The Widows Walk

The Widows Walk

A Cupola or ‘Widows Walk’ is found atop many
New England East Coast mansions-
It is a tiny, aerial, fenced-in landing from where

the Wife of the Captain’s house could first see his
returning ship crest above the horizon.

As this sad name suggests…
many times the anxiously watched for ships did not return.

The Widow’s Walk
…And so, she climbs again the stairs,
That lead up to her prison where,
She spends her day in anxious prayer.
She wrings her hands in her despair.

She paces out her tiny cell.
Where every day she’s drawn to dwell.
As if bewitched by some strange spell.
She stands a seaward-staring sentinel.

She sees no mast cut through the sky.
No flash of sailcloth greets her eye.
The screaming seagulls laugh and cry.
Is it joy or doom that they prophesy?

She regards the town from her woeful nest.
It is quiet, yes- But there’s no rest.
She knows each home must brave this test.
There is a nagging dread in every breast.

She clutches tight her shawl of lace.
A tender gift from some distant place.
And she scans the sea for some faint trace.
Numb to the frosty day’s embrace.

Cruel evening bells are sadly rung.
Her day’s watch wanes with the setting sun.
Another lonely day is done.
She drowns in sleep’s oblivion.

Till dawning wakes her with a start!
A new day’s come! Hope fills her heart!
She sees her weeks of fears depart.
“Today will end our days apart!”

And so she climbs again the stairs,

That lead up to her prison where,
She spends her day in anxious prayer.
She wrings her hands in her despair…

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All images and writing are copyright Mary Lee Mattison 1/8/1981 All rights Reserved.

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