by Laura Cushing

Member since:
August 4, 2006

Margret Webb, homemaker, welder during WWII

March 17, 2007 01:37 AM EDT (Updated: March 17, 2007 04:07 PM EDT)

views: 73 | rating: 10/10 (20 votes) | comments: 24

fileId:3096224744059817;size:full;

Oh homemaker
boilermaker
three lined obituary!
How you puzzle me.

Did they call you Margie?
Or Margerita? Did your
husband go to war
and leave you waiting breathless
until inspired by
patriotism, or a need to eat
you donned a face shield
held the rod triumphant your own
statue of liberty torch
held this country together
one weld at a time? Did you grow
a victory garden, save War Bonds, fileId:3096224744059818;size:full;

fileId:3096224744059818;size:full;

ration your butter carefully
to the last scrap?

When he came
home to freedom did you
return quietly to the servitude
of kitchen dinners , carefully tied
apron strings, child rearing
and the missionary position?

Or were you liberated still,
wearing grooves into your bedposts
fixing the pipes without
need for a plumber, teaching
your man how to ration such
necessities as food, gas, and love?

Oh Margaret, did you die,
dreaming of the blue spark
that once fueled a lifetime?

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Tags: welding, poem, welders, poetry, women, wwii

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Comments: 24

Robb F. Mar 17, 2007, 1:53am EDT

Exceptional "welding" together of photograpic inspiration, metaphor, and message. Very fine work. Impressive.

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Elsie Duggan Mar 17, 2007, 1:57am EDT

Laura, this is wonderful. I so relate, I wasn't a welder, but I worked as a legal secretary for the Army Warship Repair Command Agency in NYC on Wall Street for a captain in the army. Don't even think I tell my kids about it but have mentioned it here and there in my articles and perhaps comments. We all chipped in as we could in those days. Held the country and our men together. Married a veteran, just lost him but still writing about him and anything else I can think of to keep my mind and spirit alive. Wonderful poem. Thank you for posting it.

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DragonSoul !. Mar 17, 2007, 2:50am EDT

Lovely verse, Laura. While I cannot relate to the setting of this work, I have talked with my father about those times, as well as my grandparents. You seem to have the issue well in hand. Great work!

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Krissy spreading my wings hoping to soar W. Mar 17, 2007, 3:43am EDT

Loving this! Good work!!!!

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Carol Lloyd Mar 17, 2007, 5:36am EDT

Exceptional

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Carla G. Mar 17, 2007, 8:29am EDT

Excellent! Beautifully written!

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Larry H. Mar 17, 2007, 8:34am EDT

thanks for sharing

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Abhineeta Inky Mar 17, 2007, 9:28am EDT

its really very well written

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Rob Appell Mar 17, 2007, 1:32pm EDT

Women ahead of their time

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Faith H. Mar 17, 2007, 2:44pm EDT

A wonderful eulogy for an era of strong women who passed it down to their daughters (my era) and enable me to pass it on to my daughter. A wonderful poem, Laura.

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roxanne m. Mar 17, 2007, 3:15pm EDT

Absolutely beautifull, Laura. Would you mind posting this to March is Womens' History Month - Celebrate "Her Story"?

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Shannon C. Mar 17, 2007, 4:04pm EDT

It's interesting how many of us live for nearly a century but wind up being defined by something we've done only for a short period of time (occassionally only for a moment).

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Laura Cushing Mar 17, 2007, 4:06pm EDT

Thanks everyone!

Roxanne- just joined, and will post! Thanks.

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Anita D. Mar 17, 2007, 10:13pm EDT

This was a pleasure to read.

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Mariana T. Mar 17, 2007, 11:08pm EDT

I love Robb's comment about the "Welding" - oh this is purely delightful - I love it. I have a Rosie the Riveter poster in my kitchen at Isabel...It says We Can Do It...Where did you find these fabulous pictures? I love the poem - very very good stuff. Salud.

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Destiny W. Mar 18, 2007, 4:14pm EDT

DB 10

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Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Mar 18, 2007, 8:55pm EDT

That lovely lady is "Rosie the Riveter".

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Kathy E. Mar 19, 2007, 9:35pm EDT

Absolutely beautiful depiction of the women of WWII and their dilemma when the war was over. Said do well and concise. Excellent writing!

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Leslie H. Mar 19, 2007, 10:05pm EDT

great!

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Melanie B. Mar 19, 2007, 10:58pm EDT

Laura~ What a wonderful piece! My dad was in the Navy during the war. And my mom was working at a five and dime store. They always taught us to ration and use things sparingly. I always loved listening to their stories of their lives then. I think I even have some ration books from then.
The woman really had to step up to the plate so to speak. And then the what now after the war was over.
Awesome poem thanks for sharing it.....
10 for you~ =)

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Patricia W. Mar 27, 2007, 1:55am EDT

Wonderful and inspiring piece.

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