Penpals

                                                                 Penpals

                                                                     by gene

                                                                 Summer 2026

This story is told 

in a land that is old

That Fairytales do come true

Such a tale I now relate

a story so great

of Penpals, me and you

It was July of 1968

They met at a dance, it was great

a beautiful girl and  handsome boy

Separated by many miles

that day enjoyed each others smiles

a friendship started full of joy

A time of letters had begun

East Coast, West Coast, one by one

penpals writing just for fun

A war was on he went to serve

in April of 1970 had the nerve

to visit the parents home and the lovely one

Penpals wrote as years went by

unremembered words across an ocean did fly

three years on the lad's service did end

The lovely lass and her family uprooted

away from the snow in Florida they settled

1974 letters penpals did no longer send

40 years of different lives

of children and Grooms and Brides

The World changed as Penpals got older

Think we now of 2014

our man wonders how the Lady has been

on Facebook he contacts her, being bolder

Lady is married with children

living long in Phoenix, many changes she's seen

divorced he lives in a small California town

Emails went back and forth

lives explained, for what it's worth

he asked " I'm going to Flagstaff. May I come by?"

Lady and her Hubby tossed it about

That Lady wanted to see him there was no doubt

In May he made the long trip to see her

Over grand mountains, across vast desert

on a motorcycle to Flagstaff he did get

near Sedona a delay caused by a fire

Eventually to Phoenix he made his way

and with the fair couple he did stay

next toured Arizona on his way home

Penpals had met after many long years

Birthday and Christmas cards, till one brought tears

Lovely Lady's beloved was gone

Lady had moved to Flagstaff

emails sent like notes on a raft

He made Lady a birthday gift

Lady needed to assemble

and called the man to help enable

5 hours they talked, both got a lift

Since then they texted, emailed and did call

together inside them Love's apple did fall

distance is major, miles 743

August and Lady did visit for a week

THERE was the happiness both did seek

he said "I can't believe there is a woman who would drive so far to see me!"

Returned to home Lady will see him again

he misses Lady, Lady misses him

his turn to visit will come soon

Penpals started so long ago

like a rose, love has blossomed they know

growing in two hearts with plenty of room