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Martie
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California

0 posted 1999-12-12 05:37 PM




The Weight of the Butterfly Flower


The flowering peach,
a daughter’s bloom.
Each February
she lived
in tiny pink bud,
her tree fed my memory,
flitted across my vision
with nectar so sweet with sorrow
that the sky wept.

Oh, such weight
the delicate pink
butterfly flower held.
It took her place somehow
and lived for her each year.
A tree-gift from the fluttering
girls and boys of second grade,
now almost middle aged
with children named
Michelle, perhaps.

She will always be eight,
the bright and moving child
of my youth,
so spark and full of fire.
The first that captured my heart
and held it,
she holds it still.

She died again this fall, Michelle,
her leaves turned and bid a final
tremble to the ground.
The tree no longer lives,
just a sentinel stark and bleak
its gamine trunk.

But
under the canopy that burned
my heart again
from brown and rotting leaves
emerges the everlasting
circle of creation,
a fragile new beginning
strong with claims of yes.




[This message has been edited by Martie (edited 12-13-1999).]

© Copyright 1999 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved
Marge Tindal
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
1 posted 1999-12-12 05:42 PM


Martie -

A tender remembrance of Michelle,
the child you lost.
My heart sighs with yours.

This is just exactly - BEAUTIFUL !

*Hug* *Hug* *Hug*



 ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com



Denise
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

2 posted 1999-12-12 05:48 PM


Touching, Martie. I can feel the pain in this and the hope. Very well done. A lovely tribute to your Michelle. God bless you.

 Denise



Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

3 posted 1999-12-12 06:23 PM


Martie, thankyou for bringing the memory of your lovely daughter into our lives. A beautiful poem for her.
Balladeer
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
4 posted 1999-12-12 06:45 PM


I've run out of superlatives for your work, Martie.
Seaangel
Member
since 1999-07-27
Posts 167
Auckland, New Zealand
5 posted 1999-12-12 08:16 PM


another lovely poem, Martie...I especially like the last line..'strong with claims of yes'
hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
6 posted 1999-12-12 09:22 PM


Martie...I'm at a loss for words at the moment, perhaps a big ((((HUG)))) will do. Beautiful and sad both.
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
7 posted 1999-12-12 09:33 PM


Martie,
You touch me tender
You touch me sweet,
Your poetry is a treat.
*L* Sy

Martie
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
8 posted 1999-12-13 04:11 PM


A warm thank you for the responses given to this poem.

Michelle sleeps
her features cloudy
and just the slightest trace
of light where
the fine hairs curled.

Michelle sleeps
receding into air
that blows fragrance
from the grass
to recall
how specks of sun
colored her eyes.

Michelle sleeps
I see her smile only
when the peach tree blooms
in February.
  

 In the dew of little things,
the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.
(ee cummings)

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
9 posted 1999-12-13 04:16 PM


Your words are so beautiful, and alive.I always feel that I'm there with you when I read your poetry. You would be a great novelist, but please don't consider it.
Liz

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