Friday, March 17, 2017

372

[image from google dot com]

MATTIE
she's on that darn bicycle again
this time she wears a purple hat

a purple lace fascinator droops
over her determined charcoal face

a charcoal face with lion-green eyes
her gold bracelet glistens the sunlight

the gold bracelet her daddy gave her
gifted to her on her fifteenth birthday

an inscribed gift, branding, ownership tag
like they did at the slave auction long ago

today she was determined
she would raise that fascinator

look upon his closed lion-green eyes one last time
and whisper, "daddy, i too, am your daughter".
MATTIE © gillena cox 2017

Blog hopping today with
Imaginary Garden With Real Toads
Fireblossom Friday: Incongruity

...

Process Note

After reading a few days ago Candy Don't Come In Gray by Roslyn Carrington, and attending a meet-the-author session with my book club; i was inspired to write this poem about my favourite character in the book 'MATTIE'. This poem is not saying that this is all there is to Roslyn's Mattie, but rather my impression, meeting and observing Mattie in a very brief encounter in one of the chapters of the book. I'm sharing in response to Fireblossom's prompt
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Location: St James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

12 comments:

  1. Kim M. RussellMarch 18, 2017 at 4:46 AM

    I love that opening line 'she's on that darn bicycle again' and the image of Mattie in her purple hat. The final line brought a tear to my eye.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gillena CoxMarch 18, 2017 at 6:51 AM

    Thank you for your appreciation Kim. There are chapters that brought me close to tears also

    Much love...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sanaa RizviMarch 18, 2017 at 9:53 AM

    today she was determined
    she would raise that fascinator
    look upon his closed lion-green eyes one last time
    and whisper, "daddy, i too, am your daughter.

    This is so deeply touching, Gillena ❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxMarch 18, 2017 at 11:42 AM

      Thank you for your appreciation Sanaa

      much love...

      Delete
  4. Paul John DearMarch 18, 2017 at 11:25 AM

    Lovely character portrayal and a fantastic poetic story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxMarch 18, 2017 at 11:43 AM

      Thank you for your appreciation Paul

      much love...

      Delete
  5. brudbergMarch 18, 2017 at 1:28 PM

    That bracelet claiming ownership was really hit me... and then that ending. Chilling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxMarch 19, 2017 at 1:51 PM

      Thanks for your appreciation Björn

      Much love...

      Delete
  6. FireblossomMarch 19, 2017 at 9:36 AM

    Thanks for taking part in my challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MargaretMarch 19, 2017 at 4:47 PM

    A lovely poem that tells a story in a very subtle way. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gillena CoxMarch 19, 2017 at 6:22 PM

      Thank you for your appreciation Margaret

      Much love...

      Delete

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