Written in 1988
To My Mother

She held the flowers in her hand
and looked again at the plain gold band.
The pansies were in bloom that spring
When he gave her the wedding ring.

Just seventeen, not old enough,
Annulled by parents, the wait was rough.
Rules so harsh, they could not meet,
Neil had to stand across the street


Juanita Wilson, 1925, young and pretty

To watch for just her face to see
Until the time that she was free.
At last it came, she was of age
And she escaped out of her cage.

My Dad, young and handsome

Oneday they said their vows once more,
Promised to love, through rich or poor.
A little house, the yard was bare

                                        Juanita, Neil, Lois Miller      Neil, Juanita and Lois Miller,
                                                       in the cedars, 1928                 Young and happy
 
 

Until Neil planted pansies there.
For many years he held her heart
And never once were they apart,

                                     Neil (Daddy), Dotty and Lois Miller       Juanita, Dotty, Lois and Neil Miller,
                                                  Cedars, 1934                                                          California, 1938

                                  Daddy, Mama and friend, cedars, 1960             Daddy, Mama, Nick and Judy
                              Kids grown, but still very much in love                            Now very old


Mama and Daddy on their 50th anniversary

Until  he had to say goodbye
But love like theirs could never die.

She knew he'd stand across the way
And wait until that golden day
When of life's cage she would be free
And then again with him she'd be.


Mama, very old

She held the flowers in her hand
And felt again that dear gold band.
She placed the Pansies with a tear
Upon the grave of Neil, her dear.
 
 

Note

My mother is now in a nursing home, Alzheimers has robbed her memory,
but she still remembers her "sweetheart." She prays to be set free so she can join him.