it's one of those sights that makes for a
perfect kodak moment---
one tall sturdy tomboy sitting beside
the more delicate paler princess, talking of
the mysteries that
children cherish...
flash forward, twelve years forward, to
when these two girls
meet in a moment of need---
the first, still taller, still a tomboy
[still a girl no one gets]
sitting astride a bench, stronger arms sheltering
the dainty princess who
is crying into the sensible shoulder of the
one who won't ask
she instead whispers words of reassurance, words
that may never come true
she realizes, may never
come to pass, but it's all she has
to give
and she will--- she does ---
and she gives until the tears slow and
the paler arms squeeze her into a hug... the words
stop, and the
w h i s p e r s
[though pale still]
slip free to fall into a lazy pile
at their feet...
the wound is not, they know, healed... but
it is shared between them, shared in the confidence
of a girl that each might call
sister
Author notes
This poem is based on a personal experience that I went through with a dear friend of mine in the fall. She came to me, and I skipped swim practice to sit with her. I am happy to say that the matter cleared itself up not long after, but the time between conflict and confrontation led, eventually, to a result that the princess, much to her dismay, found that she could not tolerate. She is still learning to live with the decision that was made.
This poem does not in any way, shape, or form explain the emotions that were involved. It is the very barest of bones, meant to give just enough shape that a person can see the shape of something that touched my heart in a way that I can't even describe.
A contest entry
- celebrate close female friendships: female poets only by sublimewriter.
850 points, ended April 17, 2007, 9 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Be critical, but be kind.
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
-
this an interesting poem i like that you are able to write it about your friend i think the most difficult poems to write about are your friends because you are so close to them congrats on your award
i look forward to reading more
-
It's LENURRRRS! AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
So where did this take place exactly?
-
-
At school. It was one of those times when she and Moony were having a hard time, when Lena needed a friend... But the latter bit happened at the school, during J&H in the fall.
-
-
i would like to congratulate you on winning the silver trophy in this contest. great job!!! viyanna rosemarie
-
congrats on making pre-liminaries!
-
the pale princess was a girl i talked to and met in gym, during swim practice. she was a cutter and she was depressed. she confided in me one day, when she went to the prayer meeting i founded and led.. and i led her to christ later
-
i like the image of the pale princess and the tomboy
and the confidence of the two girls that they share. i happen to be a tomboy throughout high school and i met a pale princess, who self-inflicted cuts on her arm..
i thought that the way that the friend touched her friend's life was very heartfelt and i like the repetition of the strength of their friendship. great work with the onamonapea (whispers) and the word being spread out, concretely
-
-
thanks so much for commenting! it can get tiring when the judge just says, "good job, come back soon."
i know a few pale princesses that i think are like the one you've met.
i wasn't sure if i had over-stressed their friendship at the end, there... that was my only concern. it looks like i must have done alright, though!
thanks again!
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 8 of 8
