seaview children's home
is where we first found each other,
swapped stories of sugar-less
memories, bruises and bravado
and both admitted
there was no place
like a home
with so many other
sisters and brothers
not born from the same mother,
so much sadness under the same roof
yet the staff taught us how to smile
and Pauline and I learned together
that there were no guarantees in life
just the juxtaposition
of strength of survival
to meet circumstance,
we played music in the lounge
and pushed the chairs back
so we could dance the day away
and we still do,
after all these years
through all the trials
of marriage, men and our own children,
she is my chosen skin and blister
a cockney phrase for soul sister,
she says to me stay,
when I leave she says don't
you leave it so long again,
we are as comfortable
in quietude
as we are laughing 'til we ache,
however far apart we are
there is no distance
between us
Author notes
"Stay" is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary
Dedicated to my chosen sister Pauline aka Thelma ( she calls me Louise! )
In a list
A contest entry
- Friendship Between Women by SeptemberFaith.
650 points, ended March 4, 2008, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Brit Girls by gottabesomebody.
450 points, ended April 15, 2008, 4 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
emotional and or constructive critique welcome
Comments
1 - 32 of 32
-
NIcE PoEm!!!i lYk It!!!!GrEaT jOb!!!
-
Lovely piece especially now knowing the background to it beautifully written very heartfelt loved it well done
-
A wonderful write shows a very loving friendship. Like the addage of the cockney phrase.
-
Thanks for your recent applause for my poem Words. Lucky me all around as it has led me to this one of yours. This is such a modern write and tender in oh so many ways. A wonderful tribute to true friendship.
-
Oh, pang of wonder and gratitude for the sweet message of this fine and tender poem.
Supremely poignant and truly lovely. 
-
it is good to have a friend who has been there throughout the years, makes me think of one of my drinking buddies who died a couple of years ago. a good poem.
-
LOL. My friend Rosa and I... well we arent Thelma and Louise, but when she moved to a new state, there were these two odd little trees in her backyard and we named them Thelma and Louise.. haha the crazy things we do with friends.
This is a super sweet sentimant... (I dont know if I spelled that right.).. However, I did like this and the memories it brought back for me.
Criss -
Exquisite. There are no other words. 
Wanda
-
friendship what a beautiful thing it is. This friendship is indeed a blessing.
-
This is really a great gift to have a girlfriend like this and such a great history together. I love how you turn your life into poetry.
-
LOL, hey Louise , nothing like a female friendship, someone who truly identifies with your feelings
Gab for hours or sit in comfortable silence....
Bravo on this!
-
Honest, powerful, simple and beautiful - as friendship between women can be. A great entry, good luck in the contest.
-
I have a sister like this. I don't keep a diary. I write to her. And when she answers and tells me she still loves me, and gives me a hug, well that's all it takes to make things right in my world again these days.
Love this.
-
When souls have shared so much under such circumstances there is bound to be a bond that lasts. We need love and compassion like air and the souls prepared and able to give love will grow close to each other. This poem is a wonderful account of such an event. Thank you for creating and sharing. Take care,
Chris
-
I am so glad I read this today-Yvette your words are truly uplifting, and moving, and full of such quiet hope and warmth that it makes my eyes well up. You are lucky to have each other, and wise to value what you have. Peace E
-
i would say more but right now i can't breath for this swelling in my throat. -phish
-
This is a great poem.
You are a great poet.
What was your thoughts when you wrote this poem?
-
Hi Lisa, I cannot get the discussion box to work, I press enter and it won't submit , will try again , Yvette
-
Gosh I love this so much and again as with a lot of your poetry it rings true and familiar to me. I love people who triumph in the face of adversity, who take the worst and turn it into the best and where would we be without our female friends? That deep friendship women can have is to be venerated. Lovely poem
-
THIS IS GREAT
I love it!!!!!!!!! My sister lives in Chicago in northern Ill, me in the southern end, And my name for her is sister blister! For sure a Thelma, and Louise kind of closeness! This one is such a personal write for you, I really enjoyed it, and the vocabulary is fantabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POETDONTKNOWIT
-
sweet soul sister...
on a fine line of realism and tender intervention, you wear this well on a sleeve dipped in the waxy details of undying friendship - solid and sure. Nice to read - even better to embrace... ~ EZB
-
beautiful friendship should ALWAYS be shouted from the rooftops
soul sisters are no exception
-
Excellent
The bond of family that care and love each other is precious weather it be chosen or of the blood. Either way that cherished bond can never be beaten and you portray such a bond in this eaxcellent poem best wishes Brian.
-
nicely done Yvette, just such between two friends, whose bonds are bound by more than just words..
I have a few special friends like this, Suzi on here for one... she is my beautiful sistah
-
Oh my...such a beautiful dedication to your soul sister!! How true that even with distance between, all is still comfort of love. That is true heartstrings bound together for eternity!
Excellent poem, one that is touching to the heart and celebrates love between friends!
Beautifully written!
I wish you all the best in the contest!
Linda
-
This poem excellently portrays what true friendship, forged in the fires of a common adversity, is all about. No schmaltzy, sentimental stuff here, just realism and integrity--first-class work.
Bill
-
Wonderful write. I have no lifelong friends (and that doesn't bother me) but this speaks a lot on loyalty and what relationships should be.
Good luck. One.
Dez
-
I am not the right person to look at these things on a technical level, but it makes for a compelling read and the love and friendship behind it is obvious and highly enviable
-
This is, quite frankly, a superb poem. The love and the honesty combined make this a true ride of love. My only critique is that you could have been more descriptive about the locales and the people involved in a physical way. But that being said, I want to tell you that this is very beautiful and deserves praise - even in its somewhat nascent form. So, good! - ocerus
-
"she is my chosen skin and blister
a cockney phrase for soul sister,"
Apart from the fact that I learned a new cockney phrase today, this poem just pulled at my heart. This is the spirit of companionship, of children who stood by each other through the children's home years...and of course you know that part speaks directly to my heart, Yvette. I want to print this one out as a success story, of the sense of belonging that can be achieved among hardship and separation. Bravo poetess.
~ Nicolette
-
great that you danced the days away great ending thanks for sharing something so personal regards zaj
-
this makes me cry!!! What a beautiful, powerful poem...thank you so much for sharing it...you are beautiful and I love your poetry so much
if there is anything I have learned as well about the hardships of life....it is the people like your 'Thelma'
that always help us through it, no matter how close or far away they are... lovely...
Adding your comment:
1 - 32 of 32
