Poet Tree

By DeEtta Miller

“Poet Tree” is a collection of poems written over the course of forty years. De Etta Miller’s poetry is the echo of an abused child of the “1950s,” up to the present-day voice of a grandmother and survivor. Her last chapter is dedicated to her youthful audience and contains stories the entire family can share and enjoy. She has infused a few fiction pieces throughout “Poet Tree.” See if you can tell what was imagined and what was real…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669878278

DeEtta Miller

N/A

Book preview

Chapter 1

FAMILY TREE

(LEGACY OF THE LEAVES)

Return, My Dears.

That Which I Did Not Have.

In nineteen-fifty

A family was growing.

Mother was pregnant

Her beauty was glowing.

A fairytale life

Was how it should be

Six kids in the suburbs

Our father did flee.

His return visits

Were filled with pain.

Violence and brutality

Was a daily strain.

Hiding became

The only safe place.

Huddled with siblings

Waiting for grace.

So, at twenty-five.

With the love of my life,

We built a safe home

For our kids and his wife.

I promised myself

A life much kinder.

Facing the future

Hope gave me a blinder.

Leaving behind

A past, in the dust.

Our home filled with caring

Gentility a must.

Our lives were tempered

With a velvet glove.

Kindness and caring

Respect and love.

Now our three children

Are parents as well.

There is peace and harmony,

In the places they dwell.

The gift of grandchildren

Fill our days with sweet sounds.

Their laughter and joy

In our home does abound.

The door is always open

For a hug and an ear.

To sooth the journey

We all sometimes fear.

And indeed, our loved ones

Return to their home.

For it’s more than a structure

With a garden gnome.

A house is a place

Made of brick and stone.

Our home is a haven,

Where you’re never alone.

Black Eyes and Motherhood

Must hold my words close to my tongue.

No emotions I’ll express.

The beast, six kids, an empty purse,

God, give me hope for rest.

I cannot run, they shackle me,

I cannot stay and die.

What life is this you’ve given us,

The tears they never dry.

Take your best shot.

I’m numb to it all.

Small shadows watch close

From a light in the hall.

Flight of the Bookworm

I love that I

Can hit the street.

Books call to me.

I move my feet.

I’m only ten.

Should stay at home.

Off to the library

All on my own.

My destination

Is over a mile.

Bad weather and traffic

I still wear a smile.

Snapshot Sweethearts

We step into the photo booth,

It feels surreal and looks uncouth.

We act like it’s just fun and games.

But both of us will feed the flames.

Upon the seat, we start to spin,

So each of us can fit within.

I pull the drape, you kiss my cheek,

A shopping mall, someone might peek!

We pose before the square glass plate,

With frozen grins we wait and wait.

A flash escapes a hidden lens,

Posterity will know we’re friends.

A whirring sound fills awkward air,

I turn away to break your stare.

A silent prayer is sent above,

Please drop the film, that caught our love.

I Give It Six Months…

Love at First Insight

Love in dark bars

Late into the night

Rarely lasts long

Seldom feels right

I never trusted

Romantic tripe

Love at first sight

Was just lust and hype

Broken hearted, naive

The job was a fit

But many nights

I wanted to quit

Dressed in white boots

Hot pants, bright pink

I spent the whole night

Serving drink after drink

I was just someone’s daughter

Trying to make a good living

Tips from men’s pockets

Made me forgiving

The kiss that was stolen

From my lips that night

Left me trembling with rage

What gave him the right?

I had to tell someone

I needed a friend

He got on his mic

Shouting That has to end!