"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Sunday, December 18, 2011

Magpie 96




One last smile
Arms folded over the future
She will wait
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When my aunt posed for this photo she didn't realize
that she was poised for her future. Arms folded
over her growing belly her sweet husband took
one last photo of her before leaving to go overseas
to fight in Germany.
Wearing his uniform complete with his Army hat was her
last view of him until he returned safely years later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Image: Lee Friedlander, 1966
Courtesy of Tess Kincaid
http://magpietales.blogspot.com

26 comments:

  1. Arms folded over the future, indeed...nice take on the prompt!

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  2. A profound haiku. Excellent.

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  3. Kathe,
    A witty process note you have here!

    Hank

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  4. Oh the bitter-sweetness! Almost too much to bear. Lovely. It evoked mixed feelings of longing and anticipation, with the anxiety of separation and the unknown. It's like knowing there are seeds under the hard frozen soil of a long cold winter, knowing that with the warm spring thaw they will emerge, but at this point, not knowing just what plants they are going to be.

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  5. There are so many directions to head in this week, I really like where you went, Kathe.

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  6. Arms folded over the future - great line.

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  7. So very creative, Kathe... loved it!

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  8. Very lovely. I had put my link thinking it was published but had left it on private...LOL Mine was a bit on the dark side too. This is really very lovely though.

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  9. That's one clever Magpie. ♥

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  10. Amazing what other people *see* for you!

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  11. Beautifully done, Kathe. I love the way everyone sees something different in the same photo, but you have really got something special here. Great haiku.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  12. Clever combination of poetry and story-telling. Wonderful message, indeed.

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  13. Anonymous5:25 PM

    perfect senryu

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  14. It really is a profound haiku, just like anthonynorth said. (It is also a much sweeter take than what I wrote for the prompt.) This was lovely for the homecoming taking place from Iraq.

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  15. What a wonderful piece. : )

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  16. love how you personalized this.

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  17. Cool beans Kathe. I see that army guy now!
    rel

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  18. evocative...the last time..and fresh with child...my what a time that must have been...

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  19. It feels true....And of course the hat is part of the shadow, that makes everything so real. Smart..

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  20. I enjoyed the mix very much. Nice read indeed!

    And, ah, in case I'm not around, I'll take the opportunity to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS now, Kathe!

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  21. Poignant piece...great job!

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  22. Excellent lines!

    Happy holidays

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  23. A nice mix of ideas here. Thank you.

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  24. Lovely haiku--arms folded over the future...yes.
    Thank you for this (I hope he came back safely).

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  25. Great take on this Magpie!
    Have a lovely Christmas!

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  26. I loved every line of this.

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