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Open Poetry #25
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Martie
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0 posted 2003-03-13 11:58 AM



Sometimes This Child

Sometimes this child is gallop of spring
I see her as though she wasn’t me
but some piece of spirit from which I grew
knowing all the while
that winter held her with eyes closed
demanding answers she would flail
onto slippery hard anguish of thought
caught in childhood until it bled her pale

There is slanted light across the room
filled with flying air of scatter run
for she blew on the pieces of her spirit aglow
until she came down fragmented  
onto the lost questions of something sweet below

She was all knees and upward going until then
and still can’t name the thing or cost
of all the love she felt that got lost
running too long to dangle baby-like
against the grain of wood so used
that the tree almost again still stood

No need explain the folded cotton tent suffocating
and all bent over in hovering creep
so good at pretending just asleep
through all the splinters fester fraught
asleep the pale is only caught
the spirit free around the room alive alone

She can name them and count them fine    the stars
close the closet door to keep in bad and dark
fold the safe place away from floor and lock the door
run fast past windows menace watch the eyes
look through even dark and find the fear
curled and closed can’t hear the steps
or what the slowly opening door begets

Sometimes this child was gallop of spring
I see her now and she is unabridged
a piece of vibrant spirit from which I grow
somehow mostly in the right directions know



© Copyright 2003 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved
Cpat Hair
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1 posted 2003-03-13 12:00 PM


you again... amaze me.

such beauty in your words and imagery and always more on the second or third read...

needless to say.. I enjoyed..


Seymour Tabin
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since 1999-07-07
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Tamarac Fla
2 posted 2003-03-13 12:02 PM


Martie
Well you did it again, a lovely write.

Ratleader
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3 posted 2003-03-13 12:07 PM


Wow.

You have magic, sometimes uplifting, sometimes heartrending, always utterly magnetic.

This piece is all three.

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
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Canada eh.
4 posted 2003-03-13 12:16 PM


You never cease to amaze me..
always holding my attention and my breath till the very last word.
Wonderful write poetess Martie!
~Smiles & Hugs, Nancy~

~ Trace my body with your words..
And in doing so, you touch my heart. ~

RSWells
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since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533

5 posted 2003-03-13 12:17 PM


May the inner child live on. Your words, which always require multiple reads, stand on hope but harbor pain. In this case a child who seems to send her thoughts and feelings elsewhere while experiencing life's harsher lessons. My hope for this child is that she more often than not knows at least the pursuit of happiness. A sadder but wiser girl. At least that is this window shopper's take.  
Martie
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California
6 posted 2003-03-13 12:24 PM


Ron...Thank you for always being there and for more than one read and for friendship, of course!

Sy--I'm always glad to catch your eye.

Ed--Your reply made magic too....thank you!  

Nancy--Thanks for such a sweet reply.

Richard--You read with an understanding heart...thank you.


Mistletoe Angel
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7 posted 2003-03-13 12:58 PM








(big hugggsssssss) God Bless You, sweet friend, you always write with the heart of a most loving mother and your children will always be so blessed to have you as their lucky mom! (kiss on cheek) This is gorgeous, sweet friend, yay, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Martie, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

regards2you
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since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940
California
8 posted 2003-03-13 01:34 PM




Martie,

Exactly what Richard said one thousand times better than I could have.

But more, this is my absolute favorite of all I've read of your works.

This tapped into my heart and my spirit. An honesty here, so precious.

Thank you, Hugs and love, Pat

..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons..
        "Desiderata"

Sunshine
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since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
9 posted 2003-03-13 01:37 PM



Let me count
reasons for reading you...

this is one...

and there are several others
I could mention...

bless your heart...

Nightshade
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just out of reach
10 posted 2003-03-13 07:36 PM


Breathtaking Martie!! love this. Chris

"Hope" is the thing with feathers-
that perches in the soul....
                  
                       -Emily Dickinson

Bill Charles
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since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
11 posted 2003-03-13 11:07 PM


Martie - yes, you are amazing, one of a kind...

BC

hoot_owl_rn
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since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
12 posted 2003-03-14 07:20 AM


Beautiful
Goodknight
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since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386
Ohio, USA
13 posted 2003-03-14 12:40 PM


I read and reread and rereread and you say so much each time your words touch my soul - lovely Martie - Paul
garysgirl
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14 posted 2003-03-14 01:04 PM


Martie, your words always have such meaning
that the reader does well to read over and
over again. If not, will miss something.

Very, very touching, sweet lady.
Heart Hugs,
Ethel

Auguste
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By the sea
15 posted 2003-03-14 07:12 PM


The Queen of Imagery strikes again!   Wonderful, Martie!  

The stars will shine when I am gone,
the earth will turn on as before,
the gulls, still race along the shore,
the morning star, still kiss the dawn

Connel
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since 2002-11-04
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16 posted 2003-03-14 07:42 PM


Perfect, and love in every word!

Read ^ there, because you are reading the wrong part!

Janet Marie
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since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

17 posted 2003-03-17 08:19 PM


knowing all the while
that winter held her with eyes closed
demanding answers she would flail
onto slippery hard anguish of thought
caught in childhood until it bled her pale


There is slanted light across the room
filled with flying air of scatter run
for she blew on the pieces of her spirit aglow
until she came down fragmented  
onto the lost questions of something sweet below


She was all knees and upward going until then
and still can’t name the thing or cost
of all the love she felt that got lost
running too long to dangle baby-like
against the grain of wood so used
that the tree almost again still stood
===================================

She can name them and count them fine    the stars
close the closet door to keep in bad and dark
fold the safe place away from floor and lock the door
run fast past windows menace watch the eyes
look through even dark and find the fear
curled and closed can’t hear the steps
or what the slowly opening door begets

Sometimes this child was gallop of spring
I see her now and she is unabridged
a piece of vibrant spirit from which I grow
somehow mostly in the right directions know



=======================================
these lines just went thru me...

onto slippery hard anguish of thought
caught in childhood until it bled her pale

for she blew on the pieces of her spirit aglow
until she came down fragmented  
onto the lost questions of something sweet below

and still can’t name the thing or cost
of all the love she felt that got lost


She can name them and count them fine    the stars



and that last verse captured your spirit true
This poem is more beautiful than a mere moth will be able to say...as is the poet who wrote it.
Sometimes there is comfort in rhyme.

  

If I am right ... if I can be ...
constant and faithful ... you'll find me

TC

Janet Marie
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since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

18 posted 2003-03-17 08:27 PM


*library*

littlewing
Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655
New York
19 posted 2003-03-17 08:37 PM


Martie - nice job here:

winter held her with eyes closed

May they now open in Spring xxoo

Magnus
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South Carolina, USA
20 posted 2003-03-17 10:14 PM


Dear one,  no one does it any better than
you...don't ever stop!!

Martie
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
21 posted 2003-03-17 10:46 PM


Friends...thank you for your replies..I so appreciate the understanding of this little girl, me.
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