LIGHT AND DARK

Written for Tovli's Celebrate Light ~ Phrase: "a tear hiding inside the wall"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

she used to draw candles and snails

with unsteady child fingers

candles without flints or flame

snails with swirling bodies

little antennae's always alert -

dark in a colourless room 

buttons from nana’s wicker basket lined

up like brown soldiers, all shapes and sizes

occasionally sparkly buttons lit up her eyes

pretend diamonds her only toys…

 

santa forgot a longed for bride doll once…

family presents were more practical

she was told and disappointment

caught tight in her throat and sat like

a stone, weighing her spirit down, down....

 

she watched as moths closed in and

around the Christmas lights each

lonely yuletide bashing themselves against

the heat and grown ups in their own world,

while she shivered with that cold feeling

 

she is a poet of sorts remembering

bits and pieces and trying to train them to some sensibility

but a word keeps slipping through the lines and cracks

invisible like a tear hiding inside the wall

a tear ripped through her psyche inside the

prison of her consciousness

what is that word?... she can't remember

 

Tiny Tim will sleep well tonight, so the story goes...

but she still has her old Ebenezer Scrooge and her

“ghosts of christmas's past”

haunting as the flame she has now lit... 

celebrating the light within her soul that never wavers

her candle of hope that dispels the dark

once more and for a while, she is content ~

 

 

© Helena 2008

 

Author's Note

Remembering ghosts of christmas past, and her unhappy, neglected childhood, she looks to the "light" again and finds peace.
THANK YOU FOR READING MY WORDS

Reviews

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Helena,

We've already talked a bit about this poem, but I wanted to say formally how wonderful I think this poem is. It truly captures the difficulties and disappointments that holidays often represent, especially for children (adults, too). Your telling of this tale and what the little girl eventually becomes and how she copes with these memories is touching and gives inspiration to others.

A truly fine write!

Kindest of regards,

Rick

[Butch Decatoria]

Wonderful poem, Helena. Do you spirit-write, I wonder?
Great stuff.

--Butch

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

Helena, you have such a way with words that each of your poems tells a story in completeness. Well done.

[Gandré]

Oh, this is so wonderful. It tells me, she was soo lonely and aware!
This is perfect narrative poetry, you know? I adore it.
Many do or will.
The upshot, she didn't get anything, she just had her believes - but see,
she survived. This says everything. We survive with our own strenght.
beautiful poem !!

[Salvatore Buttaci]

Congratulations for winning the Light contest!

Sal

[Tammy]

Wonderful write, Helena

[Tovli]

very unique and filled with light and warmth! tovli

[Coyote]

ditto amazing Helena
The light within, the only one that doesn't go out
I Hope
or at least never again
Happy New Year

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I am amazed by this write... you showed just how it can not always be such a joyous time for many who struggle from there past or even their current situation but in the end you just need faith in yourself to know the true spirit of Christmas.. fantastic work.