Today is Poetry Party at Abbey of the Arts.
Christine has chosen the image below to inspire us, and has asked us to remember friend and poet Pam, who is having surgery today. My poem below the image is dedicated to Pam and all those in pain and fear today. Perhaps because the poem knew it was to be dedicated in this way, it refused to be bleak.
The child in me
believes families
of magic snakes
come out at night
under the moonlit sky,
slithering and rolling
their joyful bodies
into the hard sand.The child in me
believes perfect
miniature mermaids
bathe in the salty dips,
while others lounge
on the sandy ridges,
combing out their
tangled turquoise hair.The child in me
believes anything
is possible if you
squeeze your eyes
almost shut and tilt
your head at just the right
angle to hear the sea
booming in your heart.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Abbey of the Arts 02.04.08 at 6:52 pm
Oh Tess, how wonderful! I love the magical quality of your poem, some words I needed to hear on a busy morning. I love the closing image too. Thanks for your contribution!
Elaine 02.04.08 at 7:43 pm
Beautiful dedication and beautiful poem. I also needed to read this because sometimes in the busyness of my work (at a hospital), I forget about the patients’ pain and fear.
Thank you, Tess.
lucy 02.05.08 at 2:22 am
tess, this is a fabulous, delightful poem. you know how i love “the child in me”. absolutely wonderful!!!
Tess 02.05.08 at 6:56 am
Thank you, Christine, Elaine and Lucy.
Elaine, I know that I too would have difficulty remembering this if I worked in a hospital.
Sunrise Sister 02.08.08 at 7:34 am
This poem is exquisite. Having spent close time with two small grandchildren this week - the “child in me” is vividly exhibited to me. We should remember more about that child of our inner soul. Thank you.
SS