To the Little Girl in the Blanket Fort

I know it’s hard
not to be constantly embarrassed
by a weird, wild heart
that keeps finding itself
snagged on a world full of splinters.

You imagine
it’d make such a beautiful sail,
freed from the limits of its chest,

for those times when you want to flip
all the blanket and pillow walls 
and turn them into a boat
to glide over the squalls.

Be patient with it. Your heart
can't help the way it throbs and dances.

As odd and awkward as it is, your heart
will be something you grow in to,
not something to grow out of.

Photo by Sdf Rf on Unsplash



Liner Notes for this Groove: This poem was created for the Weekly Scribblings post at Poets and Storytellers United, Hindsight is Rather Tricky. The phrase we were asked to work with is "if I knew then what I knew now." I really should have spent less time worrying about being that weird kid, and more time just enjoying it.

50 comments:

  1. Oh, this totally wins my heart! And is very wise, too.

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  2. "snagged on a world full of splinters" -- hoo boy, yeah, do I remember what this was like as a kid. Great turn of phrase, Rommy.

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    1. Yeah, some moments loom pretty large in my memory too

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  3. Your poem is delightful, Rommy! I was one of those little girls and I can feel that ‘weird, wild heart / that keeps finding itself / snagged on a world full of splinters’. This is an anthem to imagination!

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    1. I love your description of this as an anthem!

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  4. I remember things, too, Rommy. I remember looking into a pre-teen mirror, wondering what I'd look like all grown up. Nowadays, I occasionally catch myself looking into it wondering where that kid has gone...

    You do that well here. Congats!

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    1. Yeah, I can't help noticing the proliferation of gray hair on my head over the last year.

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  5. yeah...this is all truth. That last stanza locks it all down.

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  6. The last stanza is brilliant, and something every child (and many adults *cough*) should have the luck to hear and understand. The world--our world--would be such a fantastic place, if we took the time to delight in what we have instead of complaining for what is out of our grasp.

    Like Bev said, "Thoughtful and [very] wise!"

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  7. You certainly have grown into your heart, your talent, your potential. I love this .......

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  8. "snagged on a world full of splinters." OUCH!!!

    What a cute photo!!!

    Nice poem
    Happy Wednesday
    (✿◠‿◠)

    much love...

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  9. I love the blanket fort, our granddaughter makes a blanket she shed and sleeps in it sometimes. Lately though since she got her phone she uses "her room" and talks the night away unless her dad has told her "electronics off at ____ ." She is eleven add a half now.
    ..

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    1. My teen had a similar issue with electronics, but its been managed... well, managed better than before. :D

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  10. I truly love this Rommy!!! Big Hugs!

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  11. Oh this poetry is a perfect description of that "weird kid". I can totally relate. I was a weird kid teen and could not keep my wild heart in control. How utterly embarrassing sometimes. Thankfully (I think) I grew up. :)

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    1. I embarrassed myself too many times to count as a teen!

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  12. Oh this is absolutely beautiful Rommy and these lines are amazing "it’d make such a beautiful sail,
    freed from the limits of its chest and
    your heart
    will be something you grow in to,
    not something to grow out of.

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  13. Replies
    1. They are very cozy especially this time of year

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  14. We should never be anxious to grow up quickly as it is certainty that there will be great times that will quickly pass by and others when you just have no more time to do anything at all.

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  15. The heart is full of mystery. My favorite part is its ability to explain itself in its own sweet time. We'll just have to learn to relax and enjoy the ride.

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    1. LOL, it wasn't an easy lesson for me to learn

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  16. this poem is so honest , and wise.
    my daughter, when she was young, has a blanket that she wouldn't let anyone else touch. now she has grown into a fine, young woman. :)

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  17. Love this Rommy - pure perfection and wise and wonderful. Bliss to read!
    Anna :o]

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  18. This has got to be so touching to every reader. I have a feeling we all feel this way. What an important and far-reaching message to share.

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  19. Still growing into my heart. And sometimes life does take the wind out of our sails. Love the purity of childhood conveyed here.

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    1. I'm sure I still have more growing to do too.

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  20. Back to the blanket fort for wisdom! :)

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    1. Lemme grab a cup of cocoa and my favorite plushies!

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  21. "your heart
    will be something you grow in to,
    not something to grow out of." Wild applause, Rommy

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  22. Great poem Rommy, very touching! I loved to build blanket caves when I was young. I would us tge dining table and chairs, end table, anuthing I could find to create a eonderful einding cave system.

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  23. <3 I really like this, especially the conclusion. Grow into that heart, not out of it!

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