Thursday, September 20, 2018

Views from the Past



never saw you as beautiful
you were always just there;
a vestige, a mile-marker of childhood.
When I was old enough I moved away,
escaped the dark side of my youth.
And now I see that you remained
—inventing, reinventing—
somewhat changed, but still the same.

My view of you is changing too—

Once I thought you held me back
your memory brought mixed reviews
bittersweet and interlaced
with loss and pain and awkwardness
—so many things I once suppressed
but none of which I could erase.
Was only trying to find my way 
and so, it seems, that you were too,
a place to fit, somehow belong...
I took a circumventious route—
an awkward child who found her voice.
You stayed and grew into the land,
each one making our own choice.

Full circle, how things come around…
I see the child I once knew
and see you now for who you are
awakened to the current view.
How sad the years that slipped us by,
but cannot dwell in “should-have-beens”
  you are you and I am I
  – perhaps we might begin again?

© Ginny Brannan 2018

Both personifying the place I came from,
and reflecting back on some who 
influenced who I would become.

Image taken by Photographer Anne Collins who shares her beautiful images on my hometown site called "Growing Up in Bellows Falls." Looking northbound on the Connecticut River.
Used with expressed written permission.

Monday, September 17, 2018

Three for Kersie



Blazing Her Own Trail

Her spirit rises from within
She sees the world as it should be
and sets her course accordingly

An old soul in a young girl’s skin
with steadfast gaze, new trails to blaze
a fiery storm behind sweet grin

…and so begins her odyssey
her spirit rising from within.

© Ginny Brannan 2018





Oh Captain, My Captain…

The tiny helmsman takes control—
determined, never showing fear
committed, steadfast in her role.
The tiny helmsman takes control
though course ahead remains unclear
she pushes past the rocky shoals.
This tiny helmsman in control;
determined, never showing fear.

© Ginny Brannan 2018






Tiny Pirate

Softly ceding to the night
the sun has sung itself to sleep,
while moon awakens with delight.

The fairies dance in waning light
as banshees beat a fast retreat
receding swiftly into night.

One by one the stars shine bright
across the dark expanse they sweep
as moon expresses her delight!

The sea monsters have taken flight,
again returning to the deep—
swift now ceding to the night.

The will o’ the wisps and woodland sprites
into the foggy meadows creep;
the moon observes them with delight.

Illuminated by pale light
lies tiny pirate, fast asleep;
so soft receding into night—
the moon enrapt with pure delight.

© Ginny Brannan 2018

I am totally enamored by this feisty and formidable little redhead! We recently spent a weekend in Maine with her and her grandparents where she and I spent a morning trying to "escape the sea monsters" and when that didn't seem to work we fed them "ice cream and cookies!!" These 3 pieces are inspired by her personality and her very active imagination. Such fun we had!! 
For Kersie with love.

Photos by Charlie Parant at Appetite for Photos blog
Also on Facebook: Appetite for Photos
Used with expressed written permission from photographer.


Friday, September 7, 2018

Casualties














We were young then,
kids really…unrefined;
awkward, selfish, ignorant, blind—
stumbling along toward destinations unknown
leaving behind a smattering of fractured hearts
on the shard-strewn road to adulthood.
I could blame it on our innocence,
youthful fear or ignorance
but nothing would be gained.
You and I were never meant to be,
just casualties on the pathway to maturity.
Yet, I'm sorry if I caused you pain.
And I, in turn, have not been left unscathed—
and so forgive the ones who’ve done the same.
For you, who from my past I still recall,
amid the many memories eroding
on the convoluted paths from there to here,
that we even crossed at all is worth our noting.

© Ginny Brannan 2018