Wow. This one went in an unexpected direction. For the curious, this will take you to a picture of me with my Nancy doll. https://varivas.smugmug.com/Albums/Rivas-Chronological/1954/i-3p8TTX9/A
I loved my Nancy doll at age one when she was new. At age seven, she was still my favorite,
My sister Lydia got sick. I let her hold Nancy, hoping she'd get better.
She didn't. It was contagious. We threw out everything, all of her toys and Nancy.
Suddenly, she was gone, no sign she had been here with me. My mother mourned but put that away
like she did Lydia's belonging. I missed Nancy, I missed Lydia. Needed for them to exist.
I wanted to help in mama’s garden and she like to be alone so what she did has stayed with me and I’ll never forget the day she got the shovel from the shed and dug me a patch of my own and gave me a bunch of seeds I planted them all and ate everything radishes, carrots, onions and every year since I’ve had a garden of my own it’s bigger now and I don’t check everyday or feed my food to fairies or gobble it down real fast but i’ll never forget my first garden and all the fun I had
If you read comic books, it was hard not to fall under the spell of the Johnson Smith catalog. The first and third sections of this poem are both taken from its blandishments - the second is just from boy talk. I actually did send away for "throw your voice." It was, of course, a ripoff.
RECEIVED WISDOM
I. You can get a Jeep packed in grease (World War II surplus)
For seventy five bucks build it from plans included
jounce over deep dug ruts mud tracks like Audie Murphy
II. In a knife fight you might be better off with no knife
the other guy will be unbalanced to the blade side
tugging at his right hand skewing his vital center
III. With this gizmo (only two bucks) you can throw your voice
you're over here two guys are moving this heavy crate
a muffled cry Lemme outta here no one knows it's you
I remember x-ray vision glasses... and living creatures that if you put a capsule in water in a fish bowl they’d come to life and 100 soldiers! I guess i’ll have to look and see a new comic book to see if the ads are there... great imagery, Tad
I too remember, plus the catalogue I used to buy gifts for my parents from and spent my allowance saved--,maybe a few $ from my 25 cents a week! Great memories well done.
Wrote this for my mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary. Found a copy among my mother's pictures.
My Favorite Things
My mom doing crosswords, dad painting in oils. Keywords and card games, according to Hoyle. Angel hair Christmas trees, Como and Bing. These are a few of my favorite things.
Jello cakes, fudge and those Thanksgiving dinners. Shelves full of trophies, my dad and mom winners. Pictures in Sunday clothes all through the spring. These are a few of my favorite things.
When the months fly, when the years fling, when I miss mom and dad. I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so sad.
Photos in albums, my mom's punny kidding. Presents in closets, we pretended were hidden. The porch when it's raining, reading books on the swing. These are a few of my favorite things.
Shopping at Loblaw's, dad yearly shop picnic. The smell of waxed stars, the house fixed up for Christmas. My dad playing hopscotch, my mom when she sings. These are a few of my favorite things.
When the clock strikes, when the time flees. Where, I just don't know. I sit here and play back my old memories and then I don't feel so low.
Salt maps and homework at the dining room table. Old western movies, long before cable. Trips to the zoo where we'd play on the swings. These are a few of my favorite things.
Tomatoes and onions and flowers in gardens. Woman's Day, Redbook, the tent in the yard, and church bells on Sundays at St. Andrews ring. These are a few of my favorite things.
When I laugh hard, when I flow tears, when I trim my tree. I realize my parents are always so near because they live on in me.
Wow. This one went in an unexpected direction. For the curious, this will take you to a picture of me with my Nancy doll.
ReplyDeletehttps://varivas.smugmug.com/Albums/Rivas-Chronological/1954/i-3p8TTX9/A
I loved my Nancy doll
at age one
when she was new.
At age seven, she
was still my favorite,
My sister
Lydia got
sick. I let her
hold Nancy, hoping she'd
get better.
She didn't. It
was contagious. We
threw out everything,
all of her
toys and Nancy.
Suddenly, she was
gone, no sign she had been
here with me.
My mother mourned
but put that away
like she did Lydia's
belonging.
I missed Nancy,
I missed Lydia.
Needed for them to exist.
very well written, I remember Nancy doll... It was real sad when she disappeared. It was like we lost another baby
DeleteOh how sad, and how sweet. Reminds me of the velveteen rabbit with a less happy ending.
DeleteVery powerful and moving.
ReplyDelete“Belonging” in the last stanza? Not belongings? She threw away the idea that Lydia belonged in the family?
Not sure about the last line.
Wrong syllable count anyway. How about "Did they ever exist?" And it was supposed to be "belongings."
Delete
ReplyDeleteI wanted to help
in mama’s garden
and she like to be alone
so what she did
has stayed with me
and I’ll never forget
the day
she got the shovel
from the shed
and dug me a patch
of my own
and gave me a bunch
of seeds
I planted them all
and ate everything
radishes,
carrots, onions
and every year since
I’ve had a garden of my own
it’s bigger now
and I don’t check
everyday or feed
my food to fairies
or gobble it down
real fast
but i’ll never forget
my first garden
and all the fun
I had
Sweet story. I wish someone had taught me to garden, and now I don't have the patience for it.
DeleteSweet and moving.
DeleteLove it!!! so sweet and so touching.
DeleteIf you read comic books, it was hard not to fall under the spell of the Johnson Smith catalog. The first and third sections of this poem are both taken from its blandishments - the second is just from boy talk. I actually did send away for "throw your voice." It was, of course, a ripoff.
ReplyDeleteRECEIVED WISDOM
I.
You can get a
Jeep packed
in grease (World
War II surplus)
For seventy
five bucks
build it from
plans included
jounce over deep
dug ruts
mud tracks like
Audie Murphy
II.
In a knife fight
you might
be better
off with no knife
the other guy
will be
unbalanced
to the blade side
tugging at his
right hand
skewing his
vital center
III.
With this gizmo
(only
two bucks) you
can throw your voice
you're over here
two guys
are moving
this heavy crate
a muffled cry
Lemme
outta here
no one knows it's you
Love this and yes I used to read the ads in the back of comics with great enthusiasm.
DeleteI remember x-ray vision glasses... and living creatures that if you put a capsule in water in a fish bowl they’d come to
Deletelife and 100 soldiers! I guess i’ll
have to look and see a new comic book to see if the ads are there... great imagery, Tad
I too remember, plus the catalogue I used to buy gifts for my parents from and spent my allowance saved--,maybe a few $ from my 25 cents a week! Great memories well done.
DeleteWrote this for my mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary. Found a copy among my mother's pictures.
ReplyDeleteMy Favorite Things
My mom doing crosswords, dad painting in oils.
Keywords and card games, according to Hoyle.
Angel hair Christmas trees, Como and Bing.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Jello cakes, fudge and those Thanksgiving dinners.
Shelves full of trophies, my dad and mom winners.
Pictures in Sunday clothes all through the spring.
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the months fly, when the years fling,
when I miss mom and dad.
I simply remember my favorite things
and then I don't feel so sad.
Photos in albums, my mom's punny kidding.
Presents in closets, we pretended were hidden.
The porch when it's raining, reading books on the swing.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Shopping at Loblaw's, dad yearly shop picnic.
The smell of waxed stars, the house fixed up for Christmas.
My dad playing hopscotch, my mom when she sings.
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the clock strikes, when the time flees.
Where, I just don't know.
I sit here and play back my old memories
and then I don't feel so low.
Salt maps and homework at the dining room table.
Old western movies, long before cable.
Trips to the zoo where we'd play on the swings.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Tomatoes and onions and flowers in gardens.
Woman's Day, Redbook, the tent in the yard, and
church bells on Sundays at St. Andrews ring.
These are a few of my favorite things.
When I laugh hard, when I flow tears,
when I trim my tree.
I realize my parents are always so near
because they live on in me.
You are so clever!!! lovely list and sweet remissness.
Deletethis is truly sweet and beautiful
ReplyDeleteMy Teddy
ReplyDeleteMy childhood teddy was tattered and torn,
Much of his fur was old and worn,
His ear by a dog had gotten torn
And Oh I loved him so.
I took him with me everywhere
Though my mother said it wasn't fair
But I persisted and kept him there
'Til the day I left him behind.
They wouldn't return
thir faces were stern,
I cried, no use, I had to learn
To do without my Teddy.
These days I have another bear,
He's not my Teddy, and yet he's fair,
And I love him too but I keep him where
He'll never be lost from me.
He sits in splendor on the bed
And rests from wandering instead
Of going about, he's quite contented
To be safe at home with me.
Sorry for the delay, you're all always ahead of me. My turn next...
ReplyDelete1
happy to see you here Tasha
Deleteawwww this is so sweet and i kind of like your form
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda, I treasure your comments.
ReplyDelete