Emily Dickinson wrote tons of wee bits of poetry on the backs on envelopes
and other assorted scraps of paper. A bookful have been collected in
Atoms need no excuse
to rock out and pulse
at the heart of their star.
Let Emilys twinkle
and weave groovy
spectrums of hues
to preside over
ever expanding universes
with no limits.
This poem was created for Sanaa's Wild Fridays at Poets United. The unfinished poem I chose to respond to was “Excuse | Emily and | her Atoms | The North | Star is | of small | fabric | but it | implies | much | presides | yet.” by Emily Dickinson. It's also linked to Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads, Just One Word: Groovy.
Liner Notes for This Groove:
It is a singularly daft person who even partway believes their four year old when they insist they will always want a bright pink bedroom. OK, perhaps I didn't entirely believe my youngest child's declaration of undying love for pink, but I did throw myself into making it super frilly, complete with light and dark pink stripes of paint, little rose door pulls on crackle-painted closet doors (pink underneath!), with a canopy netting festooned with flowers.
So yeah, twelve years later Rose prefers to be called Rozz. And can I please move out the Tinkerbell stuff to make room for Stranger Things, Green Day, and Captain Marvel? Of course it makes sense that the mom in this scenario is going to be a little more nostalgic (and less mortified) than her kid would be.
But I got to thinking it might be a little more than that. So I took Charles Dicken's words to heart (“My dear if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head I should better understand your affairs.”) and after many conversations with Rozz over gallons of tea, I figured out something. Creating the perfect be-frilled bedroom was something I always wanted as a kid.
I had a boring bunk bed I shared with my little brother in a very sensible room. It gives me a giggle to think that room might be Rozz's dream room (complete with it's now "classic" rock and pop posters). Teen Rozz deserves a perfect place just as much as pre-school Rose did. And none of that has a thing to do with grown-up Rommy's preferences.
OK, as an adult I absolutely do not want a pink on pink striped bedroom. But I'm getting more comfortable in indulging myself in frillier personal things (and gothier things...my upbringing wasn't exactly conducive for embracing my inner goth either).
As for Rozz, breaking in a new pair of Doc Martens is on the to-do list and Tinkerbell is on the donate pile. The pink paint can stick around because it's just a backdrop for the new posters and shelves. But can we please do something about those pink curtains?
So talk to me dear Groovers...do you remember any moments where you embraced your individuality, either as a child or an adult? Let's discuss it in the comments section. And as always, if you want to bring the conversation to your site, drop your cyber address in too.
Song Choice: Pretty in Pink by the Psychedelic Furs
"Let Emilys twinkle
ReplyDeleteand weave groovy spectrums of hues"...How I adore the lines!
Thanks Sumana!
DeleteI absolutely love this!!❤️ Emily's poem from Gorgeous Nothings is one of the perfect examples that illustrates the desire to learn more about what's written. I love the way you set the mood and give freedom to atoms to "pulse at the heart of their star."
ReplyDeleteMy sister had us paint our bedroom bright pink when we were little, and gosh it went wrong in all sorts of horrible ways! For one, the colour she chose was powder pink whereas the colour that was delivered was shocking pink! We were way too young to understand the consequences of our actions back then.
I remember her pouting two years ago when we re-visited our childhood home .. "what the hell were you thinking? Letting me paint the bedroom pink!"
It took nearly four coats of paint and loads of scrapping to get the pink off (though we loved it at some point) now the room is pearly grey with dark cherry wood furniture.
Thank you so much for writing to the prompt, Rommy!!❤️
LOL, not all pinks are created equal. And yeah, some shades are an utter pain to paint over!
DeleteOh, I didn't know about The Gorgeous Nothings. I think it's a must-have. I love your response ... and also the story of Rozz and the pink bedroom. (And then Sanaa's pink bedroom story too – how about that?)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of The Gorgeous Nothings until I began researching it. I agree it looks good!
DeleteI love the poem you found (also, I've bookmarked the link you offer because I must get Gorgeous Nothings). The scientific feel of your poem is yummy. It reads as if you and the original author were speaking. I bet her soul is smiling at your last lines, and saying, "Yes, exactly!"
ReplyDeleteYour notes had be roaring. You and Rozz are so not alone. Our beloved not-so-Little Princess is beginning to look at her "baby" things with critical eye. I suspect my Piano Man and I might have to get some paint quite soon.
And tell Rozz I vote for Stranger Things!
I was hoping to get that tone right. :) LOL, and yes there's a big poster of Eleven and the rest of the gang hanging up now. Good luck with any renovations in your future.
DeleteLOL. I love the poem, but enjoyed even more Rozz's outgrowing all the pink. Yay for Doc Martens!
ReplyDeleteLOL, laundry day is so different now. :D
DeleteGorgeous Nothing sounds like a must have. Oh gosh, is there an end to the ever growing TBR list! :)
ReplyDeleteYour poem is admirably succinct, and a great response to Sanaa's prompt.
Love your reasoning here, "Teen Rozz deserves a perfect place just as much as pre-school Rose did. And none of that has a thing to do with grown-up Rommy's preferences." I wish some parents who can't let go of the pre-school phase can see things this way. Brilliant!
Nope...the list stretches out to infinity, bwahahahahahahaha.
DeleteYeah, while I can understand getting sentimental at some point you've got to acknowledge when your kid is growing up.
My birthday is coming up- now I know what to ask for! Love the poem and your musings Rommy.
ReplyDeleteLOL, damn, I should have signed up to get a commission from sales. :D
DeleteLove this Rommy! Tremendous energy! The cosmic essence was truly “groovy”... :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rob!
DeleteI love the sense of “limitless “. Ethereal!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it
Delete...I've embraced (for some time now) not really caring what other's think. That certaily has freed me up! From Rose to Rozz - love that. And the scratched poem of Emily D's on those envelopes - Just love that.
ReplyDeleteWe're all still getting used to the name change, but I so get wanting to make the jump to something a bit "cooler" and more grown up sounding.
DeleteAs a teenager I painted my bedroon orange because I acquired a free gallon can from a paint rep in my first job. Needless to say nobody liked it and after I married and left home my father was left to replace the orange with some more acceptable colour. So I reached the limits early!
ReplyDeleteBwahahahahahahahahahaha. That must have been some groovy room.
DeleteI love this poem, and I think it works as a stunning self-portrait for you and all who cultivate a freedom of spirit, as you are doing for your daughter. What a fortunate child to have a mother who is aware of her and aware of herself. I have to say I like what happens now when I embrace my individuality a lot better than when I was a teen. Back then I painted the walls bright turquoise with a bright yellow stripe running through the centre of the perimeter. On reflection, I think that was more an expression of the outgoing, gregarious person my parents wanted me to be. Perhaps true individual expression for me didn't come until well into adulthood, and then it took me a long time to learn what I liked. Now, when asked what my colour scheme is, I reply "wood". And orange. Always orange...with a splash of turquoise! Ha! Introvert with an inner fire, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI think the wood aesthetic is pretty cool. One of my favorite places to be is a cabin in Maine that a friend of the family owns. I see those natural wood surfaces and I'm in heaven.
DeleteI love Emily Dickinson's poetry and have made art that was inspired by this book~ I love your poem and the freedom of being authentic, not just your daughter, but you, too!! It is a dance we share with our children as we get a bit of a second childhood! A beautiful poem~
ReplyDeleteLOL, yes, there absolutely is a feeling of having a second childhood as I watch both kiddos feel their way around theirs. I still like video games and cartoons. :D
DeleteIt would be wonderful to
ReplyDelete"... weave groovy
spectrums of hues
to preside over
ever expanding universes
with no limits."
Emily and you can do wonders with your weaving.
I liked your completion, it makes me wish for writing something
"groovy" at the Toads. But I have a weight dragging around tied to my fingers, they have other tasks to do.
BTW, we have one 'pink room' upstairs. It was decorated little girl fashion for the former owner's daughter, we kept it that way and we call it "KP's" (our youngest granddaughter) room.
..
Well I did write a Groovy ditty. Also put in a YouTube singing of the ancient song, "Feeling Groovy" with those two words also in the poem. Plus I put the lyrics to the song onto my post.
Delete..
I hope KP enjoys her special place when she visits her grands. :)
DeleteI do remember making-over my bedroom as a teenager, just how I wanted it. Thanks for reminding me. Rozz sounds like a very cool kid.
ReplyDeleteRozz is quite cool, IMHO :)
DeleteWhat a groovy poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jae
DeleteSuch a down to earth post. I cant contribute a thing, because I too had a bunk bed existence, actually two bunks shared with siblings. Sigh.... Rozz sounds well-adjusted, yes? And fragmented poetry written on scraps...pure love.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I'd like to think Rozz is. We still have several more teen years to go though. :D
DeleteEmily was groovy way ahead of her time!
ReplyDeleteIndeed she was.
DeletePoems on envelopes sent to the future, now!
ReplyDeleteLOL, that's a good way to see it
DeleteAh, atoms just do what comes naturally for them. Rocking and pulsing seems a way of life for them. Smiles.
ReplyDeletePhysics can be groovy :D
DeleteThe thought that atoms will do what they like resonates a lot with me... Personally I always rebel within my limited frames... such as wearing a tie when it's said that we can be casual... (and probably a pink one too)
ReplyDeleteRozz has a bit of that rebel spirit. I believe a Dr. Who tie is a favorite right now.
DeleteThis poem is like a rock poster for poets! :) I was obsessed with canopy beds as a girl (and am still obsessed with little nooks within nooks) but colors sometimes shift. I'd probably want each room different...and filled with unexpected tiny seating arrangements for books & coffee & the like. I need a TARDIS cottage. :)
ReplyDeleteYaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. Rozz and I would both agree on a TARDIS.
DeleteLoved the Gorgeous Nothings that you pinned this post to. My mind went in a plethora of directions. I too, gave into pink in my daughter's bedroom when she was very young … that, and a wall of pink fairies in silver grasses. Very magical … which is a good place for a little girl to begin her journey, I think … a soft place to land at end-of-day.
ReplyDeleteThe goal was to make it a peaceful place that she'd find more interesting than any of the other rooms in the house. LOL, and it was for a few years at least.
DeleteEmilys twinkle--as I recall, this is where her wonder kept winding back to, the infinity of it all. Nicely drawn! And, had I had a daughter, I surely might have given her the frills I had always wanted. I will never know. But I know it would have been fun to design together whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteWell, we still do, though teen Rozz has decidedly different opinions than little Rose. :D
DeleteI have to like an expanding universe with no limit. There is never ending energy waiting to be tapped into.
ReplyDeleteI had a soft pink bedroom, but I wanted a blue room. My mother bought me a blue bedspread and a blue area rug. I wanted to paint the walls blue but, she said it had to wait. Then one day when I was feeling blue, my mother came home with a gallon of paint and said "let's paint this room and lift your mood"
Aw! That was wonderful of your mom to do. LOL, my lazy butt keeps suggesting adding more posters to cover the walls.
DeleteI painted my ceiling black. It was groovy!
ReplyDeleteRozz wanted a black wall or ceiling. We might still do it, but we'd have to work out a good time when we can get all the furniture out, the weather is OK to have the window open, and nothing zany is going on to distract any of us.
Delete