Papa and Henry
There's my gallant Henry,
high on his steed,
ready to gallop into the sunset!
Tell the truth, Pa.
We both know
from the set
of Dolly's ears
what was about to happen.
I was lucky to get
out of that alive.
When Dolly went to live at the Dobler's
I was not upset.
Henry, my boy, what's stopping us
from inventing a better story
complete with some imaginary regrets?
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2016
Jama has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week at Jama's Alphabet Soup.
"What's stopping us from inventing a better story...." I love that line and all its possibilities. Great picture and great poem! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove this conversation!
ReplyDeleteI love your old-time photos and the poetry they've inspired.
ReplyDeleteHa! I actually had a pony when I grew up, who decided often enough that she didn't want us on her back anymore. I know those ears! Love this, Mary Lee, right with the photo.
ReplyDeleteYour photos this past week have been especially endearing -- the little car, the boy in big boots, and now this pony. I like the conversation in today's poem, and the optimistic view of re-inventing the past -- which is what you've been doing all month. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, the set of the ears - sometimes you get lucky and they are listening and trying to assess your skill set.
ReplyDeleteGreat story with this image.
I feel like I'm listening in on family conversations with the liberty of filling in beginnings, endings, middles. I'm wondering, how did Henry survive the "set of Dolly's ears?" Without too many fractured appendages, I hope. Wonderful series!
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, you're doing a masterful job creating these characters! I love Papa's voice!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you used space in this poem - it really set the pace and tone of the poem. I have been thinking more about white space. I love how you set those 3 stanzas off to the side.
ReplyDeleteClare
This is perfect! I've experienced the "set of Dolly's ears." Only my Dolly was named Melody and I went a flyin'. Our Dolly was the sweetest and gentlest horse ever! So being around horses as a child...up to young adult, I felt you captured the photo with poetic perfection! Nice!
ReplyDelete