Lizzy
Over mama's shoulder
I see Jack, cornering
a shoat in the corral.
He's going to show
how he can hold
it up by the hooves.
Henry's watching, also.
Jack, do you know he idolizes you?
Watches your every move?
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2016
Mama
There was a moment,
in ‘42, I think it was –
based on the date
penciled in on the margin –
when the wind did not
rush through the yard
on its way from the
mountains to the east.
Your hair hung straight
over your shoulders
to your waist.
The pine we planted
in the yard was small.
The sun shone on
your young face.
Time stood still.
©Steve Peterson, 2016
I like the way you put this in the present. I think the questions and the first person helped. I've been struggling with how to move out of the past into the present every once in awhile with the historical photos. I'm struck by how different the world(s) were back then from now, and I'm having a hard time adopting the voice of a persona in the photo. Have you noticed a similar pull away from the present?
ReplyDeleteYour poem totally worked for me, so I'm studying it to see what I can learn. Maybe another thing that made it work were those questions at the end? They helped me be in the moment, even though the moment was in black and white.
Thanks!
Took the dogs for a walk. Here in Iowa this AM there's a wicked strong wind from the north. While I was walking, this poem came to mind. (I didn't see a date, but could imagine one...)
ReplyDeleteThere was a moment,
in ‘42, I think it was –
based on the date
penciled in on the margin –
when the wind did not
rush through the yard
on its way from the
mountains to the east.
Your hair hung straight
over your shoulders
to your waist.
The pine we planted
in the yard was small.
The sun shone on
your young face.
Time stood still.
I am literally holding in a squeal! This fits PERFECTLY! Can we title this MAMA and add it in to the post and the story? So. Much. Fun.
DeleteTotally, Mary Lee, go for it!
DeleteI can't tell you how much fun it is to write with you (and the gang) again this April. I look forward to seeing what's in the "mail" each morning, and have my poetry notebook open on the stand-up desk, even as I am teaching. I'll orbit by once in awhile and jot a word or two. (Maybe that's not good, but maybe it is...)
You two are amazing. It's interesting to me how these two poems fit together so perfectly, and how you have taken this moment in time and frozen it. Here's mine for today.
ReplyDelete"Pretty"
Mama preaches
that preening and primping
are purely prideful
She praises pragmatism
prohibits pretension
makes me promise
i will pursue
practicality
and in principle
i probably will
but occasionally
permitting
all that pride
to parade
feels
pretty perfect.
(c) Carol Wilcox, 2016
I love the multiple meanings of that last line! Such fun alliteration!!
ReplyDeleteWow. Kudos to all. I will get in the swing of things when I return from the beach.
ReplyDeleteWow! Mary Lee, I love how you are offering us glimpses of life outside the frame. A goal of mine when writing poems inspired by images is to add something to the picture. Love these from Carol and Steve as well. Nice!
ReplyDelete