My curiosity was gone,
its absence a lost tooth
amongst the dentation of my other senses;
tenure alone insured my welfare.
Until, one day I stomped out
to the pasture of my weekend farm,
followed by five-year-old Mayric,
the new neighbors’ daughter,
dark and beetle-browed,
trying to match
the depression of my steps
in the long grass.
Two ropey bands of reddish skin
stretched from her third metacarpals,
up the back of her arms,
ending in two lumps
on her shoulder blades
beneath her tee shirt:
burns and scar tissue,
I had thought,
until Mayric caught me staring,
and said, “Born this way, all of us.
Surgery’ll get rid of them, Mom says.”
I rescued her from the sharp edged weeds,
swinging her up to my shoulders,
light as dandelion down.
She waved her arms back and forth
in the strong wind,
singing out with childhood’s joy.
Suddenly I heard a loud snap!
Followed by another,
and then a scream above my head.
Grabbing Mayric, I held her at arms length.
The red ropey skin was gone,
and along each arm
was a pale pink, translucent wing,
with blue veins pulsing madly,
and two more smaller wings
poking out below the first set.
Mayric’s eyes and mouth were equally round,
and she stared at me in panic.
I’d never noticed before
that her pupils were blue
and the irises black.
Her winged arms fluttered,
and as I let go,
she remained in the air
at eye level with me,
panic disappearing into delight.
“I can fly like a bird.” She laughed.
No, I thought.
Dragonfly.
A contest entry
- Fantasy Writers....un-sheath your pens of fire! by FlamesDragoness.
1500 points, ended December 23, 2008, 11 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 28 of 28
-
There is such a charming display of descriptions throughout this piece, Lita. Congrats on your emerald trophy for this tender song of innocence. 
-
Wonderful
Very creative and so well done. Best of luck in the contest.
-
OMGosh!
NO, I see: I have not read this one hawkeslake - not at all. This was a heck of a penning. I was taken on a marvelous journey. Having a 5-year old daughter myself, Mayric's appeal was immediate; not because she is the same age but because she has the energy (here) of her. I love her sense of adventure (and it felt like some wispy sense of light-hearted wonder). You had me the whole way through. This is fabulous. I am curious to see what you do with this one (haha...especially now that I read the story in reverse order - smiling).
AsIThink...
-
-
Well, I am so glad you have read it now -- and congratulations on having a lovely energetic daughter -- I often think if we could bottle the energy of children, we could make millions! Always "oldies" like me in need! Heading for bed now. Yes, I think Mayric may be worth following a bit more; I'm sure more exciting things are just waiting to happen. Thank you so much for your ever-kind support!
-
-
A very creative, imaginative story
with an intersting ending!
-
Wow this is full of imagination its a great write!!
-
-
Many thanks! I appreciate your stopping by and your kind remarks.
-
-
amazing
at first it seemed pretty normal but then when the transformation came it got interesing. it had a happy vibe out of it...it made me feel warm inside. good write. it seems from this one that your very knowledgable in the medical areas.
-
I liked this very much. It would make a wonderful bit in a fantasy novel. Great write.
-
-
Thanks so much for stopping by! I would love to write a whole novel -- for now it's just bits and pieces!
-
-
Incredible imagery in this fantasy. You have taken this deformed child into a beautiful creature and given her back her self esteem."panic disappearing into delight "..Really cool write. Good luck in the contest.
-
-
Thank you so much for reading! And I appreciate your kind comments as well.
-
-
Clever, clever.....enjoyed how you un-raveled the story
and gently un-folded the ending.
Pleasure to read!
wonderful ink and imaginative heart you feasted upon us.
Thankyou for your entry!
flamesdragoness
-
-
Thanks for having the contest! Mayric has been waiting for a place and time to appear -- she's a little young for "pens of fire", she will grow up eventually!
-
-
Brilliant "H", loved this wonderful piece of fantasy. You have excelled yourself with this little gem...well written...mal
-
-
I'm glad you enjoyed this; Mayric is one of my favorite characters -- she hopes to come back soon!
-
-
thumbs up
wonderful
-
-
I'm always glad for a thumbs up -- keeps me going. Thanks!
-
-
Wow..you're one of the best here aren't you???
You've got me hooked on my screen for this beautiful fantasy poem/story..
If there isn't going to be no trophy I have to come back to the contestholder
But I am almost sure that won't be necassery...
XXJeannette
-
-
Wow! What a great compliment! Thank you so much; I'm glad you enjoyed it.
-
-
WOW!!
You actually had me interested in the first stanza, deeply intrigued by the second, and totally enthralled the rest of the way! Loved this image filled fantasy and I'm hoping for a part 2!!
-
-
Thanks, Swan! I always enjoy your remarks, and these are especially kind. I think there is a part 2 percolating around in my brain somewhere -- we just have to see if makes coffee!
-
-
Bravo...
Lovely usage of language...imagery is descriptive and the child's innocence and then jubilance are felt in all their elevated emotion...especially liked the flip-reversing of the iris/pupil colouration...maybe that could help us to truly see differently...a fine fantasy write...penned with a certain panache...
Bravo
-
-
Your comments are very kind! Thank you so much.
-
-
Wow. What an amazing piece of imagery you have written there. Beautifully penned with an interesting story line, enough to make one wonder if this could not be real
-
-
Thanks so much! I rather wish it were real-- it would be interesting, wouldn't it?
-
-
Oh...this is just beautiful...I can't pick out on passage because you had me enthralled from start to finish.
All the best in the contest...Sue
-
-
Thanks so much for your kind comments, Sue. They are always appreciated.
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 28 of 28
