Rett

Mar 13, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Ghosts Tales from the Brazos- Lady in Lace

Lady in Lace

She strolls by the river
Her progress measured grace,
The dress long and flowing,
Cinched tight at the waist.
Providing a glimpse of a fashion
From a distant yesterday.

The attire that of a lady
Tatted collar of stately lace,
A parasol over a comely shoulder
To keep the sun from her face.
A view of times long past,
Remembered only in pictures.

What is known about her,
Where lies the places she goes?
Strolling down by the river
As the soft spring breeze blows.
Does she materialize from nowhere
Or perhaps from long ago?

Statuesque in her passing,
Filled with sweet mystery,
One blink of the eyes and she's gone,
Did she simply cease to be?
Sweet, lovely lady in lace
Where is it that you go?

Appearing as if from nowhere,
Disappearing without a trace,
With a stately, serene dignity,
Aglow on her angelic face.
Is she from the long forgotten past
Somehow lost in the mists of time?

— Rett, Mar 13, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Southern Texas, USA

Favorite Poets: Dickenson, Longfellow

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Critiques

Morgana Tragic…

17 years 2 months ago

Love It!

Ohhhh, Rett, I love this one, like I do anything of yours. I love such pictures from a distant yesterday, like a ghost. Great imagery, you describe her as if she floated before your very eyes. Just beautiful, my friend. Peace and Love Katie

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Thank you Katie

Glad you enjoyed this. It is virtually a complete re-write of the original I wrote in 1997. That one really was bad. The re-write addressed a lot of issues with the original. Respectfully, Rett: "Next time you think you're perfect, walk on water." "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Actually Julie

This was originally written in 1997, but I had my notebook full of my poetry up at the hospital with me and would read and update some of them during the times when I couldn't see my daughter. The book it is referenced from is... Ghosts along the Brazos by Catherine Munson Foster, Ruth Munson It is the ghost tales from the area that I live in. The original really sucked so I did an almost complete re-write to pass the time. Hospital reading is really bad. Magazine almost as old as I am. *LOL* Glad you liked it my friend. Respectfully, Rett:(paw) "Next time you think you're perfect, walk on water." "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein

Electric Blue

17 years 2 months ago

Ghost Tales

Rett This is just awesome. This apperition so beautifully floats gently on air. You mention her figure delicatly dress in fine shimmer and lace with a soft parasol shading her face from the gentle spring breeze I see this slender figure of beauty incarnate drift silently you cannot even hear the swish of gown trace the ground but then she does not touch the ground she floats above it serenly she quietly appears when she feel alone but eyes some where see her delicate line The Lady by the lake. Seem of tales of long ago There she walks as in a dream does she ever enter the lake like the water flow Always Electric Blue

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

My appreciation E.B.

Very glad I described it so well. I think you may have done an even better job on it. *L* There are a lot of old ghost tales around here. A little community not far from here called Bailey's Prairie has a tale of Mr. Bailey, a hard drinking, hard living, but very honorable man who was buried standing up so no man could look down on him. There is a tale of him walking the fields with his lantern looking for his whiskey and it startles motorists along the highway til this day. I have seen the light myself several years ago. I try to keep an open mind so I don't really know what the light is. Very pleased you enjoyed this. Respectfully, Rett: "Next time you think you're perfect, walk on water." "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein

Linda Moses

17 years 2 months ago

Rett

I live in Waco,Texas, and the Brazos runs right through our town. My husband tells me stories of the Brazos and of Cameron Park, which is right on the river. Very good write. Really held my interest. Cinched tightly at the waist? Sincerely, Linda

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

There are some wonderful tales of the Brazos

aren't there? I appreciate it Linda. As for the cinched tightly at the waist. In the old days women wore corsets that were pulled tight at the waist to make them look slimmer (also caused a lot of fainting. *LOL*) Very glad you liked it my friend. Respectfully, Rett: "Next time you think you're perfect, walk on water." "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein

Janice Pearce

17 years 2 months ago

Ghost Tales

Line 16, not sure if a question mark is need here Rett, but I so enjoyed this write and hope you have more for us, like a continued series? Hope so! ______________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

My deepest thanks Janice

Line 16 could probably do without the question mark. Probably move it to line 14 where it should have been anyway. As for a series of these, I might do that. I was debating whether to do one on old Brit Bailey at Bailey's Prairie since I have been witness to that phenomena myself. I might even do one about the Ship Mary Ann out of Freeport, Texas. Interesting story on both of those. I am very flattered that you liked this. Respectfully, Rett: "Next time you think you're perfect, walk on water." "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein

Janice Pearce

17 years 2 months ago

Rett

Looking forward to either of these, both sound very interesting. ______________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Thank you Janice H.

Glad you liked it. I was hoping that my description was clear enough. Respectfully, Rett: "Next time you think you're perfect, walk on water." "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein

Kailashana

17 years 2 months ago

Niiiiiiice. Rett, your

Niiiiiiice. Rett, your ghost story reminded me of this Renoir painting: http://www.overstockart.com/stoffioufle.html I'll have to dig up my old lady-of-the-lake ghost poems. ~A "We have to try to get rid of the notion of time. And when you have an intense contact of love with nature or another human being, like a spark, then you understand that there is no time and that everything is eternal." Paulo Coelho

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Wow! Anna

I sure wish we could post a picture with our poems as that would be so awesome to go with it. There is another story of a lady in gray that used to walk through this old house in East Columbia, Texas. The house has since burned down, but there are still stories that she haunts the ruins. I love that painting as it fits this poem so well! Respectfully, Rett: "Next time you think you're perfect, walk on water." "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein

deelilah

17 years 2 months ago

Hi Rett

I wanted to catch up with some of your prolific works and I was delighted to find this little gem and the history to go with it. Then I looked up the Monet picture. What a delightful find. You've done a great job putting your professional touches on this story. I'm looking forward to more. Yours, Dee

Kailashana

17 years 2 months ago

Lol. I can’t even go back

Lol. I can't even go back to my reply to change Renoir to Monet. Sometimes I wonder about myself.... ok.... often. ~A "We have to try to get rid of the notion of time. And when you have an intense contact of love with nature or another human being, like a spark, then you understand that there is no time and that everything is eternal." Paulo Coelho

S.KEENE

17 years 2 months ago

nice poetry

as i was reading this i could picture what you had written and i saw the "lady" walking along the river. nicely done...reminds me of some of the books i have read based in that era.. although you took me there in a few short words as opposd to a couple chapters. thanks have a nice day.

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Thanks Keene

I love the stately looks and mannerisms of the past, but live there? Uh Uh, no doctors that could do much more than prescribe sugar pills. Short life expectancy, *shudder* children lucky to live one year. Mothers dying in childbirth. But it was a romantic era. Glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate the comments very much. Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905