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

[Dhaye]

I am touched by the story, Tate. You are an angel for them. I admire your helping hand, your authentic heart to be humane. Only few can be like this.
I love the poem. Thanks for sharing it. :)

[Tate Morgan]

dhaye Thank you so much

[Renée]

Lovely poem and lovelier act of kindness ! It is what we are here for on earth.. to raise each other up..thank you for sharing this moment !

[Tate Morgan]

thank you for stopping by

[Renée]

a pleasure !

[Barbara Walker]

Great write, Ted. I hope they were able to find a better life. You surely helped them on their way. It could have had a very bad ending.

[Tate Morgan]

It was smiles all way round thanks

[Jazique]

First I know that piece, its by Doreatha Lange and its the migrant mother, she was really good at capturing poverty. So that really does go great with what you have wrote. I mean this is just wonderful and it is so hard to do a good thing and care not that you were the one that did it, but the fact that something good was done. You details and references to things made the whole poem all together and when a writing has a theme such as this; it makes it all the more powerful and all the more important that you have said this with the right words which, you did. Oh, I adore the last few lines. "Theirs was the goal, to save my soul
sharing with them humanity" those really were the lines to end with as they captured my heart and soul leaving a smile on my face.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you. I wished at first to help them. But in the end I found myself wishing they had a good life and family to watch over them, In so doing I felt my own life and how blessed I was to be the father of two children. I was so far from home that day. I wanted to see my children. But thought I can share the lives of these souls and be a father for a day to them. It did the same thing for me as my own kids. The girls were laughing and playing together in the end as it should be. I wore the smile they put on my face that afternoon. I came from a little town that I liken to Mayberry.When children ran the streets unafraid of the world around them. I so want that again in this life. I wanted it for them too.

[Jazique]

In that is good because whether its your life or someone else you should nothing but, goodness for that person, their family, and generations to come after them. No one is ever to have a horrible life, were all have the right to live a wonderful life and for the people we meet and care about to have one just as well.

[Tate Morgan]

Who wouldnt like the smile on a child eating ice cream in thew sun? It matters not to me whose child just that they see me as a safe happy presence

[Jazique]

Yep

[Mockingbird]

there is still hope for the human condition with the kindness of people like yourself. it was a selfless act you did. thanks for sharing it.

[Tate Morgan]

Kindness is so easy I dont know why we all become so jaded.The laughter of children is the manna of Heaven

[Kimberly "Melody" Carne..]

As always your words graced across a page in the most poetic stories. As Always LOVE IT!!!!

[Tate Morgan]

Mel what a solid soul you are a credit to your gender.Im proud to know you

[Eddie Phillips]

Tate this was epic. It brought a tear to my eye. Just a little bit of humanity would help so many. Bravo to you my brother! So many people live a life of isolation and selfishness. I was raised to believe that all men have redemption. You touched me with this poem and increased the flames of humanity in me. Thanks for this. Awesome just awesome!

[Tate Morgan]

Eddie You share the same name as my father. hank you for reading this. We all find ourselves at some point alone and at the mercy of nature. may we all learn this before it is our turn.

[Becky C Strukamp]

I loved this Tate. Your kindness changed many lives that day one of them being yours. It was a beautiful write. Your unique style continues to delight my senses. And as always its a pleasure to take those trips down your memory road with you!

[Tate Morgan]

Becky what can any of us say of ourselves in the end Except that maybe we deserved to live. All children have the innate desire to be good to be loved . In these girls I saw two little innocent children suffering from the vicissitudes of the merciless streets. In the end all I did was what I learned in kindergarten I shared with them humanity. It was a small price to pay to give them hope.

[Becky C Strukamp]

Tate, You are so right my friend! The sad thought is this: Not everyone would have done what you did. Those of us who do things because it is the right thing to do, do it without hesitation. What beautiful colors this world would paint if we all did unto others as we would desire done to us.

[Raven Starhawk]

We enter this world without an inkling of where we are going in life or how soon our end will come. Every step we take guides us towards something that ultimately writes our human story. You have so much depth and sentiment here that I am truly speechless. I can easily vision the hot atmosphere, the children and mother...it is beautiful writing.

[Tate Morgan]

raven So nice to hear from you. Thank you very much