On the walls I watch the moving shadows.
Imagining her apple dance,
the way she bowed to make us smile.
The tricks she used to bring a smile!
When we were sad she'd cast shadow
puppets on the wall and make them dance.
She brought to life both song and dance -
always a lilt in her voice; with a smile
she swept away all trace of shadows.
Shadows sway in apple dance; I see her smile.
© Gay Reiser Cannon * 8.30.2012 * All Rights Reserved
Posted for the awesome Sam Peralta's article @dVersePoets Pub today on the Tritina Form -you can read it here and try it yourself!
this is a moving piece gay...i love trees...and as kids we used to climb them..and they surely bring comfort though i never exactly found out how they do it...we have a german song where a woman mourns for her friend, the tree - reminded me of this.. glad you see her smile still...
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. I also love trees but (I feel) this is about your mother or grandmother maybe, and how she'd dance and make you smile with her happy antics. It is a really tender, intimate tribute to a woman you so obviously loved.
ReplyDeleteTruly lovely.
this is really touching gay....i tried the form a few times and could only write ones with humor could not get serious with all the repetition but you did it well...and its relatable too...love the dancing shadows...
ReplyDeletemmmm. What a memorial! So many images to remember someone in: moving shadow, apple dance, tricks and bow, smile--so be she tree or person or both, you have got me enjoying the feeling and the view.
ReplyDeleteWow, lovely and imaginative with the apple dance.
ReplyDeleteThis is really beautiful, very touching. I love the image of the shadow dancing and wonder what happened to this person.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet. I love the way you repeat apple dance. The more I read this form, the more I am enjoying it's twisting way of dancing around and about. You captured it so perfectly here.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was of a dancing child, my second was of the tree. This is a spirit filled poem. Poetry has a way transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. You've done a wonderful job here.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to know more about her...was hoping you'd tell us who she is. There is a beautiful freedom to this, Gay.
ReplyDeleteMy dear friend's mother died day before yesterday. This is dedicated to her. She was a strong and loving woman who pioneered many paths. But this was an imagined bit of whimsy that any mother could give to her children.
ReplyDeleteReally lovely, loving picture painted here...a little larger and better than life, the way adults can be for children, but warm, naturally sweetened and evocative--'the apple dance' is just inspired, and lights up the shadows.Loved the sense of peace and security beneath the loving care and the laughter.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, Gay. She seemed to have been a person who knew just what to do to amuse children. Things don't have to be elaborate. In fact, sometimes they are more remembered if they are simple. I remember making shadows dance when I was a child.....with my mother. I'm thinking now I must introduce this to my grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI like the apple dance and smiling shadows...very lovely tribute to her, Gay ~
ReplyDeletewhen sadness can dance, and love can transcend gender and species, you have created something special. Nice use of the form, and nice tribute. At first I thought the tribute was to the apple tree, now long gone, like youth.
ReplyDeleteAfter re-reading I can see that interpretation. It could work too (a voice can always be suggested by the wind and laughter too I think) but it wasn't my mind's image - more of a mother from one child's point of view (now grown).
DeleteA beautiful tribute... I did see that, despite your illustration of a tree (which the poem could well be describing), your words were instead drawing the picture of a wonderful woman, loving and dependable and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGorgeously crafted, love the soft gentle tone.
ReplyDeleteLovely evocation of a person and past from the perspective of the child
ReplyDeletetouching piece. Really beautifully penned. You really took the form to another level with the depth in this piece. Great write Gay
ReplyDeleteThe poem dances and I smile. There are no shadows that I can see.
ReplyDeleteAgain, a nice choice of word to begin the tritina; they work so well with your concept.
ReplyDeletetruly love how you brought the tree to life... such personality... I'll be canning sauce soon... the blessings of the tree
ReplyDeleteThe more of these tritinas I read, the more I love the ability of this form to carry really touching, emotional images. Your's is no exception Gay. Lovely. Tony
ReplyDeleteLove this. It has a dream like quality for me :)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and touching tribute.
ReplyDeleteI liked the sound of an apple dance. Nice tritina!
ReplyDeleteIt's a tree but you beautifully brought life into it. Nice write Gay!
ReplyDeleteHank
I found this so beautiful
ReplyDeleteShadows cast to cast away shadows. Stunningly beautiful and sweet.
ReplyDelete