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Open Poetry #47
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Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA

0 posted 2011-03-17 01:45 PM



"The Emerald Green Petticoat"

Mother was an Irish lass
who kept her rambunctious nature
mostly hidden after she married Dad,
such a proper English gentleman was he.

Eyes of blue and skin so fair
she had, with flaming red hair
she kept confined in a chignon
whenever she was within his sight.

But when he was away
her hair came down and her fiery
spirit led us to dance and sing.

We’d dance a jig around the table,
out the door and up the hill
laughing and hollering
the way only the Irish can do.

She had an emerald green petticoat
she kept in a secret drawer
and would wear on such occasions
and carefully hidden under her dress
on each St. Patrick’s Day.
She told me once that Dad never knew.

Her funeral was a somber affair
not the Irish wake she would have preferred.

When the time came for Dad to join her
Underneath his pillow I found,
folded into a neat and tidy packet,
Mother’s emerald green petticoat,
and a photograph of her dancing a jig
upon the hill, her petticoat plainly showing
her flaming red hair in wondrous disarray.




© Copyright 2011 Marcia Miller-Twiford - All Rights Reserved
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
1 posted 2011-03-17 02:49 PM


Nice poetry, but it is a shame she had to hide her true self.

~ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. ~

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
2 posted 2011-03-17 02:53 PM


Marcia, you most certainly have a wonderful gift to weave words into sensitively exquisite magic.  I nearly didn't read your poem as a bright emerald green petticoat didn't appeal to me - but I thought that it is Word Weaver, so it HAS to be good.  Now I WANT an emerald green petticoat.  Your superb poem was a wonderful choice for St Patrick's Day!  Happy St Patrick's Day.  

Owl

Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
3 posted 2011-03-17 02:57 PM


'tis a true story, truly it 'tis.


OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
4 posted 2011-03-17 03:15 PM


Then, you are very blessed to have had such a wonderful mother, and a father who really loved and appreciated her, even if she never knew to what extent . . .

Owl

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
5 posted 2011-03-17 07:12 PM


I love your story and it was so nicely worded. Made the scens of Rhett Butler giving a red petticoat to Hattie McDaniel  in Gone With The Wind come to mind. latearrival  
Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
6 posted 2011-03-17 08:00 PM


I'm glad you like it and thank you for telling me so but that's an odd correlation for you to make. Don't you think?


latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
7 posted 2011-03-18 11:09 PM


You will find my mind jumps to odd places when I read. I just  thought your story was so very tender and the one I thought of was tender in a whole different way.It was the colorful petticoat that sent me there. If I drop in to write a note, it is because I really enjoyed the poem or post. I am sorry if I offended you. I did not mean to.

[This message has been edited by latearrival (03-19-2011 02:31 AM).]

Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
8 posted 2011-03-19 03:03 PM


You didn't offend me, please don't think that.


Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
9 posted 2011-03-20 01:54 PM


This story truly tugs at my harp strings ~ and my heart strings. You had remarkable parents. What a lovely keepsake poem for the family...

May the luck of the Irish be with you always!


EA

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
10 posted 2011-03-26 01:10 PM


A beautiful and touching tribute to  your parents. Love it.
                                    Ida

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