Little Nana.

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flux
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Little Nana.

Post by flux » September 17th, 2013, 10:53 am

The book between us has
a hard cover and it fits
neatly into our small hands;
the age spots on Little
Nana's hands and face are
like splashes of yellow-
brown paint.

On Little Nana's sofa-bed
beside a black cast iron fire place
Nana opens our book of children's rhymes;
we read and I take in more words
than I would usually take in.
While we read I cannot catch fire
or break something:
[space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space]often
I am mesmerized by
the brass and china ornaments
on the mantelpiece and I stray
too close to the fire
in the hearth.
[space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space]I ask, once, why
Little Nana sleeps beside the fire
and not with Granddad in his iron bed?
I can see the tall-backed wooden chair,
painted maroon red, on the other side
of the hearth--
[space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space]I cannot sit
there, that is Granddad's chair.

Little Nana turns the page.
[space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space]'da DUM
[space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space]da DUM
[space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space]da DUM
[space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space][space][/space]da DUM.'
I take in more words
and I hold them in until leopard spots
bloom on my own face and hands.
Last edited by flux on September 24th, 2013, 1:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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BloodyTears
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by BloodyTears » September 18th, 2013, 9:07 pm

Very nice. Nostalgic feeling. I was never blessed to have a Nana like this so it was a blessing to get to feel that feeling for a moment while reading.



dwells
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by dwells » September 18th, 2013, 10:17 pm

Bloody marvelous and some secrets will go to the grave as should be fitting. An economy of words that say so much with a child-like elegance, cheers!

Flux - just noticed the Zz's at the end, perfect, Dan! (and you're not old until those spots coalesce!)
Last edited by dwells on September 2nd, 2014, 12:20 am, edited 2 times in total.


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allmirth
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by allmirth » September 20th, 2013, 9:26 pm

This is so wonderfully put together with precise and intimately personal details. I like the idea of the taking in of words. It seems the moments being described planted the seeds, which grew the poet. Much enjoyed.

Thanks so much for sharing.
Mirthy :lovey:


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karrie
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by karrie » October 19th, 2013, 8:43 am

Wonderful descriptions in this it felt as if I were in the room. Wonderful write.



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Jovel320
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by Jovel320 » September 1st, 2014, 10:19 am

Very enjoyable piece and a fantastic look at a child's interpretation of his surroundings. Well done!!!
Jovel



JASON
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by JASON » September 2nd, 2014, 10:48 am

you are still too young for age spots.
Seems to be the norm for our generation and those older:
sweet grannies and tyrant grandfathers - those were the days
when the man ruled the household! (how things have changed)



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SilentTears
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by SilentTears » September 14th, 2017, 10:22 pm

I loved how introspective and nostalgic this was. It's an immersive story and it's fantastic to look at the goings-on through the eyes of a child. Well done, great flow and I adored the structure. It really took it to the next level for me.


I let the sun on my skin.
Pretend I don't burn
I'm not burning here.
I just lay ash
On my eyelids,
And rub it deep into my
Bones.


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Josie
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Re: Little Nana.

Post by Josie » September 18th, 2017, 12:34 am

My 'Little Nana' was a Mrs. Flores who told me stories and rocked me to sleep in front of her fireplace. While I lived with her I have no memories of ever going upstairs. I woke up in the morning wondering how I ever made it to my bed. Your poem brought back wonderful memories.


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