She bends the willow
Her hair and hands a tangle
Make a wish she sings
Blowing out the candles
I am waiting underground
Grime and shame
Falling off me
Foul
Tarnished
Touched
Unsteady
My fingers hit the gravel
Electricity spinning
Blue and yellow
Insanity rules on high
Knock three times
And you will find the answer
I gain momentum
Each dull thud a sport
Nothing to rejoice or win
She giggles
Have you met the polar bears
They are swimming in the rock pool
If you remember what you seek
Your dreams will be your shield
Her words fall in my lap
Two little girls meshed together
Scorned lost instincts shattered
The Red Queen won the board
Left us torn and tattered
She bends the willow
Her hair and hands a tangle
Make a wish she sings
Blowing out the candles.
Whistles!!❤️💖This is absolutely exquisitely penned, Jae🤗 sigh such a whole lot of warmth and tenderness in the lines; "If you remember what you seek. Your dreams will be your shield" and oh "She bends the willow. Her hair and hands a tangle. Make a wish she sings. Blowing out the candles." Thank you so much for participating at Prompt Nights and for your constant love and support❤️💖
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
Thank you for your warm and tender comment too Sanaa :-)
DeleteTender and hopeful piece, "If you remember what you seek..." Beautifully penned, Jae as always!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Khaya - as always too ;)
DeleteIf you remember what you seek
ReplyDeleteYour dreams will be your shield
wow! I love your words <3
Thank you Samyuktha :-)
DeleteOh, this is immediately my latest favourite Jae Rose poem!
ReplyDeleteYay! Thank you Rosemary :-)
DeleteWondrous journey this. The endingcan be a beginning. Thank you
ReplyDeleteIt can indeed - thank you very much Martin
DeleteHer hair and hands a tangle
ReplyDeleteMake a wish she sings
Blowing out the candles.
That momentous moment of joy long remembered by all little girls the world over
Hank
We can hope we all get a chance to enjoy blowing out the candles - thank you Hank 🎂
DeleteBirthdays don't just hold wishes, but invitations into new journeys in the upcoming year. Hopefully those wishes will be wisely made to find what it is the protagonist seeks.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wise comment and wish..thank you kindly Rommy
DeleteHopes and dreams are both saviour and a taunting devil too but often they are only thing left for us to cling on to, to trust in. So we celebrate what we have. This really is beautiful but sad writing Jae and I agree one of your best poems.
ReplyDeleteThank you Old Egg - hopes and dreams are tenuous but at least we have them.. I hope.. Thank you
DeleteThree times?? I've been knocking for ages. Still no answer.
ReplyDeleteMe two - or three ;) and had the same thought when writing thank you J Cosmo
DeleteIf you remember what you seek
ReplyDeleteYour dreams will be your shield... this is inspired writing. Loved it.
Thank you kindly thotpurge
DeleteWe really need to keep making wishes....and living with hope, hope, hope!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely so - all our best wishes back thank you Mary
DeleteOh, the sweetness of it all, even in the dark times....one comforts the other....nothng is for sure....the last two lines gives hope for sure. Perhaps is we can dream it, or wish it, it will be enough? Happy Holidays to you both! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteSometimes wishes have to be enough.. And dreams the icing on the cake - thank you Annell xo
DeleteInteresting that the number three comes up so often, "The three little pigs, Glenda tells Dorothy to click your heels three times, to go home. Often the witch offers three wishes, three bears, three is everywhere?" It must be a magic number?
ReplyDeleteCould it be related to the holy trinity perhaps? Maybe that trinity varies according to what we hold dear.. Ours would be friends, words and cake - thank you Annell xxx
DeleteYour poems always contain some very deep wisdom. This time it is "if you remember what you seek, your dreams will be your shield." I love that.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry - happy accidents maybe.. I feel far from wise mostly
Delete"Knock three times
ReplyDeleteAnd you will find the answer"
(Tony Orlando and Dawn--You Tube)
Ha! Or, just remember our dreams. ALways, despite what others offer, the key is in those two little ones, outer and inner.
Love this poem, dear Jaerose!
Thank you so Susan - will look up the song and try and hold onto our dreams :-)
DeleteThis creeped me the hell out (in the very best of ways). It's like you're hanging out in my brain, writing about me from a very up-close-and-personal position. (Yesterday was my birthday.)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday - in a non creepy way! And thank you
DeleteThere is so much hidden in this piece. So much that is mysterious and unknown... but I think it all comes back to your willow image. Very thought-provoking.
ReplyDeleteThank you Matthew - the willow crept in almost unaware..I'm glad you liked it..thank you
DeleteThe willow does bend, her beauty is her flexibility to changing weather patterns. One of my favorite trees as I am connected to her spirit - she cries so the world can heal...
ReplyDeleteThank you Truedessa - for putting so succinctly what I was trying to say..a beautiful comment
DeleteA surreal birthday party !
ReplyDeleteBut of course ;) thank you Rallentanda
Delete"...Two little girls meshed together..." Yup! Nice one, again :)
ReplyDeleteZQ
And thank you once again ZQ
DeleteLoved the way in which you pinned this piece against a willow - my favorite tree. My Dad used to witch for water using a willow branch, and it was a magical thing to watch.
ReplyDeleteThank you Wendy - I always see how nature is magic for you :)
DeleteIf you remember what you seek
ReplyDeleteYour dreams will be your shield..
That is beautifully worded.
I love the motif of the willow in this poem.
Thank you Kerry - and also glad you liked the willow
DeleteDoes it take only three knocks to find the answer? O how I wish it were true!--- because I've knocked at some doors until my knuckles were bleeding, and I've been greeted with an unholy silence...
ReplyDeleteHit me three times but maybe silence can be an answer - but I do hear you Magical..I've been knocking for forty years and still nothing.. I am glad we are here and knocking on each other's blog doors though - thank you
DeleteSometimes three knocks are not enough to wake the deeply sleeping dreamer, hiding behind her shield. Dreams need to be awakened in order to breathe, to live, and especially to love.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
How very soothing your words Elizabeth - a salve of knowing.. We hope for at least one of those things thank you xo
DeleteI started reading this as a wish dancing on the wind...but by the end I was seeing darker things...fearful children their birthday an excuse for cruelty...your words as always dig deep into my heart XXX
ReplyDeleteThank you Gina - thank you so much for always digging up my words and finding what's underneath - very much appreciated
Delete