Old Frank At The Feed Store Remembers

For We Write Poems prompt #155: A Red Letter Day
http://wewritepoems.wordpress.com/

Old Frank At The Feed Store Remembers

She was just a little spit
of a thing, but when that child
would sing she could charm
angels. Bring a thousand
of ‘em down from heaven
just to lean in, to listen.

The first time she stepped
to front of stage there
was some soft laughter. After
all, we’d  known Anastasia
since the day she was born,
and her ways, being different,
we didn’t expect much.

All dolled up in that scarlet
red dress, two sizes too big
and a bit of a mess, had no
idea just what she intended.

But, when she opened her mouth
and began to sing, there was awe
all around and thunderous applause
ringing through that old feed store.

Voices shouting for more,
whistles galore, hands clapping,
feet stamping, ‘til the place
was pulsing with a life it had
never known before.

When she was finished,
she stood still for a moment,
stared into some of those eyes
that had laughed before, then
picked up her trailing skirt,
and without a word, turned,
walked away, and kept
right on going. And for
very good reasons, doubt
she’s ever looked back again.

Elizabeth Crawford  5/9/13

Notes: Again, this is a combination of things. Some of the words from the Sunday wordle, Irene’s prompt, and some coaching from Anastasia herself. She may be a character, but she does seem to know the way of her own story.