Some Fairy Folk

Tags

fairies, family, poetry

I’m still in the middle of my bedroom reorganizing, and I opened another box (this one labeled “pictures”) and found another one of Mom’s poems.  This one was written for a Tri-Counties Doll Conference many years ago…there is no date on the page.  Enjoy!

Some Fairy Folk

They take a fairy shower in the early morning dew

And dry upon the sunbeams just the way we’d like to do.

Then they take a bit of rainbow and drape it here and there

For the loveliest fairy gown you’d see ‘most anywhere.

Some dragonflies so green of hue join the fairies two-by-two

As they flit and soar and dip and dive, quite the gayest sight alive.

The lady bugs so polka-dot bright, join in this ethereal flight

While down below the brownies dance with frogs and toads

And just by chance, if you should be so quiet and still

You might see them do the Brownie Quadrille.

As the fairies light softly on the moist green ground

They join the brownies and go dancing ’round.

‘Til finally, midst laughter and jubilation, the time has come

For this celebration of fairy folk to stop while.

But they’ll be back to make us smile

If only in our imagination.

– Hazel Pender

 

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Perfection

Tags

Cuesta Doll & Study Club, doll parts, dolls, Hazel Pender, Mom's poetry, poetry

While going through enormous piles of paper today (and tossing quite a bit, thank goodness), I ran across another one of Mom’s doll poems that begged to be shared.  I always enjoy finding scraps of her writing, as it feels like a mini-visit with her.  Enjoy!

Perfection

The dolls that are pure and perfect and fine

Are the dolls some ladies have in mind

When they want a new one for their collection.

A head that is broken, half there, from a dump

Is what makes my hands itch to hold

And my heart to jump

At the thought of its “could be” perfection.

So dolls that are pure and perfect and fine

Stay on the shelf and out of my mind.

While the parts and pieces, orphans and waifs

Are gathered in boxes all over the place,

And so in honest reflection–

The dolls that are pure and perfect and fine

Are for others to buy, to love, to find.

As for me, I’m content with my collection,

(Well not quite — I always want more — another arm here,

A box of parts there, a small bisque head

Without its hair, and on and on)

Without exception the dear dump darlings

Are to me perfection.

By Hazel Pender, January 8, 1981

Six years later, I’m still going through boxes and drawers of Mom’s playthings (photo taken at Fresno Doll Sale, 2014).

“For She is the Tree of Life”

Tags

essays, For She is the Tree of Life, grandmothers, Maya Angelou, poetry, prose

“Either in the joy of her caring or the sorrow of her criticism, women find healing. Grandmother is rarely a neutral moniker.” Valerie Kack-Brice

I purchased For She is the Tree of Life: Grandmothers Through the Eyes of Women Writers, edited by Valerie Kack-Brice, several years ago, but the time wasn’t right for reading it. Last week that time came, and I spent an entire day with this lovely collection of essays, poems, and other writings about all things grandmotherly. I found my grandmothers here more than once, both in the prose and in the wonderful black and white photographs. There is wisdom here, and poignancy, yearning for what could never be and remembering what had been. Maya Angelou tells about her Grandmother Henderson; M. F. K. Fisher writes about food and “Grandmother’s Nervous Stomach”.

To help us discover our own grandmothers — and ourselves — the last section of the book is “Bone of My Bones: A Grandmother Workbook”, with a series of topic questions to answer as we write our own impressions of our grandmother.

Whether you are already a grandmother and not quite sure where you fit in, or if you are grieving grandmothers long gone, this is a wonderful book. Take your time; let it sink in. Do the reflections at the back of the book. It will do you good.

2015 Reading Goal: 6/50.

Picking and choosing

Tags

favorite blog posts, Peace Love and Patchouli, poetry, Ruby Slippers Sunday

A blogging friend of mine recently put out a call for guest bloggers to appear on her site on Sundays. She calls them “Ruby Slippers”, and has had some very delightful guest posts. With some trepidation I shot her an email volunteering for a guest post, and received a gracious affirmative reply.

Then the fun (and challenge) began. Never did I think that picking a favorite blog post would be so difficult! It was rather like having to pick a favorite child…well nigh impossible.

I began at the beginning and read forward, taking notes along the way of posts that I thought might have a wide appeal. Then I whittled my list down to two, which I sent back to my friend with a request that she make the final selection. And on Sunday we will see her choice.

Meanwhile, if you would like to visit her at Peace, Love, and Patchouli, here you are.

Facing the music

Tags

poetry, Zappa Plays Zappa

We sit in the dark
hearing the music as we did long ago,
but differently.

Then we breathed in tune,
me breathing in, you breathing out,
no words needed.

The music enveloped us,
its rhythms spinning a cocoon of privacy
in the crowd.

Were others there?
I don’t remember. All I recall
was just us.

Now all has changed,
we touch and apologize, sit stiffly
as if afraid.

The music still holds memories
but the words have left us with only ghosts
of past concerts.

Perhaps it is time to go alone.

(Birthed during Zappa Plays Zappa, remembering when we sang the music. – Fawn)

I scream

Tags

ice cream, poetry

I scream
You scream
We all scream
For ice cream.
That is all.

Oh, my…I’ve been doing this a long time!

Tags

junior high, poetry, writing

[Untitled]
Since I may soon
be laid to rest,
Give these to those
I loved the best.

To Melody give my favorite pictures,
To Donnie my teddy bear,
So that when at these they gaze,
They may feel me there.

To Mama give back
Her Katie doll,
Also my silverware.

To Daddy give my bank account,
Although it’s almost empty,
The rest dispense to whom you
wish
It really doesn’t matter.

Now since this chore
Is finally done,
Goodbye sweet world,
I’ve got to run.
– Fawn Pender

I just found this in a booklet of poetry written by students in my 7th grade English class at Del Vallejo Jr. High, San Bernardino, CA., in 1961 (I was one of the students). And yes, I’m still keeping the booklet.

Some Fairy Folk

Tags

brownies, elves, fairies, Hazel Pender, poetry

I’m constantly running across snippits of my mom’s writing, and getting to read them again is almost like having her with me.  She loved fairies, brownies, elves, and everything fey.  Today I thought I’d share one of her poems with you.  Enjoy!

Some Fairy Folk

They take a fairy shower in the early morning dew

And dry upon the sunbeams just the way we’d like to do.

Then they take a bit of rainbow and drape it here and there

For the loveliest fairy gown you’d see ‘most anywhere.

Some dragonflies so green of hue join the fairies two-by-two

As they flit and soar and dip and dive, quite the gayest sight alive.

The lady bugs so polka-dot bright, join in this ethereal flight

While down below the brownies dance with frogs and toads

And just by chance, if you should be so quiet and still

You might see them do the Brownie Quadrille.

As the fairies light softly on the moist green ground

They join the brownies and go dancing ’round.

‘Til finally, midst laughter and jubilation, the time has come

For this celebration of fairy folk to stop while.

But they’ll be back to make us smile

If only in our imagination.

— Hazel Pender