Roberta Writes – A few late poems Reena’s Xploration Challenge #309 – Opposites and W3 – memory poem #poetry

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I wrote this poem last week for Reena’s Xploration Challenge #309 but I didn’t manage to post it timeously. You can find other poems for this theme here: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2023/11/30/reenas-xploration-challenge-309/

The picture above depicts our theme for the week but is not the prompt.

I scanned the net for poems on Opposites and was stuck at two brilliant lines, in a poem by Dzejnieks.

It’s just… Me sipping through dimensions.
Both so different I consider them almost parallel.

You can read the full poem here.

Now, about the writing prompt.

You can choose any one of the following options. If you feel exceptionally inspired, feel free to write more than one piece, or get them all together in one. The choice and creativity is yours,

  1. Choose two people, concepts or theories which are opposites of each other. Write a dialogue, two paragraphs or two stanzas to bring out the perspective of each side. You can use a conflict, war or a debate as a backdrop.
  2. Choose the above image as your inspiration.
  3. Weave in the two lines from the poem given above in your piece – be it poetry or prose. Give due credit to the poet.

Two Young Men

A Hay(na)ku series

Tall

And thin

Towering over me

***

Shorter

Powerfully built

Younger of two

***

Intellectual

A swot

Lives to learn

***

Lazy

Avoid studying

A stereotypical boy

***

Different

Polar opposites

Fight out differences

***

United

By blood

Brothers standing together

W3 host by The Skeptic’s Kaddish blog

W3 Prompt #84: Wea’ve Written Weekly

Selma’s prompt guidelines

  • Imagine a person from an old memory looking in on you through an open window;
    • You’d all but forgotten about this person, but today their presence has given rise to this memory;
    • What do you see? What’s going on?
  • Write this as a Memory Poem:
    • Purge this memory out of your system; allude to the memory; banish the memory; 
  • Poem length: 100 – 300 words;
  • The poem must end with these words: “Let him/her look”

A Memory Poem?

A memory poem reflects on and celebrates personal memories and experiences, often evoking feelings of nostalgia, joy, or sadness.

Granny Joan

The plaster of Paris figure

Adorned her dressing table

Pluto, hand painted by me

The quiet granddaughter

I recalled its pairing, Mickey Mouse

The one that didn’t survive

I tried to wash him in the swimming pool

Within minutes, he melted away

Returned to water in a cloud of powder

Absorbed into the surrounding mass

I was shocked and I cried

The survivor, I gifted, to Granny Joan

Her treasure, displayed with pride

One day she was gone. Dead!

My first experience of that black word

Death, that took Granny

And never brought her back again

Granny Joan, the artist

Taught me how to make a cradle

From a plastic butter tub

And left over pieces of material

Showed me how to make

A beautiful dolls house

From a wooden tomato box

The house had paper windows, curtains, and a door

She drew me paper dolls on stiff card

I learned how to make clothes for them

With little tags to hold them on

Under her tutorage I gained

The skill of embroidery,

Applique technique,

And how to design and sew

A variety of Cindy doll clothes

***

Granny Joan, the encourager

Of a young girl’s creativity

I wonder what she thinks

When she visits me from Heaven

I always leave my artworks on display

To let her look

A beautiful picture of Queen Push-Push
Silhouette of Eleanor, the hadeda
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

71 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – A few late poems Reena’s Xploration Challenge #309 – Opposites and W3 – memory poem #poetry”

  2. My first experience of that black word

    yeah… this always changes a child’s world… my daughter (nearly 9-yrs-old) worries about us dying all the time…

    The way you integrated the “let her look” is so smooth, Robbie ~ just wonderful!

    ❤
    David

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  11. Lovely poems, Robbie. The comparison of brothers is great. I can see the difference between Autumn and Nora. Yes the memory of Granny Joan is precious. The black word of death… is sad. My daughter explained death to the girls. Autumn said to me, you’ll die when you get old, but it’ll be a long time. I’m glad we’re not afraid to talk about death with the kids.

    See you tomorrow. I’ll reblog your post tonight.

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      1. I try to be active and exercise to maintain my health as if I’ll live for a long time. My husband’s friend is 90 years old. She just published her second book. She still travels and sings. I want to be as active as she is when I’m her age. I’m with Nora at a community center right now.

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          1. I know, Robbie. My older sister died several months ago, a little short of 90 years old. She didn’t execute. Her legs were very weak.

            In a sense, I’m glad that I have lymphedema on my leg. It forces me to do leg exercises. When I had the bone scan, the result was that, in the next 10 years, the chances of falling to break my hips are 2%.

            When I had the bone scan in California, the way the doctor read it was that my hips were equivalent to those women who are 10 years younger.

            I hope to age well for the sake of my grandkids. 💗😍

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  19. What a memory about the Mickey Mouse figure melting in the pool! And what a gift that Granny Joan was to you. Wonderful to have someone who encouraged art-making. And you still carry that creativity with your many projects. Also, that photo of Queen Push-Push is delightful 🙂

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    1. Hi Dave, I have just finished reading your wonderful poem about the underwater photographs. So very clever! I do remember the demise of Mickey. I didn’t know that would happen so it was a complete shock to me. Granny Joan has come into my mind frequently over the past 5 years or so. I was lucky to have her and she enjoyed teaching me. I was the only one of her grandchildren who she taught these things too. I think because I was quiet and self contained so she liked having me to stay with her.

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  21. I love your creative Granny. I remember making paper dolls and doll clothes. My Grandma taught me to sew, and I made Barbie clothes. I drew until my crayons were mere stubs in my toy drawer at her house. She always had tons of pink butcher paper to satisfy my drawing needs.

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  24. Two wonderful poems, Robbie. It’s interesting to me how siblings can be so different. I’m assuming you see that up close! And a lovely poem for Aunt Joan. I enjoyed your connection and how memorable her kindness was. The last stanza was especially beautiful. ❤

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  25. First, Queen Push-Push seals the post. Always a possibility when a cat makes an appearance.
    Your poetry is wonderful.
    Granny Joan brings out the best nostalgia.
    I had a Granny Joan- Baba.
    Thank you for writing!

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