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Martie
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since 1999-09-21
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California

0 posted 2001-01-01 06:19 PM


The Purity that Believes
(reposted because it makes me smile)

My son thought a bandage stopped pain
when he was three of faith,
that blood was cause for screaming,
fear, the mystery of dark nights
when the shape of things shifted.

At five, off to school,
he of new found sociability
was beleaguered by
a case of warts so tempestuous
that his face ached with remorse
and he learned embarrassment.

He submitted to the power
of the white room
where he knew, though covered
in childhood blues and yellows,
pain lurked from clean hands
and the smell of rubbing alcohol
was a needle for sure.

There in the white room
his patience was dazzling,
for such was the determination
in his submission
to burn, freeze
and scrape those warts
from off that tender skin
and still
return they did
a plague upon his childhood
a nightmare of skin eruptions.

To admit defeat
is not a normal thing,
the white coat shrugged,
then whispered what to do,
quiet, least the warts had ears.

Each night this child,
this blond youth of my love,
this sweet natured sunny child
made a ritual
of faith so big and true
that doubting had no place
inside the room
where dreams are made come true.

One week of this nocturnal ceremony,
one week was all it took of squinting eyes
shut tight in focused thought,
fists clenched in purpose true,
I wish the warts away
he said five times and the trick
not in the words you see
but in the purity of youth,
he believed.

Now if you doubt that this is true
I saw it for myself,
from older eyes that had no faith
in such ridiculous schemes.
It changed the way I look at things
from this child I learned a lesson
that if you believe strong enough
then what you believe is.



© Copyright 2001 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved
catalinamoon
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone
1 posted 2001-01-01 06:21 PM


Happy New Year, Martie. I wish we could all have this faith. Good thoughts and sweet story.
Sandra

Sunshine
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since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 2001-01-01 06:25 PM


Yes, because of you, your child is strong!

Irish Rose
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since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263

3 posted 2001-01-01 06:30 PM


Yes, our children are everything, mine just returned safely from a trip and boy am I relieved!

Thank you for this one, Martie

Charisma
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since 2000-09-30
Posts 5906
lost in blue pages
4 posted 2001-01-01 07:26 PM


children are wonderful gifts of love...and they show all the things in a simple but pure way.

wonderful said
((hugs))
Charisma

Marge Tindal
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Florida's Foreverly Shores
5 posted 2001-01-01 09:58 PM


MartieMom~
Isn't it just amazing what they teach us !
This mom also has stories by the score-
of faith delivered from the innocence of youth.

I'm smiling with you.
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~


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

Martie
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Posts 28049
California
6 posted 2001-01-02 12:46 PM


Sandra--I think we are born being able to make things happen with our minds....but we cloud it all quickly with growing up...

Karilea--What a sweet thing to say...I hope it's true.

Kathleen--I'm so glad your child is home safe...mine are very grown now...but I still want them to come home safe.

Charisma--Yes, they do and thanks for the hug...here is one for you...((((hugs))))

Marge--Yes, they are many times the teachers...I'm sure you have wonderful stories...I'd love to hear them.

lucky
Senior Member
since 2000-01-17
Posts 1601
Idaho
7 posted 2001-01-02 02:14 AM


Martie,

If I may... that little comment you said to Sandra sounds like a good write. You better jump on it or I might.

love ya Sis
.

[This message has been edited by lucky (edited 01-02-2001).]

Rosemary J. Gwaltney
Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997
northern mountains, Idaho
8 posted 2001-01-02 02:20 AM


Beautiful!  The first stanza describes childhood so perfectly.  How do you do it!!!!  You are an inspiration!  This new year, I'm going to try to write of the GOOD things I remember.  But I doubt I'll capture a child ever with words, as well as you do.

(I had a son plagued with warts at five and six too.  Poor babe.  They're gone now, of course.)

Wilfred Yeats
Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704
Wilmington, Delaware
9 posted 2001-01-02 09:20 AM


To me - Your title says it all
What we wish for ourselves
and are slow in 'getting'
we blame on the 'impurities'
that have crept into our lives
when what we really need
is only purity of belief

I'm being 'preachy' when I should tell you how beautiful this poem is and how much I loved it -

Let nothing I say take anything away from the magic of your words

Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium
10 posted 2001-01-02 09:29 AM


This is excellent... so Martiesque... through the colours of life, I see the images so clearly... a great person you are... and a fine writer too...

regards,
Sudhir


Martie
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
11 posted 2001-01-02 12:45 PM


Dale--Hi...so glad to see you...you can jump on it if you want..I will look forward to reading it!

Rosemary--Your words always capture my feelings...smiles and tears...hugs to you my friend.

Bill--as a child it IS the purity that believes...thanks for your reply.  

Sudhir--It has been a long time since you stopped by...so glad to see you!  What a sweet reply for my smile...thank you!

brian madden
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374
ireland
12 posted 2001-01-02 01:50 PM


This one may me smile, your son would probably blush with embrassment now if he was to read this poem, but it a beautifully written and uplifting tale.  

It's in your eyes a fire that's wild and glorious
Unhibited, unfinished in everything I do Let the morning rise like our hearts desire" whipping boy

Gemini
Senior Member
since 1999-12-15
Posts 1203
Wisconsin, USA
13 posted 2001-01-02 02:28 PM


Martie, We can learn so much from children if we only listen, to be pure of faith and heart.  Lovely and touching write.
ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
14 posted 2001-01-02 02:33 PM


Hey Martie this is so tender and sweet and you know what the Bible says.."out of the mouths of babes" A lesson learned from one so young makes you proud doesn't it?  Loved this story...ethome
Martie
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
15 posted 2001-01-02 04:50 PM


brian--I'm glad it made you smile...and you're right about the blush...I guess I won't show it to him.  

Gemini--thank you so much for such a sweet reply.

ethome--I am proud of him in so many ways...he has become a wonderful man!

Denise
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

16 posted 2001-01-02 08:07 PM


This one makes my heart smile everytime I read it! Delightful, Martie!

Denise

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