lessons from Joe's head.. - pipTalk Forums

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

0 posted 2002-07-17 05:28 PM

I found Joe's head
buried in
a shallow grave
in the garden
beneath the hibiscus
that died in the drought
of spring.

His hair was still
neatly in place
His teeth intact
still pepsodent white--
the dirt
washed away
by my tears.

In a revery of memory
I did not feel
the heat of day
but sat mesmerized
in my journey
cradling his head
in my hand.

Joe was a gift--
a treasured prize
to my gift
of treasured life.
I remember eyes,
sparkling with glee--
My boy--in ferocious tear
of wrapping
from this present
and all the wonder
of the universe
was revealed within his eyes,
that day so long ago--
we brought Joe home.

Joe resided
in a garage--
and didn't mind a bit.
He drove a jeep,
and barbecued
hotdogs unburnt
throughout eternity.
He was tucked into
an orange hammock
every night
with loving care
by my son
who could not sleep
without knowing he was there.

Joe even went to Disney World,
and created quite a fuss
when he fell
from the cart
and lay there on the tracks
awaiting his decapitation.
But angels are employed
in magic kingdoms--
and no one even grumbled
when they stopped the ride--
returning Joe
to his buddy--
and then there was applause
and knowing parents smiled
while my son wept grateful tears.

Joe required treatment--
but it went well,
without incident
once we found
the drill bit
that would not shatter
his smile to pieces.
Three-second surgery
and a nail
to mimic a spine,
and he was good as new--
ever better,
for now he could see
under things
without necessity
of bending
stiff plastic legs--
he simply took his head off
and put it on the floor.

I found Joe's head
buried in
a shallow grave
in the garden
beneath the hibiscus
that died in the drought
of spring...

"Look who I found!"
I announced with glee,
opening my palm
to my son...
"Wow." He smiled,
taking Joe from me.
I watched my son
walk deep in thought
then shake his head
and then?
He tossed Joe's head in the garbage can.

I waited
until he shut the gate
and took off riding
down the street
on his bicycle
to go visit
that little girl
who didn't give up
calling him
every night this week.

I retrieved
that plastic head
of Joe's
and put him
in the box,
with my matchbooks,
stones, and baby booties,
in sadness first
then gratitude
that I get to see
my boy outgrow
his childhood needs
knowing
someday
it will be me
that he leaves behind...

SmartChick
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-09-23

Posts 7081
On A Journey To The Unknown

1 posted 2002-07-17 05:36 PM

Someday when you show your sone Joes head, he's going to know why you kept it. They just don't understand these things.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

2 posted 2002-07-17 05:59 PM

This is wonderful, serenity... and the love that shines from your heart is something he'll never outgrow... even if the gal down the street is more interesting at the moment! LOL

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

3 posted 2002-07-17 06:21 PM

serenity

this is such a tender story of love, growth and time...made me want to give you a big hug.

Like that!

Nicole
Senior Member

since 1999-06-23

Posts 1835
Florida

4 posted 2002-07-17 06:24 PM

*sigh* To be a mom...I love this, and am SO glad I read it today.

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

5 posted 2002-07-17 06:53 PM

GI Joe!! They grow up too quickly I'm afraid. I feel this one, my dear.

Goodknight
Member Elite

since 2002-06-15

Posts 2386
Ohio, USA

6 posted 2002-07-17 07:25 PM

wonderful memories live in many places and as our children move closer to our age they too yearn for those memories - a very nice poem offering wonderful images and emotion to all of us - Thanks for a great read - Paul

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

7 posted 2002-07-17 07:28 PM

Perhaps one of the best you have ever written, sincerely...
serenely...

a

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

8 posted 2002-07-17 09:23 PM

you make me smile inside in places only mothers have...
yer so kewl....

and? this one screams to be written out as prose.....
YEAH I SAID IT

( dont rush the moth )

How she loves me, I dont understand
If time wont change me, perhaps she can
And I feel her trying when were apart
God dont let me break her heart

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

9 posted 2002-07-17 10:26 PM

Gee Karen...you took me from laughing out loud to tears of remember..
You wrote this as only a mother could.
If it helps, I have one drawer full of these memories...
One day he'll understand.
This has to be the best I've seen from you..
I absolutely love it!!
And therefore...I'm keeping it!
~Hugs~

*Any good rocks buried in that garden?*

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

10 posted 2002-07-17 11:35 PM

Loud agreement with Karilea, Karen...
This is your best...without a doubt...
I too, have felt these feelings, and I have kept all the special little toys and even the teeth from under the pillows...
32 years later, Eric is gone...but I still have his toys and his baby teeth...
I am so glad that I kept them.
I still have all of Victor's special stuff also.
These are the things that a mother never gives up.
And Karen.....
this poem is definitely a

~ motherly hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

11 posted 2002-07-17 11:40 PM

wow...thanks so much! This needs a LOT of work (structure sucked, I thought) but I won't argue with ya. Afterall, whaddoo I know?

SmartChick...thank you...and he's a pretty smart kid. I'm grinning like mad now, because, he came back and asked me a while ago, "Okay, what did you do with Joe's head?"
HE WENT BACK LOOKING FOR IT. We have agreed to share custody! thanks for reading, lady!

suthern...funny thing..I find that little girl *ahem* interesting myself!

(I gotta admire her tho, she's brave enough to go through ME to get to him! lol
Hugs you, with grat.

Oh Martie...nothing else will do but silent sisterly hugs here. Thank you.

Nic...I'm glad you read it too...er..ya wouldn't mind, would ya, sending a critique on the structure? If ya have the time that is...I'd KNOW there is more to free verse than simply slashing up me prose...any advice would be appreciated!

Sharon...actually, Joe was not a G.I. He was a laid back civilian, who had the greatest garage in all of "toy story." love you!

Paul...thanks so much for reading--I'm thrilled to know that others could enjoy and share the memories with me...(I think that's why I write!)

Kari...ty to you. I don't know about "best" and all of that--I seem to be the worst judge of me...again? I just tried to write my feelings. I thank you for being so gracious in your understanding!

Jan? That's right..."TALK TO THE MOTH" BABY!

You amaze me, with your voracious appetite for reading, the depth of your understanding and all of your patience.
(I've a butterfly of a twin--that THINKS she's a moth!)

*shaking my head*

Nancy...you'd better believe there are rocks in there. (The garden, not me head I refer to--THIS TIME) It was our conversation regarding those rocks, that made me go digging through the overgrowth! Blessed be, ms. magick!

Thanks again...off to read! GROUP HUG, first!

ta-ta!

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

12 posted 2002-07-17 11:42 PM

lyra...laughing at ME now...I was so determined to thank everyone individually for once, that I almost groaned when I saw I missed you!

Thanks lady! YOU are a "keeper!"

Duncan
Member Ascendant

since 2001-08-07

Posts 5455

13 posted 2002-07-18 12:24 PM

I was pretty lost for the first part of this, imagined you digging around some garden finding men's heads who used to live in your garage...lol. Then...I got it. Ok, let's blame the hour and the fact that I'm exhausted but I can't go to sleep, not quite yet.
Honestly...(once I figured it out) I loved this!

One blaze of glory - glory
find
glory
in a song that rings true
truth like a blazing fire
an eternal flame

Jonathan Larson

MIdsummerRain
Member

since 2002-05-19

Posts 175
St. Louis, Missouri

14 posted 2002-07-18 01:18 AM

:::StuNNEd::: I was lost at first, I have to admit; What a Bittersweet song! Serenity, you truly are a Goddess ~Rayne

For in much wisdom is much grief
& he who increases knowledge
increases sorrow...
Eccl. 1:18

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

15 posted 2002-07-18 03:44 AM

DUNCAN!?! "GIT IN HERE, BOY!"

gee whiz...why are guys always so afraid of me? I am as harmless as a Richard Simmons work-out tape! (uh...lemme re-phrase that.

*chuckle*

yer a doll..."NOW GO TO BED!!!"

crack 'o whip!

and Rayne? oh my...float me on a marshmellow, while you paint me toe nails! Or just send me to Jamaica, and have one of those precious, musical sounding guys bring me pina coladas all day, umbrellas stacked in a row of proof...wearing nothing but one of dem little stretchy things that makes 'em look like a greedy grape smuggler!

Truly tho, thank you much...the Goddess resides in each of us...hugs.

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

16 posted 2002-07-18 06:01 AM

Now THIS is a keeper....one of the best story poems I have ever read..I think if you sent it to the company that makes Joe, that they would get a kick out of it annd who knows...I could even see a commercial coming out of it.

~smiling,
wondering what ever happened
to my Barbies.
M

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

17 posted 2002-07-18 08:15 AM

"umbrellas stacked in a row of proof..."

oops...

so when is THIS poem going to make it's debut?

Kethry
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-29

Posts 9082
Victoria Australia

18 posted 2002-07-18 08:39 AM

serenity, this was a grinner and it is a keeper.
keth

Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.