Sad Tale Of Clifford Griffin
Sad Tale of Clifford Griffin – I for one hear and listen to the music of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The wind that causes the trees to whisper, raindrops on aspen leaves, the hoot of a faraway owl – all of this is music to me. Sometimes high on the mountain of the towns that the glory has left, you hear the music of those that once were. The music of all that ghost has always left me sad. Here now is such a tale.
Sad Tale of Clifford Griffin
Silver Plume and Clifford Griffin – oh’ what a sad tale indeed,
Even years later in the retelling – tragic – listen, but take heed.
Clifford was an eastern man born wealthy with a silver spoon,
When he asked his love for her hand in marriage one rainy afternoon.
The young bride was beautiful and enchanted – or so it seemed,
Clifford was handsome, and affluent – more than she had dreamed.
Blissful they were – wedding plans were made for the bride and groom,
Not knowing that fate and death waited outside in the wet and gloom.
The night before their nuptials the young lady became sick and died,
Death had taken his lady love – the woman that was to be his bride.
For three days he held her lifeless body – Clifford’s heart now broken,
Through the tears and grief those many hours he remained unspoken.
His grief and misery from her death would forever be proven timeless.
Through anguished and despair – Clifford a good man never lost his kindness.
Hoping to forget what he thought should be – and death’s long shadow,
With his forever love now gone, he fled west to Silver Plume, Colorado.
Located at the base of Pendleton Mountain and below timberline,
Clifford in Colorado became the owner not of a gold, but, a silver mine.
History, and his miners would always say he was one hell of a boss,
Even though sorrow and the death of his love would be his albatross.
Sundays and every day at the end of his employees and miners shift,
Clifford alone in his silver mine – played a violin – music was his gift.
Above the town the sad music, and melancholy would drift on down,
Clifford used his violin, bow, and music – his misery he tried to drown.
Sitting on their porches and listening to the mournful music – the miners would,
Knowing his tale they thought the music made him happy – they misunderstood.
For several years, this was Clifford’s unhappy life as it was meant to be,
One night he thought of a solution that he thought would set him free.
On this night the music played for longer than any night before,
Until midnight the music honored the love and the one he adored.
At the stroke of midnight – mountains echoed the sound of a gunshot,
Clifford took his own life against the one and only demon he fought.
The miners found him – pistol still in his hand – violin at his side,
As he entered the afterlife to be with his love – his almost bride.
A hundred years or more have passed since the tale of Clifford Griffin,
He still plays his violin and the sad music – you only have to listen.
Some sad songs and stories of love – beyond this life they transcend,
In Silver Plume, Colorado is where Clifford’s heartbreaking tale never ends.
Kurt James
Kurt James © 2017
Where to buy Kurt James novels:
https://www.amazon.com/Kurt-James/e/B01DTOJ7KC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1506781410&sr=8-1
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Oh, how sad, melancholy and so interesting. I have chills thinking about lonely Clifford who mourned his lovely bride. You have penned this so well, Kurt, that I can hear the sorrowful music echoing out from the mine. It is beautiful and sad. Your rhyme is so well done. I love this sad tale.
Even when I was little and had heard this tale I could also hear the music above the town when I visited. Or at least I thought I did. – Silver Plume, Colorado has another more modern murder mystery that was even featured on “Unsolved Mysteries” – maybe soon I will write my version of that story as well…
A tragic and heartbreaking tale expertly portrayed through your poetry. Well done Kurt, and a pleasure to read.
The Rocky Mountain are full of tragic stories of those who were brave enough to seek the wilderness trail. They also are full of stories of courage, hope, and of course love. I feel fortunate to live here in Colorado. Thanks for stopping by John.
So nicely emotive and a sad tale of love tragically lost, a broken heart and eventual reunion in the afterlife. Well penned and enjoyed Kurt. Cheers!
Thank you Tony for stopping by – Cheers!!