Sunday, May 19, 2013

Childhood Wishes

Lighthouse Dandelions by Jamie Wyeth
Courtesy of pic prompt, The Mag 169

Pollyanna had a thing for sun-
shine, alacrity enough
to ward off any storm.
 
I cried when she fell
from the tree,
 
hung my head
in yellow walls
 
wishing for
something cheery
in my life.
 
~~

39 comments:

anthonynorth said...

Childhood could be so tough at times.

LaTonya Baldwin said...

Childhood memories. So many. I'm falling head first into your work. This is what a poetry reader hopes for. Thank you.

Brian Miller said...

there is a deep sadness behind this...something cheery...as if she were the last thing to fall..

so things went well this weekend?

Anonymous said...

Such sweet sadness in this poem.

Susan said...

Forgive me for laughing. So much sorrow here! But the way you verse it is extraordinary: It tickles as it mourns.

Helen said...

One of my "Laurie Favorites."

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful Laurie, I love the image. The Pollyanna character only makes the sadness more poignant

Vandana Sharma said...

sadness will go by reading your lovely poems!

Anonymous said...

so true, just because there is light, does not mean there is joy

Kathe W. said...

Poor Pollyanna-

Mary said...

My mother read the Pollyanna books to me when I was a kid...when I was sick in bed. I enjoyed them very much, the idea of always looking on the bright side of things. Might sound simplistic in today's world, but for me at the time it was good medicine.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I remember seeing Hayley Mills in the movie Pollyanna and going home vowing to be more like her. It didnt last though, because home didnt change. Smiles. I love your writing, Laurie.

parentforward.blogspot.com said...

Love the sparseness of this and yet you chose just the right words - memorable.

Gail said...

Deep...sad.

Anonymous said...

I could feel the sadness here.

Berowne said...

Somber and melancholy, but quite well done.

Eileen T O'Neill ..... said...

Laurie,

I think that when we reflect back to our childhood at times, we are perhaps wishing to find a simple comfort from that time...Perhaps story readings etc..Now long gone.
Loved the yellow image.

Eileen:)

Truedessa said...

a hint of sadness in a childhood memory. "I cried when she fell"

Unknown said...

At first when I looked at the picture, the dandelions stood out to me. Now after reading your poem, the yellow walls and brightness are standing out! You showed me something more cheery to look at!

Lisa A. Williams said...

Bittersweet and beautifully worded.

Silent Otto said...

Now Pollyanna is a shining light on the hill for us all !

Cad said...

Much said in few words...

Susan Lindquist said...

As I recall, she perked up again after that fall and melted the cold butter heart of the old rich crone ... that Pollyanna! What a girl! For a while, though, we were scared for her weren't we?

Love this week's offering Laurie ...

Unknown said...

Sweetly sad.

Dana Dampier said...

How tragic... but the memories remain sweet.

Susan Anderson said...

Lots of conflicting emotion here, neatly wrapped in so few, well-chosen words.

=)

Chris Lawrence said...

Deep and memorable great piece to the prompt

Dave King said...

Somehow the brightness of the yellow makes the sad seem sadder still.

Ginny Brannan said...

Lovely and sad, such are these moments in life. We survive, we move on, we remember. A lovely little capture, Laurie.

Anonymous said...

Sad child. Such a simple, beautiful tale.

Anonymous said...

Sad child. Such a simple, beautiful tale.

kelvin s.m. said...

..ah, the Pollyanna i know and love... smiles...

Lyn said...

" Hung my head in yellow walls"...best line in ages!! I'll put it on my charm bracelet!!

TCPC said...

ah! so sweet and simple!

Tess Kincaid said...

The glad game! I haven't thought about Pollyanna in ages...this made me smile...

Margaret said...

There are some friends, that when they are not around, everything seems a bit dimmer. :) Very sweet.

Belva Rae Staples said...

Sometimes being a kid is a suckfest.

S.E.Ingraham said...

I like this. A nice simple take on the prompt and like nothing else I've
seen, well done Laurie.

Wendy Bourke said...

This is a lovely, sweet capture of childhood's wide-eyed optimism and belief in wishes coming true.