Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: UNBORN (07/27/23)
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TITLE: HEARTSONG OF EMILY LONG | Previous Challenge Entry
By Vicki J. Cypcar
08/02/23 -
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Was her passion
No wonder she was smitten
With the tall cellist
From Amsterdam
It was a brief romance
He was married
With twin daughters
London would be a new start
For Emily’s broken heart
But the pregnancy clinic news
Pulverized her plans
Once he was told
About the pregnancy
He spewed
Bitter words
Before speeding away
She followed him home
Where two little girls
Ran through a sprinkler
With unbridled innocence
This was the place
Where Emily determined
Whether to be
A wrecking ball
Or just drive away
And never turn back
***
Her loving father had died
Of kidney cancer
When she was fourteen
She had a stepmother
Named Tess
Who sadly opted
To marinate her grief
In Chardonnay
As Tess pruned rose bushes
She coldly pinched off
A butterfly chrysalis
And tossed it into her pail
Of withered roses
Emily stared at
The small silky womb
Now forever denied
It’s transformation
Once Emily shared her news
Tess became enraged
Demanding an abortion
If Emily wanted to live at home
***
Emily found a studio apartment
On the town square
Above Java Jake’s Cafe
She served coffee by day
And played her violin at night
On the cobblestone walkway
People were generous
With the tips they placed
Into the velvet lined case
***
Megan and Josh Tate
Married for 7 years
Lived a mere 4 blocks away
From the cafe
Each month the young couple
Prayed for a pregnancy
And each month
Their hopes were dashed
By a crimson stain
***
Months later
One week before Christmas
Emily gave birth
To a beautiful boy
With blond hair
And cherub cheeks
God’s perfection was evident
And now resting in her arms
Another new mother
In the neighboring bed
Held a baby girl
As tears streamed
Down her cheeks
Outside of the room
Josh and Megan
Met their caseworker
Eagerly awaiting
Their new baby girl
With a stuffed bear
Emily watched the pair
As the mood went from
Triumph to tragedy
***
Emily rose to her feet
Holding Christian tightly
She peered out the window
And watched the defeated couple
Collapse onto a park bench
Beneath a lone street lamp
Megan buried her face
Into Josh’s shoulder
Distant thunder
Pounded their grief
The Teddy Bear
Sadly remained
***
Later that night
Emily persuaded
A night nurse
To retrieve the bear
She simply could not watch
Another dream die
***
Days later
Megan and Josh
Slapped hopeless gray paint
Onto the pink walls
Of their barren nursery
The doorbell rang
And pierced through the silence
They opened the door
Surprised to see
Their caseworker
Holding an infant
And the Adoption attorney
Clutching a briefcase
In his right hand
And a Teddy Bear
In his left
The blond infant
In the blue blanket
Stirred awake
And was was gently placed
Into Megan’s arms
His mother left
explicit instructions
That you two
Are to adopt him
On Christmas Eve
So here we are
If you agree…
***
Once boarded on the plane
Emily reluctantly surrendered
Her violin to the stewardess
Before departure
After all
It was all she had
Once the cabin lights
Were dimmed
She silently wept
And slept
Until daybreak
***
A whisper of snow
Was falling
When she emerged
From the London terminal
Her long blonde hair
Draped over her shoulders
The snow collected
On her white wool overcoat
And even in the chaos
To the hurried travelers
She appeared angelic
***
Emily composed music
Her favorite piece
Was a lullaby titled
Heartsong
It spilled out of her
From the deepest recesses
Of her soul
And it made her famous
But touring
Ultimately
Took a toll
***
At the age of 38
She returned home
And was hospitalized
In dire need
of a kidney transplant
Too weak to play
She still kept
Her violin nearby
As family
Kept vigil
***
The miracle arrived
On Christmas Eve
When Emily received
A new kidney
In subsequent days
She slowly recovered
Eager to emerge
From the confining cocoon
Of scratchy bed sheets
And white paper gowns
Life would begin anew
A life less complicated
***
Dressed to leave
Awaiting her discharge
A young man entered the room
Escorted by a nurse
Who said
This young man
Saved your life
Of course Emily knew him…
For long ago
Against all odds
She deemed the life
Of her unborn child
Sacred
And not disposable.
Although she gave him up
He was forever a part
Of her heartsong.
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Amazing and probably a first-class blue ribbon here!
I knew somehow her son would be a kidney donor, but the way it was written, was still a surprise!
Truly enjoyed the entire piece.
Excellent!
God Bless~