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Open Poetry #36
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I Remember Goldilocks
| Open Poetry #36 |
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I Remember Goldilocks |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass 
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I Remember Goldilocks Oh she was golden, and I... I was lost in the woods when she was near; one look and...lost. But now…she may be the one who’s lost forever, lost to me, lost to the kingdom, the world.... I’ll never know why she loved me, or whether, if I’m honest, but it felt like love, and I... I know that mine was real; I still ache with the pull of it, still want to follow through this window, my awkward steps beside the trace her tiny feet made down across the shingles. Those marks, and two small flecks of broken glass – all there is. The path waits too, the one she took; not toward her home, or even to her grandma’s house.... Why would she run that way? The dwarves live in those woods, dwarves with guns, and witches.. oh my Goldie-love, where are you? It was Saturday, and should have been, would have been, a picnic; I’d slip away, we’d meet, the empty house.... “Come along, KB, we’ll be having a lovely time today,” my mama said; Papa too was smiling in his lederhosen because it was October, and he played his tuba in the oom-pah band.... ...and I pretended, trembling to think that I, that Goldilocks…. It would have been our first time, Goldie teasing in the woods but never daring; always she would dance away….only her kiss lingering, the pale perfumed scent of her.... but we would talk, talk for hours, hold close, I careful not to hurt, I am so strong. “Strong as a bear,” she’d say...my parents don’t know it was she who named me; Kid Bear, KB sometimes, and I told them that was what I’d always be, KB. I’ll never know: was it the wolf who told? The fox? The crow? That jealous frog, the one who’d tried the old “prince” trick on her? It doesn’t matter; crossing the porch so anxious, her scent still drifting there, where moments before.... I touched the latch, imagining the warmth of her touch, lingering… pushed open the door, and – “KB!” they called to me from the edge of the meadow! They’d followed, maybe they knew; I waved and waited, trying to think of a story, some excuse.... But none was possible, and as luck would come, none needed. Papa had snapped suspenders again, and they’d come home for a spare. So they said later, and I won’t ever know. It’s not like the story, but the table settings were mussed, my chair moved; Papa barged upstairs while I raced behind, Mama wailing something about intruders— And there she lay, just as she’d promised, pinafore draped on the bedpost, the shock racing across her face as she realized – Papa Roared and she sprang up, snatched it from the post, ran screaming to the window, through the window with a crash and down across the roof! I know she landed in the bushes, they were crushed, and a bit of her hair... this one lock of her wonderful hair, and this fragment of cloth caught by a thorn, Goldie, my Goldie-love, they’re all I have left of you, these things, and memories... my memories of golden love that never was but almost came to be...that almost came to me...oh I remember Goldilocks…. |
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| © Copyright 2005 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved | |||
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
It is rare when you write a long poem... but such a delight when you do... for every line is a treat!! *S* This is one I know I'll read again and again... for it's got everything... as well as incorporating a lot of tales. *G* Love and loss, grins and grief... you've given us poignant perfection, my friend. *S* And yes... I know my initial comment wasn't much of a comment... but I'm glad I saved my spot... for I lost my internet connection immediately afterwards! *S* (Didn't lose my love of the poem, though! *G*) This is truly fantastic!!! |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ed Such a sweetly told love story...a bit misty eyed at the ending, but romance is like that some times. Love it I do!!!!  |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Ed, you really reached deep, found a gold mine and took it to the limits... well done! |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
A magnificent write Ed. Very very much enjoyed the read! Hugs~Nancy |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
 This needs to see some more daylight!! |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Oh I did have fun writing this -- I just love to take something sensible and turn it a hundred-eighty degrees! Once I had the idea it sort-of carried me away....and fair warning, there may be more Goldilocks adventures coming up -- I keep having little needlings! ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
No wonder Kethry was so inspired... Now how about something about a rat leader?  . |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
LOL -- There's one in the works! ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Magnificent Ed... looking forward to reading more. m xx how i would love you, love you as no one ever did! Die and still, love you more. And still love you more..and more |
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wranx Member Elite
since 2002-06-07
Posts 3689Moved from a shack to a barn |
Nicely done, Ed leatherhead, indeed! Wish I'd written this... |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Reading this again inspired me to look up some other "fractured fairy tales" you've given us... *S* /main/forumdisplay.cgi?action=displayarchive&number=89&topic=002052 and /main/forumdisplay.cgi?action=displayarchive&number=92&topic=000130 And that, of course... leaves me even more awestruck and appreciative of your talents. *S* |
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