for hard work was what they new

but now here they lie all turned to dust

as if they never lived or grew

Now their graves are old and moldy

but their tombstones scrolled and grand

and covered all in bracken now

in Tallahassee land

And as I stand here now this day

looking down on their place of rest

I wonder 'bout there temprement

how they thought and how they dressed

I wonder if this gentle breeze

that just now blew across my face

could be great grand ma's timid touch

a touch that time can not erase

I wonder if they ever thought

'bout their familly down the line

would ever think about them or care

or even try to find

I wonder if they ever wondered

about their future, if life be stormy

or just bland

but we're thinking 'bout you now, great grand pa

as we stand in Tallahassee land

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darkpool's picture

a wonderful and sentimental

a wonderful and sentimental read I certainly enjoyed your trip down memory lane and I'm glad you were able to commute with your ancestors

a.griffiths57's picture

    A lovely write all about

 

 

A lovely write all about times past and your ancestors.  So many questions to ponder on too. Loved your poem and it's reminiscing quality, of days gone by. My sister in Australia is busy tracing our families ancestors; she recently wrote to me to say how she had traced our ancestory back to 1440 a.d. in Britain. I hope you have such luck tracing your ancestors.


 

 

http://www.postpoems.org/authours/a.griffiths57