Me?

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Wed, 06 Jul 2016
  • 2864 reads
15 comments
 

Charcoal-smudged swirls –
a holiday quick-sit,
no time given to fidget
or stiffen the grin –
‘for-once tidy’ curls
had been bobbed, and cut short,
for ever now caught –
a five-year old twinkle,
and mischievous smile
no sign of a wrinkle
or worries awhile,
care-free:

more alive than old photos,
more detail, 3-D,
touches memories dim …

how nice that my parents
had this done on a whim!

 

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

A sweet poem and a lovely portrait,  what gorgeous hair!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Helen. I have some old school photos with my hair all over the place, and my mother groaned that no-one had seen fit to tidy it! Inherited this when my mother died, and we sorted her things out! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

I really like your short, clipped style in your last few poems!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, LC. I do like being brief, and like lots of firm consonants! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Chuffed to have cherries on this! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by maisie on

is kinda 1940's or earlier, although whether it is, is uncertain.  It's kinda strangely adult all those waves...   like one my 'carer' had done at the end of her education at 11.  She became a seamstress. then.  At the school.  The poem is cool.  I wonder if you're parents liked that look of yours?

maisie angel Guess what?  I'm still alive!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Maisie, glad you liked the little verse. It says '54 on it, so not quite 1940s! My sister had quite tight curls, but my hair was just wavy, but obvioulsy a comb has been put for through them for this sitting, but otherwise he seems to have caught me quite 'natural'! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What a wonderful find! It is indeed more alive than an old photo. Lovely poem!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Insert. Yes, it's rather nice having it myself now, and it did bring home the difference between a drawing done well and photography, especially early photography . Rhiannon

 

Submitted by forest_for_ever on

I love poems that take me somewhere in an instant.  The line 'for once-tidy' curls took me back to Sunday Mornings and my mother dressing me for Sunday School.  I hated being 'poshed up' and always rushed home to don my play clothes once more.

A lovely poem.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Forest. I think I like the fact that combing the curls here didn't make me stiffen up. I think the artist must have been good at keeping children relaxed and natural, and doing his drawing quickly! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Loved this poem Rhiannon,

it captured a moment in time, as did the lovely picture with your smiling face.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. Nice comment! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

I too really enjoyed reading your poem and seeing the charcoal drawing. My parents who were very hard up, valued pictures very much, so had a professional photograph taken of Judy and me when we were 3 and 4. I can remember the day, and being frightened of the puppet that the photographer used to try to get us to smile. He didn't manage it with me. And we had new dresses, sent to us by Kathleen, who at aged 20, lived far away in Washington DC.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jean. My parents certainly weren't well-off, and I think that this was done when they very un-typically had a short family holiday in a Butlins Camp – I don't think they really enjoyed it, and said never again, but, again I think, my father suggested it either as my mother's father was very ill, or had just died, and he probably wanted her to have a holiday without the cooking and strain. I can't remember the sitting, and I think it must have been done very quickly and cleverly as I said because I do look comfortable! Rhiannon