Holding On
If only we could all be
like the children
we once were
before we were pushed
into a harsh reality
by selfish adults.
Our laughter and openness
smothered by discipline,
verbal hands
covering our mouths.
We gathered our moments
gratefully — bits of starlight,
deep woods quiet, wild violets
and jonquils in Spring. We held them
close, like talismans for the future.
We held on until we didn’t have to.
*
Bonus prompt via The Wombwell Rainbow
Art by Kerfe Roig
So I missed the last two days of NaPoWriMo. I’m sad but it couldn’t be helped. I had my last COVID-19 vaccination on Wednesday and was rather sick for 48 hours after. All I wanted was to sleep or try to sleep. But I’m all better now and when I saw the bonus prompt I decided to jump in. My poem is on the sad side but we write what rises to the top, no? I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Mine is definitely on the upswing!
Charlotte Hamrick 
I missed getting notifications of your posts. It’s not too late to do the missing ones now. It was certainly a higher force at work. So good to hear you’re much better.
I followed the link you give and find out that April 31st is Kerfe day. 😀 Most excellent. And then I saw this: “Due to a mishap when I numbered his artwork submission I accidentally went from KR11 to KR13.” His? 😮 (One of the hit-yourself-on-the-head moments, not that I think gender or pronoun is what defines us.) I hope we will all laugh over this. 😀 I am yet.
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But then I found this online too: “Years ago when I began a job as jr. and children’s knitwear designer, Kerfe was my assigned assistant. And what an assistant! … She’s a winner all around.”
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Who wrote that? Bo? what a character she was.
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I can’t see who wrote it, just the preview. I’m not in LinkedIn. So you use “she” and “her”, correct? 😀
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I do. I’m not switching yet.
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It’s hard for me to write on demand so I’m not worrying with catch up poems. There’s always next year!
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Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
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It’s great you jumped in. I’m glad you’re feeling better. I wasn’t sick after my second shot, but I was SO tired for about a day.
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I basically felt like I had the flu. I’m just happy it’s behind me plus it was better than actually having covid!
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Yes, exactly. One of my daughter’s had a reaction like that, and the other not quite as intense. My husband didn’t feel anything except a sore arm.
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I appreciate your post Charlotte, both picture and poem. And write when you write. That’s the right thing to do. I enjoy the many images you offer us. And and glad you’ve got your two shots now. Neil
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Thanks, Neil! I always appreciate your comments and support.
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Thanks so much Charlotte for all your wonderful poems based on my art. I’m honored.
I’m glad you’re feeling better now. My mother’s cousin felt like she had the flu for two weeks. I was exhausted, but I seem to be always exhausted anyway. It feels good to be vaccinated though I’m not ready to ditch the mask just yet. (K)
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