Wonder, Wander
Young girl lies in tall grass
loves seeing flowers from underneath
Queen Anne’s lace, a parasol in sunshine
Timothy grass swinging above her
She wonders why buttercups shine thing
under her skinny chin
Mother looks out the back window
at her daughter and wonders where
life will take her in ten years
Will she also marry and submerge
in the suburbs, eager for her next drink
Billy finds Ginny in the field
Offers her a bite of his apple
“Ha,” says Ginny, “you’re Eve”
He grins, lies down beside her
innocently, wondering
when he will be attracted to girls
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Poets United Think Tank Thursday, the prompt was “Wonder.”
For Trifecta: Three 33-word stanzas, each describing the thoughts of one person connected to the next. I chose the situation each was in, mirrored against the naivete of youth versus the bitter truth of the suburban housewife. This is me, my Mom, and my best friend, John (who finally figured it out: Never!)
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
Gorgeous, Amy! Great way to use the prompt!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Debbie. It sort of breezed in the side window… like a lovely scent from the lilacs. Amy
barbara
sweet 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
So are you! Thanks, Barbara, Amy
vivinfrance
So difficult, to get inside someone else’s head.
Sharp Little Pencil
I have an intuitive sense passed down from my Grandma Blanche, and it’s usually good about catching vibes, if not exact thoughts. MY head, well, that’s another story, hee hee. Thanks, Viv! Amy
Misky
Deliciously vivid and warms the heart. Well done, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Aw, Misk, that is a very nice comment. Thanks so much. Peace, Amy
kaykuala
A brilliant read of situational poetry. It’s a progression in fact of the growing up years to the urban lady. Great write Amy!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Hank, leave it to you to tease the country mouse – to – city mouse of my existence! You know me well. Thanks so much for this comment, personal and intuitive. Amy
oldegg
Billy, it will come but they will fancy you first while you are still drawing cars and planes and playing games that are only spoilt by girls. I loved the pastoral setting for this poem. I could smell the scent of the flowers and hear the buzzing of insects and cares were few.
Sharp Little Pencil
Robin, bless you. There was a field my dad called “The Back Forty” when we were kids, and I used to lay down there and look up at the flowers. John lived down the street, and my mom would look out the back window at us. Truly idyllic, at least until some nights… yikes… Peace, Amy
Subhan Zein
Awesome! It’s very well written! 🙂
Subhan Zein
Sharp Little Pencil
Subhan, thanks so much for stopping by! I’ll pay you a visit as well. Appreciate your taking time to comment. Peace, Amy
brian miller
interesting…not only her but him, even though his part is small, it introduces the confusion of an age…love the scene you set as well, the field…i find peace there….really neat piece..
Sharp Little Pencil
Brian, you are so right. John and I once had a pact that if we both got to 40 and hadn’t married anyone else… you know… and I used to be his “date” for high school reunions! Then one year I came along as part of a “threesome” to the reunion, because he had his partner with him. Great times. Thanks, Amy
Steve E
So..John was at least a good friend–offered you a bite of the apple! WOW! A story could grow from that bit of seed.
One attraction of your blog is you write exactly as it happened…and do it in certain form, like classic music. Form always–and yet IS–so important in the arts, from sculpting, to engineering, to…….Maybe that’s why I have heard that the acronym formed from letters GOD is “Good Orderly Direction”
You go about building your word pictures like a master plans his work. I’m SO glad to have found this blog, even though I cannot get here every day, etc…..!!!!
PEACE!
Sharp Little Pencil
Steve, I love this comment. I’ll tell you, John is my best friend and has been since forever. We grew up on the same street, skinny-dipped together (well, it didn’t go anywhere, but I have a poem about that I’ll post someday!), played Backgammon til the cows came home… Complete trust, unwavering support, that’s my BFF!
Have to admit, other than a bit of editing, the reason my voice is in the moment is because I write directly from the stream of consciousness, not at all planned. So I can’t claim the “classical” quality, but I thank you for thinking so. It’s the same with my years as a musician, I play by ear, so it’s quite apt for this comment!
Love having you here, Steve! Peace, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
I love it, and love your explanation after, too:)
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sherry. Yes, I wanted to give the POVs just in case anyone was confused. But it seems like folks got the whole thing anyway! Yay! See you at your blog, and peace and good health to you, darlin, Amy
jannatwrites
I thought the relationship contrasts were interesting. I love the poetry format!
Sharp Little Pencil
Janna, thanks so much. I usually end up with similar stanzas, don’t know why. Probably the latent OCD! Thanks for stopping by and admiring the Queen Anne’s Lace! Peace, Amy
The Gal Herself
You responded to this challenge with a POEM! I applaud your ambition and imagination! And I feel so sorry for the mom, wonder what happened in her life to make her go there. Nicely done.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, baby, don’t get me started. Mom was a savvy woman who really didn’t care much for the other housewives… after a career traveling on the road with bands, at first, she thought the burbs were heaven, but she got bored. That, along with being afraid she’d “go crazy” like her mom and get institutionalized, drove her to self-medicate. Bipolar runs in Mom’s side of our gene pool, and a lot of us have it in the family. So that’s that! Thanks for asking, for being sensitive to the whys and wherefores of Charlotte… Amy
OldDogNewTits
I love the poetry in this one. I actually went back to read it a second time. Nice job.
Sharp Little Pencil
ODNT, I always mention when I’ve gone back and read a second time… so I’m very pleased you enjoyed it that much. It’s one of those crystalline moments of childhood that doesn’t hurt when I think about it, and it’s good to look back in love, you know? And John is still my best friend. Love, Amy
lizziecracked
very neat how each of them are thinking their own thoughts
Sharp Little Pencil
Lizzie, thanks for stopping by, and welcome. Yes, the prompt had us examining a situation from three different POVs, and I chose to use the third person but “sit inside” each one’s head. Fun write, and now I’m gonna check yours out! Peace, Amy
Renee Espriu
Totally love this and the ‘Queen Anne’s Lace” reminded me of a post I did awhile back. You can see it here http://reneejustturtleflight.com/2012/02/26/field-of-wild-…een-annes-lace/ One never knows where youth and love lead.
Sharp Little Pencil
Renee, again, bless you for supplying a URL to the poem you wanted me to read. Thou rockest! And as for love and youth, John turned out to be my (still) best friend, and we’re in our 50s. He held the hoopah at my first wedding, but he likes my second husband better!! He is currently partnerless, but he’s never lonely, because he still plays piano bar, and everybody looooooves the piano player. Just ask me! (wink) Amy
Renee Espriu
Hi Amy! I tried to send the link to the above post but it doesn’t want to transfer. If you go to my site and click on February 26, 2012 on the calendar it will take you there if you want to take a look. Thanks!
Sharp Little Pencil
Will do. Thanks for the attempt, and wondering why WordPress condensed your link to the “…” part. ‘Tis a mystery… here we go! A
k~
This was a wonderful glimpse inside the minds of all three, very different, perspectives!
Sharp Little Pencil
k~, thanks for this. I think because I know/knew the other two so well, it was easy for me to crack open their noggins! Besides, John is still my best friend. Mom passed 20 years ago, but I know she’s still around me. Peace, Amy
Jester Queen
Oh! I love that – the girl is completely innocent. The Mom is projecting herself into the daughter. And the boy may be too young, may be gay, but recognizes the latent sexuality of the situation.
Sharp Little Pencil
Jester, once again, an astute comment on the poem. Mom did try (as we were both jazz singers) to “live life” through my accomplishments but also, as a bored suburban housewife with mental disorders, she sought solace, as they say, in the bottle. John was “questioning” at the time, and we’d eventually flirt, but nothing more. He came out years ago and is still my best friend. Peace, Amy
Trifecta (@trifectawriting)
This is lovely. I love the three perspectives here. You said you didn’t find inspiration in last week’s prompt, but you certainly found it for this. Thanks for linking up.
Sharp Little Pencil
Hi! Yes, I always admit when I’m not “feeling it,” which has nothing to do with the quality of your prompts. It’s all about the serendipitous crosshairs of prompt and inspiration… Thanks so much! Amy
karen
How very sweet and bittersweet. So glad that John finally figured it out, hope it wasn’t traumatic but rather a celebration of all things love.
Sharp Little Pencil
Karen, he was fine from the start. Difficult in some situations, but he and I are still best friends. We laugh about the “straight girl/gay guy” situation, and some of his friends aren’t quite on board, but we don’t care. We back each other up no matter what. Thanks for this sweet comment… Amy
Hannah Gosselin
Oh, Amy!! I love the image and you had me with your very opening lines:
“Young girl lies in tall grass
loves seeing flowers from underneath”
Some of my first loved memories! Beautiful writing, Amy! Smiles and love to you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Sweet Hannah, so glad you landed on a post that suits your taste. You know how dark and gnarly some of my stuff is!!! Love, Amy
Hannah Gosselin
But I even love those, too, Amy. Sometimes my work can go there too, it’s all about balance to me it seems. I enjoy your work, it holds an authentic voice that is all, Amy! Thank you!
ella
Wonderful Amy! I love all of the depth and fragile thoughts of youth and then faded youth~ Well Done
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Ella. And we did figure it out. Mom sobered up, I left home to sing, and John figured out he was gay. And we’re still best friends! Amy