Avant-Edge: Innocence and Experience

Sam challenged us to write about what moves and inspires us.   He also offered questions-which made us think when poetry opened its door to us.   It was fourth grade when my life  suddenly changed.  My teacher-Mrs. Moody read e.e. Cummings' poem the  'Day of Innocence'.  The final bell of the day had rang and everyone scurried gathering their coats, lunch boxes and books.  I was a walker and I wanted to write down the lines of the poem that had touched me.  My teacher looked at me, her cloud of gray hair tilted and she smiled, "Ellen, what are you writing, the bell rang you can go home?"    I shook my head no-I felt like I was in a trance.

"I know, but this poem paints spring and I want to take it home."  She told me we would be reading more of his work in class and she could make me a copy.   I was smitten with his insight.  The fourth grade was a defining year for me.  Poetry entered my world and I won an art contest painting a still life- bowl of fruit.  I had to compete with my class, the fifth and six graders-and won. This was when my parents recognized I had some talent.  The portal had been opened by luscious mud, a goat-footed balloonMan- and a bowl of fruit.

Thank you Sam-nature inspires me the most.

The Wedding

At night Topaz Queen mends her arch of blue

Grandmother moon perches kisses starfish 

their dreams- a mirror of silver

spiders weave Queen's diamond veil

until morning dew falls

Lone eagle soars to announce the union

Topaz Queen mingles with Cloud people

kisses her Grandmother goodnight

a line dance of wings squawks n' sings

Topaz begins her walk down the aisle

event hidden by divine law

her smile like honey melts hearts

up rushing wings gather her train

wind blows the Queen's family kisses

hills decorated with purple clover wink 

she holds her man's hand

caressing his velvet brown shoulders

staring into his lipid sea green eyes

his vest borrowed from a clothesline

of green fingers

 Rainfall mingles n' blends her gift- perfume

of Lily of the Valley, Sandalwood n' moss 

Something old, new, borrowed and blue

from the glaciers 

an Aquamarine bridge marvels 

Beargrass to bloom 

her bouquet

Queen whispers to wind: touch him, when I can't

due to meetings with  Cloud people

applause of leaves and arched trees bough n' sway

confetti cherry blossom cheer falls

Groom shakes his green mantle 

 they lock hands.

Witness their union's masterpiece

 of crimson, mauve pink and glowing embers

of orange. 

Passion dances until

indigo curtain falls

owl n' wolf clean up 

stragglers

Mocking bird is reminded it's a secret

it's a secret

We celebrate with a slice of time's cake 

their sacred union-a gift for all. 

©Ellen Wilson