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Rosa Gaynell

I was 15 when I decided
the world wasn't fair.
It was 1929 -- the year Daddy was killed.
Prom then on, we had to listen to Terry.
Even Mother did what he said 'cause he was the oldest.
I wanted to be a nurse,
But Mother didn't want me to go to the city
and there was no nursing school in Texarkana.
So I stayed home -- went to business school instead __
Terry thought that was best.
Daddy was a switchman.,
He's stand way up on the, box cars,
swinging his lantern, signaling to the other men.
But his lantern went out,
and, jumping to a flat car,
he fell.
The train hit him,
just as their words slammed into me.
We each got some money.
I bought a diamond ring with mine.
it was real small, but it was real,
and that's all I wanted.
I didn't see Terry for a long time.
He had a blacksmith shop __
what he'd always wanted __
and kept real busy with that.
Now he comes to see me, though,
says he'll take care of me again.
SOmetimes, walking through my house,
even with the lights on,
I don't know where I am.

Amy Ratcliffe '87

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