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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Peter's Probationary Poems - 2. Hiding place / Magic song - Poetry Prompt 17 - Childhood Verses

Hiding place

 

The table is my castle roof,

the cloth serves as my wall.

Here do I live with Bear and Woof

for I am still quite small.

 

From here I only see some shoes

and coal-fire in the stove.

The warmth of which does make me snooze

here in my little cove.

 

I tell my tales to Woof and Bear

of witches, king and knight,

of dragons looming in their lair,

of fairies, light and bright.

 

Sometimes it’s Woof who tells the tale.

His one’s are always nice.

I like the one with Slimey Snail

who lives with two white mice.

 

When it’s Bear’s turn to entertain

his voice is always low.

He tells of violence and pain

and how to kill a foe.

 

If I keep quiet in my tent

perhaps mum will forget

the hours here already spent

and that it’s time for bed.

 

O-O-O-O-O

Magic song

 

Let’s sing a song to make you sleep

and ban the fright’ning ghost.

The evil one that makes you weep

Whene’er your eyes are closed,

 

We looked behind the bedroom door

and underneath your bed

for ugly creatures on the floor,

the ones that you so dread.

 

We didn’t find them there today,

but likely they will hide

till shadows come their game to play,

when I have left your side.

 

So let us sing the magic song,

the one that keeps them gone;

the tune that makes you very strong

and that will work till dawn.

The prompt: write two Childhood Verses, one from a kid's point of view, and one from the perspective of an adult. For the first, recall a particular way that you used to like to play, and tell the reader about it. For the grown-up poem, remember those times when you were a child and did not want to go to bed; write the poem from the POV of the adult trying to make you fall asleep. You can use any stanza pattern or rhyme scheme you feel best conveys your concept.
Copyright © 2016 J.HunterDunn; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Oh, Peter, you have outdone yourself. This is my kind of poetry, in every way, with the rhythm, rhyming, word choice, and imagery. The child's poem took me back in the most wonderful way to my own fort building days... absolute perfection... and the adult's acknowledgement that there are things to be scared of, but that magic exists to keep them away... brilliant... I am astounded... incredible... thank you and cheers... Gary...

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Lovely set of poems, Peter. Bear and Woof are two I'd like to meet, and I especially like how give them complete personalities in such few words.

 

The hunting for the ghost is charming. I can just picture the child in bed and the adult moving the door aside to show there's no one there.

 

Great job; beautiful and touching!

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These are both wonderful! So vivid, Bear and Woof are wonderful companions.
Magic Song reminds me of my mum, looking in all the dark corners to chase off the ghoulies I was sure were hiding there at bedtime.
Beautiful.

 

tim

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You make it look so easy, so effortless! The words just flow. They were so good, especially the Hiding place. Really could see the child in the castle.

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These are both amazing and Hiding Place is especially imaginative. Their rhythm so perfect, it flowed as I recited them. A beautiful, delightful treat.

 

Such a great pair... Thank you!

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On 01/06/2016 09:29 AM, Headstall said:

Oh, Peter, you have outdone yourself. This is my kind of poetry, in every way, with the rhythm, rhyming, word choice, and imagery. The child's poem took me back in the most wonderful way to my own fort building days... absolute perfection... and the adult's acknowledgement that there are things to be scared of, but that magic exists to keep them away... brilliant... I am astounded... incredible... thank you and cheers... Gary...

Thank you so much, Gary. It's a memory from my grandparents house, where my grandmother had a basket with clean dust-cloths and I could pin the cloths with clothes-pegs to the tablecloth, leaving an opening to be able to look at the flames in the hearth. I'm so happy it stirred good memories for you as well.

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On 01/06/2016 09:31 AM, AC Benus said:

Lovely set of poems, Peter. Bear and Woof are two I'd like to meet, and I especially like how give them complete personalities in such few words.

 

The hunting for the ghost is charming. I can just picture the child in bed and the adult moving the door aside to show there's no one there.

 

Great job; beautiful and touching!

Thanks for the kind review, AC. The Dutch name of Bear was Beer (pronounced as in L.M. Alcott's Professor Bhaer), but that could have given a wrong association. :-)

Woof (Dutch name: Woef) was a stuffed animal my mum made from some left over cloth.

Without the prompt these memories wouldn't have surfaced, so I have to return the compliment.

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On 01/06/2016 09:36 AM, Mikiesboy said:

These are both wonderful! So vivid, Bear and Woof are wonderful companions.

Magic Song reminds me of my mum, looking in all the dark corners to chase off the ghoulies I was sure were hiding there at bedtime.

Beautiful.

 

tim

Thanks for your review, tim.

When moving house a few years ago Bear and Woof became the victims of clearing out the attick, but in there time they were great friends.

I've never been afraid of the dark, so I had to borrow the feelings of my older brother, with whom I shared a bedroom at that age. I wouldn't be surprised if he still looks under his bed today before going to sleep.

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On 01/06/2016 10:30 AM, Puppilull said:

You make it look so easy, so effortless! The words just flow. They were so good, especially the Hiding place. Really could see the child in the castle.

Thank you, Puppi. I am very much a person of pen and paper and when I started with the prompt-attempts I used a small booklet. The combination of my illegible writing and the many, many alterations soon made me choose the computer instead. The "delete" button is such a great invention !

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On 01/06/2016 12:17 PM, Defiance19 said:

These are both amazing and Hiding Place is especially imaginative. Their rhythm so perfect, it flowed as I recited them. A beautiful, delightful treat.

 

Such a great pair... Thank you!

Thanks very much, Def. I see that you do the same as I do: reading aloud. I have several LP's whith a poet reciting his own poems. The great thing about that is that after some time you know them by heart without putting any effort in it. Thanks for the lovely review.

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On 01/23/2016 10:11 PM, Dolores Esteban said:

The poems are beautiful. I like them both.

Thank you Dolores, glad you liked them. I'm quite happy with them.

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