china bisque faced doll
my aunt’s when she was young
a twin, that’s two, but not really
the second was a boy
christmas tree with big lights
not twinkling like miniature strobes
not like stars on top of Cadillac Mountain
where you waved blueberry stained fingers
mine were smudged from ink
postcards and letters sent back home
left out the sad parts
the stained and smudged parts
bisque fragile life
still beautiful
without the sparkle
Photo: my aunt’s beautiful bride doll. China bisque face with kid leather body.
lillian the home poet 
Precious and poignant. Touches my heart and soul as I read.
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So glad you like it. It’s interesting….in my poetry class, my mentor has been working with me on avoiding “sentimentality” — getting emotions across, memories across, but not being “gushy”. She indicates that concrete details can help avoid the sentimental. Still hard to do….
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I love how you conveyed it here.
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Morning, Lillian.
My mom has a beautiful china bride doll too. This exquisite lady makes a guest appearance at every weeding shower and she improves with age 🙂
I like the twists of thought in this piece and ‘randomness’ in your perfect descriptions.
Funny – I think a comment I made to you on my blog this am included the word “smudged.”
Maybe it’s going to be a ‘smudgy’ kind of day – those are the best kind.
am:)
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…coined…new phrase for Pete the weatherman: It’s going to be a smudgey day. Love it! 🙂
Off to our grandaughter’s violin recital….she is 7. We will drive 45 minutes to get there, proudly sit tall with goofy grins on our face and wet eyes as she plays for 4 minutes, then listen to the rest of the hour+ long recital, and drive 45 minutes back home. Gotta love it … and we truly do! 🙂
happy Sun-day!
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I’m sure your little violinist played enchantingly today, Lillian. How wonderful she has the support of her grandparents. I remember partaking in piano recitals where several of my sisters and me all played – a long, long musical day 🙂
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These kind of dolls really spook me 🙂 I like family stories though!
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Oooh..didn’t intend for a spookiness. 😦 That’s how I feel about clowns!
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