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| Subject: Queen Of The Forest | |
Author: tcn | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 17:09:49 01/25/08 Fri For my 11 year old daughter, Maggie. Queen Of The Forest When she was my baby in curls a single stroke of her hand examined my face with smiles, spit ups and ugh-ugh sounds almost in the same breath. My ear has retreated into the murmurs of childhood where painting a pattern of birds and mythical bunnies becomes an adventure. None of the colors match the brush of skin against cheek. "I am the Queen," she says. "The Queen of the forest!" "No, not the Queen!" I say. This provokes a round of giggles; arms, legs begin to flail with joy. She missed the sixties, the hippies, the bohemian poets of Washington Square Park, the flower children and corporate escapees with long hair and middle-class traditions. I promise myself she will be a free spirit regardless and decorate her room with pink peace signs and purple-glittered lava lamps. She learns the intricacies of Jimi Hendrix's lyrics while wearing tye-dyed t-shirts. The word respect reminds me of my responsibilities and I quickly differentiate between discipline and the breaking of one's soul. "You need to stay home more, mommy." And I do, packing her thermos with sweetened tea for snack. At school she learns about the "N" word and someone calls her a half-breed spic. She blinks and smiles remembering that cleaning ladies, bus drivers, fast food workers all have dreams that bleed red. And she's known a lot of cool "Ns" and half-breed spics. There's an air bubble in the billows of her gypsy skirt that she wears with pride. She says that one day she will move to Paris and live among the painters and poets while writing about the ravages of war and the ethical treatment of animals. As I stare into her blue-green eyes that spell out a portion of our history, I am honored to be her mother. A young woman is painting a pattern of birds and mythical bunnies. And I know that even in a group she will manage to travel alone. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: Re: Queen Of The Forest | |
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Author: Stormheart [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 19:05:51 01/25/08 Fri This is such a beautiful portrait from childhood to young womanhood...the depth of personality and love shows through this so clearly! I'm glad I stopped in to read! Thanks so much for sharing! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Re: Queen Of The Forest | |
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Author: AnneMarie [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 07:01:20 01/26/08 Sat Oh but they do grow so fast don't they? So very unfortunate they have to go through some of the "growing pains" of life though. It's those times we want to protect and shelter them most but thankfully their true soul shines and sees them through. Love this, excellent job. Hugs, AnneMarie [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Re: Queen Of The Forest | |
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Author: Sasha [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 21:22:26 01/26/08 Sat ~ awww Theresa, hon, this is so tender and loving a beautiful celebration of innocence and individuality loved this throughout, and as the mother of one who marches to the beat of his own drum, I was nodding and smiling along with you loving this!!!! *warm hugs* Sash xx  . [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Re: Queen Of The Forest | |
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Author: andy [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 08:25:54 01/28/08 Mon I am always attracted to your poetic phrasing but more than that it the subtle poignancy you offer that always seems to leave me with something more than I arrived with. This is wonderful: "As I stare into her blue-green eyes that spell out a portion of our history, I am honored to be her mother. A young woman is painting a pattern of birds and mythical bunnies. And I know that even in a group she will manage to travel alone." < First off, the idea that a Mother is honored to be just that, a MOM, is such a touching thought. Beyond that the vivid image of your daughter traveling alone is a crowd speaks volumes and takes up more space in a mind than it could ever take up on a page. I love layers in poetry and you give them up in multitudes. Touching and truly a life poem worthy of a keepsake for the both of you. For those that read it well, it's a treat to fall into. thanks, andy [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |