Saturday, December 29, 2007

A love story

I was in the third grade
collecting badges
and A pluses on papers that didn't matter.
I lined the cigar box,
ever just so,
Tipparillos gone,
with black velvet from the hem
of my Mama's dress,
and laid them to rest there....

the butterflies....

The glue didn't stick
and the teacher,
Miss Swanson,
"fixed" them for the fair....

I couldn't wait....
my torn pink ticket in my pocket,
to see my butterflies and the ribbon
she promised me....

But,
all I remember
are the green and gold and blue and red

hatpins through their hearts.....

30 comments:

kj said...

oh jeez! heartbreak. irreverance.
it was all wrong.

and you, wise child, knew it then, and know it now. that's a gift.

love to you,
kj

eric1313 said...

And there it is, a great big heart break, pierced soul, metal through their little souls to make them stick...

And all you wanted was a piece of tape! A drop of glue, maybe.

I loved this one. I knew it belonged here, because it's all you.

Isn't it great? Our little notepad in the thin electric air of the net, a place to set ideas up before the are etched in stone.

I'm there, reading about Hank Williams and the bad boys racing down the strip...

Meet you there.

Or clink! real time... If you like...

eric1313 said...

Clink! you back!

c'mon, you have more of a comment in you than that, don't you?

Princess Pointful said...

Goosebumps.
Nothing to say but goosebumps.

So beautiful, my dear.

No said...

"Hatpins through their hearts."

Something about this touches me in a big way...

singleton said...

OH KJ....It was awful and all these lifetimes later, the hatpins haunt me.......

Eric....This one came back, a technicolor flood, and somehow it seemed only right to lay them to rest here....where finally they could go in peace. Wild, the words, the moments, the thoughts, the trains that take flight on the butterfly walls......

princess...Thank you sweetie, wishing you a Happy New Year, it's the Countdown!

No.....I've never forgotten it. A billion years later......

Peace~love my friends
May The old year go in Peace
and The New One dance to the same

Alan said...

I'm a bit lost in this - as usual, I get spaced very easy, it must be the echos in here or - someth; perhaps the flash-backs your writing induces.
Cocooned.
Happy New Year Darling.

Enemy of the Republic said...

Ahhh, yes. I'm waiting for my son to have a similar experience!

SHE said...

you add such magic to each and any memory.

happy new year! sing~to~me

much love, ~s.

Anonymous said...

Oh sister! I never liked that sight & never could imagine doing such things. I remember once, Christine caught a butterfly by the wing and all i could say was 'nooooooooo....let her go' butterflies are free...
skinny

singleton said...

SEan...Happy New Year Friend! And don't worry about feelin' lost round these parts, I spend a lotta time wanderin' round like that myself! Peace~love for The New One!

Enemy...It's heartwrenching. Mine we're all little Moths that had passed, crashed into sudden light except one, a beautiful sleeping beauty, her wings yellow glass, and she was perfect, even in her going. And then......

She....JSYK, I feel truly blessed that we stumbled on each other in this giant bigger than real life blogosphere and Skinny and I both
"feel the love"......Thank you, sweet Friend....for all

Skinny.....Amen, sisterchild, Butterflies are free.....
And so are we! ILYSVVM, Happy New Year, Let's make it a good one!

Peace~love my friends
Let's call this year
Two thousand and Freedom

Ultra Toast Mosha God said...

Such wistfull memories of childhood. Awlays a pleasure to read.

eric1313 said...

How are you today, Lady Singleton?

You disappeared again, leaving me waiting for word of where you went.

But the again...

Butterflies... they are free, no?

Unknown said...

Ouch. [:-(

eric1313 said...

clinkin' ya!

i beati said...

aterthoughts --- hmmmnn -- may you and yours have a memorable- special happy wondrous New Year !!!!

Lola Starr said...

Aw, so sad.....horrible, horrible thing for a child...glad you knew then what you still know now though. Happy New Year's, friend! Clink!

Maithri said...

Your words bring tears to my eyes.

We have been waiting for the dawn
All the oppressed
butterflies of this world..

Hatpins through our tender hearts.

But as the first fingers
of light

from a reborn sun

edge their way towards
our weary eyes...

I hear it...

A fluttering of wings

I look above me
and for a moment
the loneliness of night is transformed
by the rainbow

And wings unfurled
towards heaven
call blue fire from the sky...

Now is the changing of the
tides...

When the power that underlies
seeming fragility
is revealed,

Ours our the
Butterfly hearts
untamed,
wild

We will never be broken

Bless you beautiful friend,

You words are a new year,
a dawn of grace,
to me,

Maithri.

singleton said...

Ultra....I live in Childhood, it's my second chance~! Wishing you a happy New Year, 365!


Eric....Oh, Butterflies are free! Clink! To word kites born in the passing breeze, to Midnight, the bejeweled bedazzled keeper of Hope,
and to peace......May it fall like morning mist, a quiet blanket of promise....

Saintly.....I know, I know, I know....ouch! I coulda picked a brighter New Years story, huh? :)

ibeati.....And I wish the same and more for you, a year of comfort and peace, Smiles.....and moments worthy of saving forever on Scrapbook pages, and in your heart! Cheers, friend!

Peace~love my friends
Cheers to the New Year

singleton said...

karma....I was a much wiser child than I am a grow-up! :) Wishing you a good one, sweetie, and from the moment the clock strikes 12, a magical blessed whirlwind! Peace~love little one!

Maithri....With only a few hours left in this year
as we know it,
and the window to tomorrow wide
open to welcome the breeze,
let me say thank you
for being you,
and for believing.....

You are the yellow butterfly!

Peace~love my friends
Midnight is the magic wand of hope....
Our second chance Martini

Spadoman said...

Happy New Year, and every year, and every day in the year, to you, and all you hold dear, and the universe, in the circle.

Peace to all.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous sad and tiny butterfly poem, a tiny pinprick in a childs butterfly heart poem,

kj said...

happy new year, singleton. go for it...!

eric1313 said...

How did you know I was just about to clink! u 2?

eric1313 said...

I hope your night was filled with wonder--I know it was...

Captain Singleton at the wheel, and the nearest star is midnight nigh...

eric1313 said...

btw--did you read the whole post? Left something for you...

singleton said...

spado......Listen to the wind, to the echo......your words to me are mine to you....for us all! Wishing you, the circle a blessed one!

gingatao.....Welcome to the parade. And sometimes, it's the little things, unnoticed at first, that can change or shape a little one's heart forever.....

KJ..."go for it".....words to live the New Year by! Love it! Happy New one!

Eric....I'll have to start all over again, My 2:00 reads and writings are a blur this morning! Did I clink you with typos? :)

Peace~love my friends
The New Year has arrived!

eric1313 said...

nah....

Although, I could totally imagine you in one of those "I love U" moods.

Any typos were just a reassuring whisper as y0ou hugged me for the new year..
=D

eric1313 said...

look who's typo-hypo'ed now!

singleton said...

Oh, yeah, I was in one of those "Love~love" moods, I met my new best friend in the ladies room, my oldest new friend in the parking lot, made peace with my neighbor's ex (They'll appreciate it because "they" are still not talking`).......had half the bar kissing the sky before the night was over with. "Who are we throwing 'em too,now?" was the chorus........
Clinkity tinkity typo!