Springtime was when the boring
green bush by the once-upon-a-time
air-raid shelter sprung alive. When
Lizzie Burridge and me became
‘Queens of the May’, in a place
we called ‘The Witchy Wood'...
otherwise known as my backyard.
Our crowns were woven twigs of lilac –
as many as we could nick before Nan
or Mum or Dad caught us...our thrones -
decrepit deckchairs – seen better days.
Flower Fairies saw to our every need,
as they flew in and out the leaves
and we got high on lilac wine,
mixed with sunshine...
We spoke of many things, my friend
and I...of ‘cabbages and kings...’
of caterpillars curled in tight,
brown balls....of beetles – crawled
on stones, which we’d collect
and polish, to leave along that road –
led to the future, and though our hands
were small, they held the world.
Comments
Rhiannonw | May 4, 2012 - 20:39
What a picture of a sunny afternoon of imagination! I do like the boring green bush coming alive in the spring too. I enjoy the way you pack things so tightly, like children's play does. Rhiannon
sue dinum | May 4, 2012 - 21:13
Hello Tina, really enjoyed this and I particularly liked your last stanza, which is so full of goodies and magical, and the clever way you've rounded it all off. Great stuff once again.
By the way, have you ever heard of the saying...
Don't pass a clout until May is out.
I'm not sure if I've got that completely right and I've no idea what it might mean, memory plays tricks on one, but I wondered also... is it referring to May the month, or May the flower?
Trev
Silver Spun Sand | May 4, 2012 - 22:14
Thanks, Rhiannon, for your, as always, inspired thoughts. More than appreciated;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | May 4, 2012 - 22:18
Hi there, Trev...thanks so much for reading this one, and for taking the trouble to let me know it hit a chord with you.
Yes, I have heard of that old saying, and you have got it spot on. My old nan always told me it meant don't go putting all your long-johns away until you were sure that Jack Frost wasn't going to be paying a visit;-) Well, something like that, any road.
Have a great weekend;-)
Tina
Parson Thru | May 4, 2012 - 23:20
Nice memory Tina. Like the reference to the flower fairies.
Silver Spun Sand | May 4, 2012 - 23:33
Thanks, PT. Even after all these years, I still have a special place in my heart for those 'Flower Fairies', and still have a set of those enchanting books by Cicely Mary Barker on my bookshelves.
Tina
maggyvaneijk | May 5, 2012 - 09:55
this poem is a wealth of colour, delicious to read!
Silver Spun Sand | May 5, 2012 - 10:30
Much obliged to you, maggy. Great to hear from you;-)
Tina
skinner_jennifer | May 5, 2012 - 15:19
I have to say Tina,
that this is definitely my second favourite poem
of yours, I think you know which is my favourite.
I found it so magical, with that dream like quality
that you know I love. I will definitely be coming
back to read this one again and again.
Jenny.
CelenaGaia | May 5, 2012 - 18:02
I absolutely love this. Your childhood was much like mine, then! Except my play and imaginings were solitary, but still as full of dark Grimms-esque magic as yours.
Favourite lines, which evoked the most personal memories:
'When Lizzie Burridge and me became "Queens of the May", in a place we called "The Witchy Wood..."
Just beautiful, the cadence and imagery of a leafy green childhood, small and still venturing into the unknown.
Silver Spun Sand | May 5, 2012 - 18:46
Well hello there, Jenny;-) Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
So pleased you liked this one so much, but I had a feeling you might.
Many thanks for your lovely comment...and yes, I do know which one is your all time favourite, and mine too, as it happens, which I think you already know as well.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | May 5, 2012 - 18:48
Celena, I am much obliged to you for popping by, and I must say, I love that adjective of yours, 'Grimmsesque'. Truly magic, that is;-)
Your words, and appreciation of my poem means much. Thank you;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | May 5, 2012 - 18:51
.
Parson Thru | May 5, 2012 - 21:30
Hi Tina. Been down in Somerset for over 5 years now and they are all around us here. This must be the most fertile place on the planet. Life just bursts out of it. Slow and deep. Will look the books up, thanks. PT
Silver Spun Sand | May 5, 2012 - 22:17
That's great, PT. Let me know what you think of them. There's one thing for sure...they will bring out the child inside;-)
fatboy74 | May 6, 2012 - 10:22
loved it Tina. :-)
thewestlondonle... | May 6, 2012 - 11:25
Hi Tina
This is great... there's some really good turns of phrase
Darren :)
Silver Spun Sand | May 6, 2012 - 11:28
Hi there, fb;-) You and your Malvern Hills are a breath of fresh air for me, this Sunday morning.
Many thanks for reading and it's good to know you enjoyed this one.
Hope things are OK with you.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | May 6, 2012 - 11:29
Hi there, Darren.
Much obliged to you for popping by to read this one, and for taking the trouble to comment so kindly.
Tina;-)
ScoZen | May 6, 2012 - 20:58
What a delightful brew Sand Lady.
I must try some asap.
Take care.
Silver Spun Sand | May 7, 2012 - 07:37
You make sure you do, ScoZen. You won't be disappointed, I can guarantee;-)
Sand Lady
Denzella | May 9, 2012 - 04:44
Hello Tina,
Lovely poem. All brilliant but last line extra brilliant! 'And though our hands were small they held the world'
Moya
Silver Spun Sand | May 9, 2012 - 07:34
Hi, Moya;-) Pleased you enjoyed this one, and thanks for telling me.
Tina
Sooz006 | May 30, 2012 - 18:40
I had to read this three times, I'm sorry I was distracted, and for the rest of the night I will be annoying the neighbours with my 'Fantastic' rendition of Elikie Brooks' Lilac Wine.
Once I'd managed to put Ms Brooks respectively to one side... I liked the childish dreams of this one. The conversations of childhood could never matter so much as adults and yet they were everything that mattered back then.
Silver Spun Sand | May 31, 2012 - 09:14
I saw Elkie Brooks perform Lilac Wine live...way back in 1978, if my memory serves me correctly. Wonderful stuff...and extremely potent;-)
Many thanks for your inspired words...as ever.
Tina