You Learn
You Learn
You learn, if you’re lucky,
that no ‘happily ever before’
can be forged
from a ‘happily ever after,’ much less
an ‘okay now;’
childhood dance lessons not
retroactively rejectible,
nor will the mirror where hips swiveled
shine
with an inner light.
Oh, heart, that wants its forehead soothed,
you must push
your own bangs back.
********************************
A poem that was 55 words first go; I am posting for the Real Toads Flash 55 poem, hosted by the wonderful Kerry O’Connor. There were supposedly bonus points (ha!) available for using jumping off an aphorism from Daily Quotes, but all the aphorisms here are my own. As is the drawing. (All rights reserved.)
Thanks.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetryTags: Flash 55 poem, heart that wants its forehead soothed poem, making peace with the past poem, manicddaily, No Happily ever before, You Learn
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ManicDDaily 
June 6, 2015 at 4:52 pm
I love the way you played with the words in this poem. I love risk-taking, especially when considering the challenge you had. Well done, thanks.
Greetings from London.
June 6, 2015 at 4:59 pm
Thanks, Cubano! k.
June 6, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Thats a beautiful drawing.. so heart-warming.. perhaps nothing is more important than being strong and following ones’s heart..!
Well penned 😀
June 6, 2015 at 5:23 pm
For me there is a mix of child and (sadder/wiser) adult here that really gives the poem such sweetness and such a feeling of things that can’t be changed by will or desire, from past to future, in the body, the mind, the heart, the world, how what has been is part and parcel of what is and will be–and it just is–I esp like the very simple feel of the ending, and the mirror that shines not from the inside–really so much here in 55–(amazing you wrote it 55 first time. Mine are always either 42 or 67.)
June 6, 2015 at 5:32 pm
This is outstanding – no bonus points needed.
June 6, 2015 at 6:20 pm
For me, I sense such a feeling of regret…time lost and the motherless daughter…a sad but strong poem, K. Thank you…
June 6, 2015 at 8:38 pm
WOW! The heart that wants its forehead soothed, and pushing one’s own bangs back is just stellar. I am in deep admiration of this piece.
June 6, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Thank you so much, Sherry. But it could use a porpoise! k.
On Sat, Jun 6, 2015 at 9:38 PM, ManicDDaily wrote:
>
June 6, 2015 at 11:23 pm
It appears here somewhat that a teenager’s activity is not going to bother his heart. Rightly so, K!
Hank
June 7, 2015 at 1:09 am
I see this as the regrets of never being able to retrace your steps into the past. Time is tricky that way. The image of the heart with its bangs is very sweet.
June 7, 2015 at 3:41 am
I’m not sure about there being actual bonus points on offer… but I am free with my gold stars for wisdom freely offered and as beautifully packaged as this is.
Kudos for the excellent double meaning of the final 3 lines.
June 7, 2015 at 6:33 am
But I *want* to be able to retroactively eliminate dance lessons! 55 on the first go? I hate you. I always have to pare my first drafts down.
June 7, 2015 at 7:03 am
Ha. That was lucky. I usually have to figure out some way to cheat–hyphens etc. k.
On Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 7:33 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
>
June 7, 2015 at 10:47 am
You’ve captured the poignant longing for childhood’s comfort lost to the adult…
June 7, 2015 at 11:44 am
We have control of our own happiness, and to often give that power to others. We wait for the fairy tale, the prince or princess to come into our lives and make things better, when we can do that, regardless our circumstances.
June 7, 2015 at 8:58 pm
love this!
June 8, 2015 at 3:08 pm
that inevitable “11” that shows up between our brows. pithy 55, k ~
June 9, 2015 at 6:21 am
I love this…I needed it.
“Oh, heart, that wants its forehead soothed,
you must push
your own bangs back.”
June 9, 2015 at 7:14 am
Thanks, Susie.