Rain drops glisten daffodil petals.
Forsythia blooms in Mrs. Jester’s yard.
Buttery yarn disappears from hank,
chain-stitched and double-crocheted
by arthritic fingers on blue-veined hands.
Children with yellow chalk-smudged cheeks
squat on sidewalk squares.
Round smiling sun in place,
they draw happy flowers below.
Written for NAPOWRIMO, Day 18 and dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe: both prompts coincide nicely in this poem.
It’s Quadrille Monday at dVerse. The word to put in our poem of exactly 44 words (sans title) is “chalk” and the pub opens at 3 PM Boston time.
The NAPOWRIMO prompt is to “write a poem that provides five answers to the same question – without ever specifically identifying the question that is being answered.” The question I’ve answered is “What are yellow things you might see in the spring? My answers are daffodils, forsythia, yarn, chalk-smudged cheeks, and the sun. Photo is from Pixabay.com
** I grew up in Waukegan, Illinois. The house I lived in from the time I was two until I went into third grade was at 144 South Butrick Street. Mrs. Jester was our elderly next door neighbor.
lillian the home poet 
Lill, I LOVE that memory of your neighbor thrown in there. And your answers!
These stanzas have the most lovely word choices and sound-bump ever:
“Buttery yarn disappears from hank,
chain-stitched and double-crocheted
by arthritic fingers on blue-veined hands.”
Goodness.
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This is seriously good poetry. .crafted very carefully, with all the intensity of a superb haiku ..very clever imagery, and denouement.
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Oh Nice!!! Didn’t except to see the chalk on smudged faces😊
Happy Easter
Much💛love
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Vernalicious!
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So good, lots of images — you brought that spring memory vividly to life.
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Very nicely done, Lillian. Children drawing flowers is such a peaceful feeling.
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Love the happiness and joy from this poem from yellow chalk-smudged cheeks to the happy flowers. Happy Easter!!!
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This all pulls together nicely, Lillian. Very springy and nice to personalize it from your childhood.
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Love this, Lillian! Perfect answers to your question and great job putting both prompts together (must remember to do that next time!)
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I think you met your challenge in finding yellow things and a bonus as it was a duel prompt. Well done, I love yellow daffodils
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Your details brought this to life. Forsythia blooms in Mrs. Jester’s yard.
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I love the images… especially since they made me smile…
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A vivid slice of life, Lillian!
❤
David
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This a nice melding of the prompts, and all of it in a springtime scene that is so familiar.
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I love the conjunction of the ages, passing of time/season, crocheted yarn, children with chalk, wonderful.
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