A Princess and an Imp

There is a picture of me
hiding behind my mother's knees,
I think I must have been
naughty, I have that look
whereas my sister stands
looking every inch the princess
with her long hair,
you can just see my blue shorts
slowly beginning the inexorable
slide and a thumb
ready to slip between
pink lips and a smear
of something with a hint of imp.

My mother stands, her dark hair
cut and curled into a halo
a faded summer dress
with her two little girls
that she never saw grow into women,
the photo is faded
and I can't really tell if she is smiling
but she looks happy
so that is good, it makes me happy too
that there were smiles and laughter
and naughty little girls
in scuffed shoes and sagging shorts
and sister who looked like a princess.




Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 727 times
Written on 2016-01-28 at 20:07

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time makes pictures talk
2016-02-06


Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
Simply beautiful. I love old photos. They are little time machines.
2016-02-03


Ivan R
This poem goes like a slow novel at first, then it picks up the pace, and it tells, and tells and goes on until ... it ends ... with a sigh. Great poem*
2016-02-03


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
precious photos, fading, but tangible, and still having the power to evoke such memories as you've written. i wonder if your sister thought you the princess, and she the imp.

i have scars on the back of my hands from my older sister's nails digging in. she was neither a princess nor an imp, she was mean. i love her.
2016-01-29


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
I really enjoyed this poem, Elle. Maybe it's because I have two daughters. One's a princess and the other's an imp.
2016-01-28



I am sorry you lost your mother early, I did too, and it is very sad to lose a mother so young. But this poem shows in words, a happy family and a mother who enjoyed both her princess and her little imp. A very tender write with some wistful humor.
Ashe
2016-01-28