(image from my personal archive)
I follow Little Miss Red Hair
around the yard and am visited
by Rousseau's ghost:
if she wants to take off her shoes,
if she wants to eat a a flower or two,
if she wants to chase the dog
among the garden plants,
if she wants to lie on the stairs,
if she wants to play with bugs,
if she finds the charcoal bag,
if she wants to climb the guava tree,
watch for traces of a younger you.
(Written for Herotomost's challenge over at The Imaginary Garden. Corey, I haven't been around much, but I've watched the children in my family play on the same yard I grew up in, I've watched them explore the corners of my little world and touch the magic in it. Your mention of Lewis and Clark reminded me my world got a lot bigger, but it's this yard my heart and mind will always come back to. For the record: the little girl on the photo is my second cousin.)
Oh how cool that your family home is still there and you can watch the younger kids exploring the yard you so loved.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a touching portrait of a sort of everychild - I recognized something of myself, an intrepid backyard explorer and tree-climber in my day. Your words brought it all back.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. In every way, this poem enchants.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully composed, Kenia. I love your style ~~
ReplyDelete…and the little imp looks a lot like you! This is just so adorable - it caught the magic of wonder a backyard offers to a young adventurer.
ReplyDeleteThis so why I love your style…this is so real and a reflection painted so perfectly by a very emotive soul. May not be about camping, but you know that doesn't bother me at all as long as I get to have a look see inside of Kenia…that is always enough.
ReplyDeleteYou really captured the essence of a great childhood in this poem!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely piece...a backyard holds endless adventures for a child.
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