Somewhere Between Snow White and Puberty


Home-you can never go back.
Is it true? – I don’t know,
but I am climbing stairs
searching for the answer.

The stones under my fingers
hold the dreams of wings.
When I was a child
I wanted to fly beyond
this granite to a fairytale…

Make believe,
I immersed myself
in it with wide eyes,
giggles, and trust.

Somewhere between Snow White
and puberty I lost my way
to imagination.

I didn’t realize how cold
it would become when
childhood died.

My eyes are drawn
to a tiny window
where a white dove
blinks with cinnamon eyes.

I hear it speak to the child
hidden inside of me,
“You’ve always had wings.
You just didn’t believe you could fly.”

Home, you can go back,
even if it is only to reunite
with the child you left behind.

©Susie Clevenger 2012
Photograph: Elizabeth Messina





Written for New World Creative Union's Wednesday Wake-Up Call 8/1/2012
Inspired by this beautiful music video featuring the paintings and artwork of Winslow Homer, Camille Pissarro, John Singer Sargent, and Spadecaller. 

Comments

"I didn’t realize how cold
it would become when
childhood died."

How true, but so wonderful to know that we can reunite with our inner child and reconnect with our imaginations.

Lovely poem, beautiful images.
Chasing Tao said…
Definitely enjoy you "Somewhere Between..." Susie; like your format, meter, and how nicely you draw the reader into your words.

I also like how you incorporated the white bird/dove into your work, "My eyes are drawn to a tiny window where a white dove blinks with cinnamon eyes."

"Home-you can never go back. Is it true?" And I think all can identify with, "...but I am climbing stairs searching for the answer."

Reminds me of Thomas Wolfe's, "You Can't Go Home Again."

Nice, very nice indeed Susie! Thank you so much for presenting this to us!

Roger ☺
Monty said…
hey, susie, first read then listened. envious of y'all who have voice and techie skills to do the readings :) but. on to the work. . .great job. you had my attention from line 1, but captured my heart with

Somewhere between Snow White
and puberty I lost my way
to imagination

never have any lines work with more power, as much perhaps but never more. :)

Monty
Unknown said…
Enjoyed you reading the write .... :)
Jinksy said…
Long may we keep contact with our inner child - life would be dull without it! :)
Mimi Foxmorton said…
What an excellent capture of the things we believed as a child.

*didn't realize how cold*

Perhaps that why old women wear shawls........

Most beautiful!

Mimi
Janine Bollée said…
So beautifully read what you so beautifully wrote.
Dainty but deep at the same time. Do we have to lose that inner child? Even for a short time? I am glad you regained yours.
kaykuala said…
A multi media presentation brings it to a higher level. Nice voice you have Ma'am! And the child in us. Why do we hesitate to venture out? Good question with many answers. Wonderful take Susie!

Hank
Anonymous said…
wonderful Susie. How much we lose when we stop imagining, stop wondering 'what if?', give up dreaming. It is hard to go back, but it would be a nice trip.

Excellent.

mark
remarkably done.we all miss the beauty and innocence of our childhood.
Kerry O'Connor said…
Such a beautiful image and you have gone beyond to the thoughts and minor tragedy of growing up, so well encapsulated in these crucial lines:

Somewhere between Snow White
and puberty I lost my way
to imagination
Marian said…
oh deep deep sigh, susie, this is beautiful and so sad, so melancholy. i look at my daughter (and my son too) and hope against hope that somehow this can be kept from happening.
Daydreamertoo said…
So lovely.
As we mature we tend to forget that the inner child is still there, still has needs and wishes to be heard.
I love how this is so gentle, ethereal, like the butterfly wings of your dreams.
Beautiful writing Susie. Lovely image too.
I have to echo what the others have said, so sad and beautiful,a nd the last stanza is the perfect conclusion to this, very nicely done!
Kay L. Davies said…
This is wonderful, Susie. "Somewhere between Snow White and puberty" is a time to which we can all relate, even those who haven't read or watched Snow White.
Poignant writing!
K
Anonymous said…
I love this. It brought back those memories of childhood when bedtime meant imagination time to create worlds of my own.
Laurie Kolp said…
I didn’t realize how cold
it would become when
childhood died

... Oh, Susie. This is amazing. I can really relate to not believing in yourself, too.
Susan said…
Laurie speaks my mind, chooses the same lines. I thank you for the poem and for the music too! “You’ve always had wings. You just didn’t believe you could fly.” climb those stairs past fairy tales and reacquaint yourself with yourself. Very cool.
Dave King said…
“You’ve always had wings.
You just didn’t believe you could fly.”

So true of us all. Enjoyable poem.
Dave King said…
“You’ve always had wings.
You just didn’t believe you could fly.”

So true of us all. Enjoyable poem.
vivinfrance said…
I'm still a child inside, despite the white hair and wrinkles.
Anonymous said…
I love the innocence and uncertainty of this piece! As adults, we forget until reminded of the childhood fantasies we held. When reminded, we tend to question, when did we stop longing for that particular dream...
Beautiful!