Megan at Theme Thursday offers "Space" as the prompt this week.
Daughter, Five
Her eyes grew wide when stars
blinked against indigo.
"From Earth they seem like globes.
But through telescopes on platforms
built for watchers in the gloom
you'll see five spokes. Like stars in school."
What child's afraid to scheme gavottes for angels,
tally their balance on cosmic pinnacles,
or juggle the moon's Copernicussed polka
if it suits her daydream? No room
for logic here, or lecturing -
she'd drop me in my quacks; wisdom
rarely keeps its feet in Wonderland.
I risked - "Stars like yours were common -
years ago." Half truth? Perhaps.
But it hurts to know when magic fails,
my small stargazer all too soon
must leap for her life's one choice -
let worlds spin as they will, eclipsed in bigotry,
or toil to unpick her Universe
with five frail senses aimed
out across the vastnesses,
true on some tiny star.
(I have posted this poem for The Poetry Bus on a previous occasion)
Quite an impressive word play. But quite abstract and needs 4-5 readings to get what you are saying. Maybe that is how you meant it to be.
ReplyDeletestunning imagery, love your imagination here,
ReplyDeleteEnigmatic,thought provoking and enjoyable poem.Sincerity and warmth expressed in subtle restraint,the hallmark of superior work..loved it..Good one Footsie! Read it a few times and am still wondering !
ReplyDeleteI , so plainly, feel the warmth through the words and the more I read it, the more it speaks to me: the love,,the feeling,,the bitter-sweet sadness of life progressing,,,of innocence going to be lost. Beautiful !
ReplyDeleteI'm going to follow your postings and I will look for more! Thank you.
Perfect. I've been there with nieces, now grown and gone. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThe magic should never fail. Very touching write Doctor.
ReplyDeleteThankss for writing
ReplyDelete