Thursday, April 9, 2015

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 is (mostly) patterned after Hannah Gosselin's wonderful Boomerang Poem form, whose instructions can be found on Hannah's site at this link.

Day 9

39 comments:

  1. I love Hannah's form, have tried it myself. Your poem is gorgeous, Sherry, maybe my very favorite of your many lovely works. That last stanza touches my heart!

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  2. Oh my goodness! I LOVE this, Sherry. This poem is a wonder, filled with faerie and grandmothers love and charm! LOVE LOVE LOVE

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  3. This poem is a gift and I want to sit with this girl and collect the world~

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  4. Love! DO you have the teapot!? Your title is brilliant, the story about the empowerment of a small child. I love your grandmother!

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  5. I love this form by Hannah ~ Love the part of fairy tales, no beginnings & endings, and grandma's tea ~ Lovely writing Sherry ~

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  6. NICE - a poem can be so many different things... hmmm...that teapot image is great - my fav though is the song sung by druids - i sing along...smiles

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  7. This is awesome, Sherry. Loved every line. Grandmas are the best!

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  8. Such a charming poem Sherry :D
    You have done such wonders describing the teapot in your poem :D

    "Watch the blue fairies, dancing in the flames,"
    her grandma says, and she looks,
    and sees the fairies."

    Loved these lines... so soothing and loving... beautifully written :D
    xoxo

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  9. I know part of your heritage is Irish and wonder whether another part is Welsh. I like what I can see about the relationship between grandmother and child in this poem.

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  10. Loved very much, Sherry. What a magical storytelling in the circle of grandma- child, love the fairies in blue flames...Very creative! x

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  11. Your poem is enchanting. It conjures up memories of listening to stories when I was a little girl. The stories were so different from the ones you may have heard, but they all have the same effect - magic.

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  12. Love the form and the whimsy you have created with it. I'll definitely check it out. Thank you for the visit Sherry and the continued encouragement your offer.

    Elizabeth

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  13. There is nothing more precious to my heart and more pleasing to my mind than stories, myths and love being shared by generations (and the grandmother to grand-child combination has always been my favorite... mostly, because I'm a tad selfish). I love this dance, the fairies dancing in the flames, the song weaved in your words (in their tale)... there is so much to be enchanted by in this poem.

    Thank you!

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  14. Oh, I am sure there is no better memory than having 'grandma's tea.' Lovely poem, Sherry.

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  15. Oh Sherry!! This is rich and nourishing...I love the way you tied your choices together throughout and in your closing - you've really employed the idea of the form so expertly - my heart glows to read your work!

    I love this, "This story has no beginning, and no end." and the grandmother that knew about small children needing mothering...

    What a gorgeous tribute piece as well as an imaginative one, too.

    Joy!

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  16. I do love Hannah's boomerang form, and yours is a delight for the imagination, also reiterates the important relationship between grandmothers and grand-daughters.

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  17. I loved this poem! I was once a little girl and I am Irish.

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  18. another way of having a tempest in a teapot ~

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  19. a perfectly woven fairy tale of childhood Sherry that truly has no beginning and no end...simply magical!!!!!

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  20. Now that's the kind of tea party we would enjoy...full of love..and who cannot like a conclave of elves! chin chin xo

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  21. Story telling by grandparents and parents is so important as it reinforces the bond between generations and allows traditions to continue. Beautiful done Sherry.

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  22. The form is interesting and story telling is always fun no matter what age. Stories to pass from one generation to the next to be shared over tea.

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  23. Goes to show grandmothers have a lasting influence on their broods. Whatever lessons she gave would live in one's memory! Great lines Sherry!

    Hank

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  24. Nothing like spending a day in front of a cozy fire with Grandma's tales of magic and elves.

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  25. A wonderful form Sherry as you spin this tale of druids and fairies with us beside you drinking tea, watching the fire and the shadows lengthen. What a grand memory and a wonderful grandmother to mother with such tales. I adore the Belleek tea pot!

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  26. Oh you had me at "this poem is a cup of my grandma's tea"... what a line!

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  27. poetry is about such magical things, isn't it? :)

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  28. this is a very warm poem.. the fairies and the hint of grandma's tea.. it's comforting.

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  29. ... now you're thinking as a child... very nice poem

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  30. Gorgeous write Sherry---I love the feel of it--

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  31. This poem is a magical, fairytale words of beauty :-) Stunning. Love it, Sherry!

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  32. Sherry,

    I have enjoyed learning about your Irish grandmother and how you learnt at her knee. She had a great influence upon you, as you relate her stories and something of the character that she was. Irish roots are tied into myths, mystic and wisdom from generations.
    Of course it goes without saying, how much tea is valued in Ireland...I love your shamrock patterned teapot..Looks very like a Belleek china pot, made in a basket weave design. Belleek is in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland...
    Happy Tea Days,
    Eileen

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  33. Much to love in this poem Sherry, the form has a rhythm that makes the reading a lof of fun.

    The moments between the grandmother and the child were fairytale like. It could transport one to fantasy with the fairies.

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  34. Great poem. The visuals are well done.

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  35. I love this, Sherry! I love the image of 'elves clustered under a speckled toadstool in the forest'. The grandmother and little girl sound like they share a special bond. Love that :)

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  36. Interesting form and you made it work delightfully.
    ZQ

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