Wizened palm pressed
violet confection into young fingers
damp from tears.
“Taste, then understand,”
the crone whispered.
Apprentice tasted
spring rains on her skin,
rich loam through her toes,
before feeling blossoms torn,
scorched stiff by oven,
and finally melting on tongue.
“Don’t let your bitter steal your sweet,”
apprentice said.
Crone nodded, then slept.
Song Choice: My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit
This poem was created for the prompt given at Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads, Fireblossom Friday: I Put A Spell on You. It is also linked to Verse Escape's Friday 55.
I really like the point of view. It feels removed, while feeling everything. The penultimate stanza is brilliant magic.
ReplyDeleteI wanted a little of that "Once Upon a Time..." sort of view and was pleasantly surprised I had some small success with it.
DeleteI love this especially; “Don’t let your bitter steal your sweet” ..such depth and wisdom in this, Rommy!!💕
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanaa
DeleteVery, very nicely done.. don't let your bitter steal your sweet. Something to remember in hard times.
ReplyDeleteSomething I need to remember as well
DeleteNo one seems to want to be the apprentice these days, everybody wants to be the boss--but you miss a lot that way. This shows what learning is for, and how even the wisdom we have hides til it's revealed in a way that speaks to us the most. Thanks for playing 55, Rommy, and have a kickass weekend.
ReplyDeleteIf we don't slow down and take the time to be aware of what most dismiss as minutiae, we miss a lot of things.
DeleteI fine October lesson, this, and timely in a larger sense as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shay
DeleteLovely lesson beautifully written!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it :)
DeleteLove the magic here.. and maybe in the end the crone can learn from the apprentice.
ReplyDeletePerhaps...
DeleteOh hey, wait a minute....you double posted! *brain melts*
ReplyDeleteI'm tricksy that way
DeleteI love the contrast of wizened palm and young fingers - shades of Hansel and Gretel. My favourite line has to be:
ReplyDelete“Don’t let your bitter steal your sweet”.
I'm glad I got a little of that feel in there
DeleteWonderful! "Don't let your bitter steal your sweet."
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry
DeleteI love the lesson imprinted here...lovely writing!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it
DeleteSound advice.The apprentice becomes the teacher?
ReplyDeleteMaybe...
DeleteA wise lesson for us all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debra
Delete"Don’t let your bitter steal your sweet,” apprentice said." Love that..It is something we all need to learn.
ReplyDeleteIncluding me :)
DeleteI could paint the picture so well from your words. Clearly he is taking heed of the old crone's advice.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge passing on, a lovely lesson and a superb way of presenting it.
ReplyDeleteI think we all need to remember not to let our bitter steal our sweet!! A good lesson for the times.
ReplyDelete"Don't let your bitter steal your sweet" ... words to live by.
ReplyDeleteThere's a wise lesson here. We can all learn from it.
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing tale ... a bit of magic ... a bit of wisdom ... Loved it!
ReplyDeleteDon't let your bitter steal your sweet...wow that's a very good lesson for today. thank you my friend.
ReplyDeleteDon’t let your bitter steal your sweet Great wisdom and great magic in your poem
ReplyDelete“Don’t let your bitter steal your sweet,”.. words to live by!!!
ReplyDelete:-)
ReplyDeleteZQ
DeleteWow, that's profound! I love the way the lesson kinda snuck up on us, and was unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDelete