City Kids
Growing up through the cracks like clover, city kids they were. Almost wild, hatched on the sidewalk. Eggs dropped there by a bird. Who their fathers were, nobody knows for sure.
Boys and girls, closely housed. When they flowered that was another story. Take advantage while you can. From the street, learn your lessons well was their motto.
Some went on to become famous, others transplanted to homes on silk stocking row. Still more spent their lives inches and yards away from their mama's home.
I was a lucky one, with a small bunch of others, we were plucked. Plucked and away to become educated and married well (only some did the latter). A few when plucked shriveled, died, and dried.
One thing I can say, I'm proud to be Irish, freckles, three and four leaves, and all.
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I picked this clump of clovers from the sidewalk leading to downtown Killarney, Ireland.
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Pictures and Poem Copyright, © 2008 and 2014 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved
Pictures and Poem Copyright, © 2008 and 2014 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved
Today I am linked with Kerry's Real Toads, Open Monday (link)
Sunday I linked with Grace's Sunday's Mini-challenge at the Real Toads (link)
Sunday I linked with Grace's Sunday's Mini-challenge at the Real Toads (link)
Grace's challenge this weekend was to write about our insides with nature or season as inspiration. She said, "the prompt is wide open and feel free to use my title if it inspires you. Please write a new poem or prose poem or flash fiction (less than 250 words) and link up with Mr Linky." My word count of this little prose poem is 140.
Note: I am not Irish and did not grow up in the city. A fourth of my blood is Manx (Corkhill family) although there was a great migration of the Irish to the Isle of Man in the 5th Century A.D. Another fourth is English, with family names of Fletcher and Cram. The rest is German and undermined English ancestry. And I grew up on a farm.
Originally I had posted these two pictures originally on Jim's Little Blog (link) in 2008.
oh... i like this, Jim. i want to know more about silk stocking row... there you go, write a poem about that. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting way to personify the outcomes of these beings. Well written!
ReplyDeleteThey are a sturdy bunch to be growing & flowering beside the city streets ~ I like the voice: I'm proud to be Irish, freckles, three and four leaves, and all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Sunday's Challenge Jim ~ Wishing you happy week ahead ~
I'm proud to be freckled and Irish too, Jim.......I am intrigued by the stories alluded to in this poem - sounds like they would make a great memoir or essay about growing up in the city.........
ReplyDeleteThis is so clever and brilliantly written....I love the city kids, "hatched on the sidewalk."
ReplyDeleteStreet-smart is very important. We like the clump of clovers, Dr Jim :)
ReplyDeleteCrazy mixed yo kid, aren't you ;-) All those different backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteI love it when I find flowers where you don't expect them.
A wealth of stories tied in a neat bunch...
ReplyDeleteThis reads wonderfully like the start of a characterization for a novel. Reminded me of Angela's Ashes, not sure why but it did. Very creative take on the prompt and a wonderful pic to accompany. Great job!
ReplyDeleteVery nice twist - it actually does read like a family history - not the flowers! Fun and clever.
ReplyDeleteI know that kid as well!
ReplyDelete