Here is Annette’s insightful description of the girl she used to be. Have you considered using an old photo as a writing prompt? This poem seems simple and straight forward, yet it captures so much of the child’s personality through Annette’s choice of details. Take special note of the “claustrophobic feet.” We will meet them again in another poem within the next week or so.
Colorless 50’s photo
a child
hermetically sealed
Fading small against Junoesque
pine
Cradling basket-less
Moses doll
Softly smiling
sideways glancing
Plaid, pleated prairie dress
disguising tom-girl legs
Honeyed tidy braided hair
feigning sweet, demure
Clydesdale heavy, clunky shoes
claustrophobic feet
Drenching in sweet prairie grass
Chomping at the bit
Shoes shed, running free
little mare, flying braids
Captured in pure innocence
Bursting out mercurial
Spirited, lively
prairie girl
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Your words are so carefully selected that a fairly accurate image woudl form for the reader even if there was not picture to look at. Love the "Clydesdale" shoes and the "claustrophobic feet."
ReplyDeleteFrom Charlene ~
ReplyDeleteComments: You are so talented, Annette. We know that a picture can tell a story alone. To have your uniquely descriptive writing accompany the picture is a real treat that certainly stirs up a variety of emotions. I'm so glad you have an everlasting photograph to share with us so we could meet the prairie girl with her "flying braids" and "claustrophobic feet."
From Charlotte ~
ReplyDeleteA sweet picture of a little girl-love it!
Your poem brings color and fleshes out the little prairie girl. You say so much with just a few words.
ReplyDeleteLove, Y
Annette, your words reveal quite another praire girl, one perhaps we would not know otherwise. We could not know the picture of the girl was a tom girl who loved to run with her chubby little feet barefooted, free of enclosure that stiffled her free spirited nature. Excellent portrayal of who you really were and I believe still are.
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