My Dusty Soul

Their mother dreamed of better things for her little girls in this life She wanted more, than to be poor as an abusers little wife

I traveled west to the sunset

where the desert begins to roast

the heat baked down, on every town

across the plain onto the coast

I came upon an old Buick

a woman two children in curls

Their dreams stranded, their car branded

a look of sorrow on the girls

 

I pulled my pickup in behind

walked to the window said "hello"

Offered a ride, "its cool inside

come with me and we'll find a tow"

At first they wouldn't come along

choosing instead to stay and bake

"We'll have to stay, cause I can't pay

I think this trip was a mistake"

 

 

The girls were all of ten years old

their pain had tested their belief

Innocent pawns, of sun-baked bronze

whose pleading eyes begged for relief

I saw in them the Grapes of Wrath

headed west on little money

relief from strife, a better life

in the land of milk and honey

 

I took them ten miles down the road

an oasis like a mirage

A bit of luck, found a tow truck

had the car towed to the garage

We shared a lunch that afternoon

their radiator was repaired

I'd eased their trials, restored their smiles

it felt good to know I had cared.

 

Their mother dreamed of better things

for her little girls in this life

She wanted more, than to live poor

as an abusers little wife

 I never gave the girl my name

fighting against my vanity

Theirs was a goal, that saved my soul

sharing with them humanity

Author's Note

It was 1998. I was crossing the western dessert to the coast. I remember this woman and her two little girls. How scared they were to be on the road alone and broke down. The sun was so relentless that day. I was on a trip to southern California to deliver a box to the docks. I had a hard time convincing them to go with me. I paid the mechanic to fix the car and gave the woman money for gas. The little girls so like my own. The mechanic brought their car around. The girls were drinking pop on the bench outside the diner, awash in smiles as I drove off toward the setting sun. I know they thought that I had been a godsend. What they didn't know was that they had given me much more than I did them. I found my thoughts drifting back to my own children and thinking of how blessed I was.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I liked this. We just never know when or where we are going to need a helping hand so it's always good to lend one when we can. These days folks are just as scared someone trying to help might be a mass murdering lunatic. When I was a kid I remember waving at complete strangers driving down the road and they waved back. We left our doors unlocked at night and kids could go out walking alone without fear. The world gets a little crazier every day I think. Great piece here Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Fabian always a treasure to see you here. You lend a lot of class to this place. I know the world has changed. However I refuse to go through life afraid. thank you

[SoulCrusader (Yas)]

What a heartwarming story....shows just how some people like yourself are always thinking deeply and humanisticly...
loved the memories you bought back to life with its immaculate detailed imagery...

well done :)

[Tate Morgan]

soul thank you

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

So beautiful, Tate. Honestly. Things like this keep my hope in humanity alive. We don't need government programs, we need people like you (and me, because I do these sorts of things) who look deep inside of themselves and find a little bit of their own soul to share with someone in need. This is both refreshing and haunting at the same time. I find the writing superb, and the message is just breathtaking. Well done, my friend...well done...

[Tate Morgan]

Life is fun if you just share it with another.i had a friend tell me she hateds children the other day .i looked at her and said you must hate me then lol I dont think i will ever grow up to be a cynic

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Haha...well said

[Sunni Davis]

Its rare to find such kindness in the world we live in. But when its offered, its so refreshing and sweet, for both the receiver and the giver. This is a beautiful poem, Tate, and it touched my heart deeply.

[Tate Morgan]

sunni I have been in this position and was not long after this when a man rescued me from the southern desert on my way home from this trip

[Sunni Davis]

Wow....it really is true that when we do good things for others, good things will happen for us when we need them most.

[.]

~ wow... a beautiful message... and i agree with you completely... i think that an opportunity to help gives us more than we give... it truly does enrich our soul in special ways and reminds us how blessed we are...

[Tate Morgan]

i dont need much from life the open road friends and a home to return to

[.]

~ beautifully said... same here... :)

[Donna DeLong Matthews a..]

Beautiful Tate. Not only that you could write this but it be from a memory. Those always make the best.

[Tate Morgan]

DSonna I am taken back those years to the time when i met these three It wasnt long after this that i found myself in the same mess when my truck blew a serpentine belt in the southern desert crossing route ten in arizona and a guy stopped and helped me

[Donna DeLong Matthews aka Gold Pen Ghost]

Well Tate this is an awesome reminder that there are still good people in this world. Something I have refused to stop believing in.... God Bless you my friend....

[Tate Morgan]

and you too dear you too

[therisa]

Tate, your poem reminds of the two people, who opened their hearts to me, during my darkest hour of despair. Taking me away from the ledge that I found myself, after being disown by my mom, for being trans and a lesbian. I am sure that the mom and her daughters know the gift that they gave to you, in 1998.

[Tate Morgan]

I am sure they do as well I have been in those shoes a few times and was lucky another stopped to help me.hank you

[therisa]

Your welcome and thank you, Tate, for asking me, to be your friend.

[Tate Morgan]

the honors mine

[therisa]

your welcome.

[Rogue]

This is a lovely memory you shared. The real gift you gave them was kindness, Tate and not one any of them would ever forget. They took that menory forward as an example to give to those who need when they are able. Always we hope that should our own loved ones find themselves in a similar situation that a good hearted soul will come along and assist them.
This was beautifully told. Thank you for sharing.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you rogue We all need help at times Dont we?

[Rogue]

Indeed we do. You are welcome. :)

[Tate Morgan]

thanks dear

[quinfinn]

well, i was impressed by the 'grapes of wrath" reference, foremost. an act of random kindness, personified in a well constructed and heartfelt write was what i read here. it is these acts of humanity which bring the giver so much more personal pleasure that they actually bestow on the benefactor of these acts. so few people really get this, but i do. i have to share with you a thought though, tate. of course, i speak only for myself, but when i log onto a page and start to read and am suddenly ambushed by a song, whether fitting the material or not, i find it a huge distraction from the write and find myself muting the volume on my desktop so that i might better enjoy the read, and a fine read this was. thanks for sharing!

[Tate Morgan]

I think i agree on your exception i need to do something with that

[quinfinn]

much better!

[Tate Morgan]

i agree you are a wonder thank you

[quinfinn]

it might just be me, but, i just think that imbedded music detracts from the poetry unless it is very relevant and played at very low volume....just my opinion.

[Ravyne Hawke]

What a beautiful recollection. You never know if you will be someone's angel or if that person will be yours, but by helping someone in dire straits, there is bound to be an exchange of godliness. I've always loved the picture that you used.. taken during the depression, showing the hardship and determination to survive. Thank you for a step back in time.

[Tate Morgan]

I stepped back a bit in this as well it was over 10 years ago.I sometimes wonder what became of these three.I wonder are they laying on a beach in florida or happily married. it isnt too much to ask I don't think.

[Ravyne Hawke]

With such a sad start and an angel to help them, I would like to think that they moved on to a better life and have lived happily. The alternative is too disturbing.

[Tate Morgan]

I'd rather hope they are happy at last

[Robbie~xoxo~]

We are lucky to meet Angels like this... a chance encounter... a lovely message which brings tears to my heart...

You have captured a profound moment... an excellent write!

[Tate Morgan]

I remember this day very well.i was still a long way from where i was going. But i missed my family and saw a chance to help another family .I wanted to ease the little girls pain and make them smile again. life isnt supposed to be so much suffering. Thanks for reading it

[Robbie~xoxo~]

My pleasure... ~xo~:)