Saturday, November 26, 2016

THIS POEM IS AN ELF, A GRANDMA AND A CUP OF TEA



This poem is a conclave of elves
This poem is a fairy tale,
told to a small child by her grandmother
This poem is a cup of my Grandma's tea

This poem is chock full of elves
clustered under a speckled toadstool in the forest.
They are hiding from a small girl-child,
peeping out from under the toadstool's rim
with eyes that winkle and shine.
This poem is a conclave of elves.

This poem is a small girl sitting in front of the fire
listening to stories, on long, quiet 
winter afternoons.
"Watch the blue fairies, dancing in the flames,"
her grandma says, and she looks,
and sees the fairies.
This story has no beginning, and no end.

This poem is a song sung by druids
in the springs and groves of a woodland dell,
as violet shadows lengthen at close of day.
This poem has standing stones in it, and ghosts,
myth and blarney from County Cork,
laced with a spoon of golden honey
in a shamrock teacup of amber verbena,
a cup of my grandmother's tea.

This poem is a conclave of elves,
winkling and shining in stories of long ago.
This poem is a fairy tale told to a small child
by a Grandmother who knew
small children need mothering.
This poem is a cup of my Grandma's tea,
in a time whose memory shines more brightly 
than today


* Celtic and Welsh meanings for the word druid are seers, and sorcerers. Poets may be numbered among this group. Smiles. They played an important part in ancient pagan Celtic society according to Wikipedia.

This poem from 2015 is (mostly) patterned after Hannah Gosselin's wonderful Boomerang Poem form, whose instructions can be found on Hannah's site at this link. Shared with the Poetry Pantry at 

24 comments:

  1. This poem is absolutely magical and wonderful! And I love the references to the grandmother, grounding it in reality.

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  2. This poem gives me a warm and wonderful feeling. I do wonder if the picture really IS your grandmother's tea pot. I can picture that little girl sitting and listening to stories....and that wonderful grandmother who knew that little girls need mothering!

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  3. This poem is a masterpiece of a youthful imagination reaching out to invite us back

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  4. aw...grandma's tales are as old as Time itself, no beginning and no ending...in my case it was my grandpa...the poem makes this beautiful form shine more..

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  5. Love this magical tale, and of the form you chose to express it in. It is sheer magic.

    Elizabeth

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  6. All I want now Sherry is a cup of your grandma's tea... terrific!

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  7. This poem is absolutely exquisitely penned, Sherry ❤️ it gives me a warm and contented feeling.. sigh..beautiful! ❤️


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  8. Lucky are those that had grandmas like this. Luckily I did too who I remember so fondly. Beautifully written Sherry.

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  9. Elves, tea, grandmas and magic - what could be better :-) we very much enjoyed xo

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  10. I could live in this poem. And I am not surprise, since your poetry always conjures up worlds that invite us to breathe them in and to wish!

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  11. Conjured up some sweet and pleasant memories.
    ZQ

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  12. This poem is a tribute to a lovely Grandma and her teapot.

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  13. I sense that Grandma's tales are alive in the forest you...

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  14. Ah! Magical stories!
    I remember & miss my grandmothers a lot.

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  15. This poem is whimsical and a delight to read.

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  16. This is a delight. Enjoyed the form and the wonderful words ... such as "blue fairies, dancing in the flames" and "violet shadows" (sigh)... lovely.

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  17. Wonderful Boomerang Poem form, Sherry! Might like to try it!

    Hank

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  18. I love this poem is a song sung by druids in the springs and the groves of woodlands.. I think I have been to this place and heard the song...bkm

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  19. How grandma's cups of tea can tell so many wonderful mystic tales, another fine write here, Sherry.

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  20. enchanting! takes me back to a simpler & happier age. :)

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  21. I would love to be invited to the conclave of elves and share a cup of that oh-so-special tea!

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