“The boots are just brill, Gran!”
and off with a stomp and a skip,
Proud in her birthday Doc Martens, my lass is away
To her first teen-age party!
I wave her good-bye down the lane,
Then, back in the kitchen, sit hulling the strawberries for jam,
A good long tedious task that will keep me up working
Till midnight or so (just in case!…)
But sharp on the stroke
Of eleven, my Cinders returns, sleepy stars in her eyes,
A wilting wild rose in her hair…
“A good party, love?”
“Brill!”
And she, far too weary for biscuits
Or orange-juice, floats towards bed.
I hastily finish
My jampots and cautiously creep to her door…
On the table,
Her diary lies open, the rose in a tooth-glass beside it…
And she, like the girl in the ballet, lies slumped in her chair,
While behind her closed eyelids, I fancy, a Rose-sprite, arrayed
In celestial Doc Martens, gambols and stomps his bright way
Through her dreams…
Author notes
This poem was written for the Doc Martens Live Poetry Festival in 1999 - the rules of which required that all entries should contain a reference to their product!
A contest entry
- A Beautiful Flower by Lorien.
300 points, ended August 14, 2006, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Rings and Roses Bring your Prewrites! by Melodies.
550 points, ended October 4, 2007, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Persona Poems. by unmasked synergy.
1500 points, ended June 7, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Song by Shya.
690 points, ended June 20, 34 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please do not feel obliged to comment - but if you do comment, please understand that it may be some time before I can respond.
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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this was an intriguing read, I agree with 'three egg omlet' on the story-flow like quality to the poem
it was a pleasure reading this
thaank you for entering
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Thank you for your appreciation. Sorry... I am horribly exhausted,... and cannot write more now... (And ANOTHER tough week looming!)
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How charmingly lovely! 
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Dear Vera,
I believe this is the very first contest poem of yours that I've read and commented on.
I liked the story-like flow to this. There is one other, and only one other that I can think of on this site, who mimmicks the beautiful formatting and whisper-in-your-ear story telling displayed here. Her name is September Butterfly. I believe she is a blessing to this medium, and KNOW you will not be disappointed.
How'd I do in this contest?
Back to the drawing boards I guess!
PS> I think it would have been nice that there existed some evidence that our poems were read and considered by our hostess.
Much Love,
John -
Doc Martens aside, this is a sweet little snippet of life. Makes me miss my gran...
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This is sooo good and has a pro's touch. I have a pair of Doc Martens, and I used to have quite a lot of fun wearing them. Unfortunately, the heel is so thick, it makes the shoe heavy. Anyway and more importantly, I love this story and mother daughter relationship.
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Oh this was sweet. Captures so well the monosyllabic tit bits they impart and the sense of gran and the thread of love and care between generations. But, you see, as an older mother of teens (I am 50 my daughter 15) I am the one hulling strawberries for jam......... Oh dear! Still, I'm wearing quite well I think!!
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