Andre Hartslief
This poem was inspired by the movie UP ~ Andre Hartsief-Tranquilpen
“Just a sweet story of a really great love that spans the distance of time…”
THE PIXIE FACE BEHIND the JACK-O- STACK
He was 7 and she was 6 and full of tricks and so alive, that summer’s day, at the Jack-o-lantern stack, Halloween was still quite new to him and her.
Choosing the biggest Jack was fun, when all of a sudden, blinded by the noonday sun, at got a hold of my tongue, a freckled face peeped out, from the Jack-o’s roundabout. “Hello,” she sighed, gorgeous blue eyes flashing in the sun.
“Uhh!, umm”,… popped out of my bone dry throat, filling her with glee. I wanted to flee, but couldn’t budge, for, in her hand, she held my heart, tight, shut. my mother’s call, we must depart, but will I ever see that sweet pixie face, or will she vanish, without a trace?
PERHAPS I’LL SEE HER ON THE BUS
Monday morn, I’m up at dawn, perhaps I’m lucky, and she’s on the bus. Mum awakes, asking what’s the fuss, “Uh, um” is all I croak… “What’s wrong son, cat got your tongue?” I rush through breakfast, not to be last, getting into the bus.
Down the aisle I edge, is the pixie with my heart, sitting somewhere close? or is she forever lost? I saunter into class, has this all been a farce? or will I find her in the class? An ocean of faces, but no traces, where can she be, It is all I can bear? does she even care?
A knock on the classroom door, glancing at the floor. No stammering! please, “Hello!” she says, My “Hello”, slips out, only just. The pretty red bow, reflecting the glow of her cheeks, and mine too, I guess.
OUR SECRET TREE
Days of joy, and glee, we spend, hiding in our secret tree. Perhaps one day, we can fly up there in the sky, just her and I “To our very own sunny Island where we can lie, under the sky, looking at each other, just you and I”, Said she.”That would sure be neat,” Said I.
One time we were counting coins, for our trip one day, we were in our teens then. She was still wearing jeans, the one girl of my dreams, It was the same for her it seems, I was the hero, of her dreams. Another time, it was in her defense, I knocked down Paddy Dense, and soared up higher than an eagle when she kissed me on the cheek, “Thank you my, love,” she said, “he needed that great shove.”
GRADUATION AND DAD PASSES
All too soon t’was graduation time, Up the secret tree we climbed, huddled close together we sat. She was off to teaching college, I was off to work… Dad had passed, two summers ago, leaving dear Mum to run the show. It was no easy task, holding down three jobs, yet never did she sigh one time, save for a faint almost silent cry one night, as she, fell down exhausted upon the floor.
She was ill, I could tell, “Mum”, the blood!” I said, when I saw the red, on the pillow on her bed. I swore I would end, her toiling every day. And nothing she could say would make me stay in college, as she lay there pale and full of care, for me and my young sis.
I MARRY MY FAIRY PRINCESS
The work was fine and soon Mum was on the mend. My wages were enough to keep us running tough, and even a bit left over, to write my dearest love. Sis went off to nursing school, to learn how best to care, it was no dare, since her dolls were patients, always!
Hands sweating, heart racing, while at the station I was waiting for my love. My little freckled pixie was there, with flaxen hair, I choked, what a handsome maid she was as Into my embrace she rushed, saying: “Hello my love”, while I just sighed.
Soon the bells did ring, it was no ordinary thing, for down the aisle she came, a fairy princess once again, all decked out in gossamer white and finest lace.
Silence fell, among our friends, as along the aisle she walked, pretty maidens all attending. She took my breath away. Mum passed on, to join her mate: “Waiting for me at the gate.” she said, just beyond the light. then gently sighed and left.
Mere months after, sis had joined her handsome beau in marriage, they had a horse-drawn carriage when off on honeymoon they went. Our Home next to the magic tree was brightly painted and never tainted with regrets, Our sunny Island voyage, was delayed when to the doctor, we rushed one night.
Perhaps for us the pitter-patter of tiny feet, quite soon? A bleak and dark moment, when Doc. said to me:”Tis not to be my boy.” The baby’s room, in rainbow colours, we renamed, “Our Room of Dreams.”
Hours on end we would recall the wondrous adventures we had shared, my love and I.
THE LAST WALK
A school field trip came up one day, a train trip to the ocean, a hundred miles away. Now old and gray, This was it; we had to go along, the school had arranged it all. Here we were, with twenty children, and none of them, our very own, finally on our first holiday!
Most of us had never seen the sea could you believe? Hot Dogs and Cool-aid, sitting on the beach, with twenty happy kids. Soon it was time to leave, but not before we had our last walk on the beach..
Back home, a lingering cough, a visit to the Doc. The big c had arrived, Later that week she wrote, a Tiny precious note…“No regrets, my sweet and dearest boy from the Jack-o-stack, who stole my heart on that happy summer’s day so long ago.”
No tears my love, our love was sealed forevermore, and upon that magic isle, we’ll walk hand in hand, for eternity”.
GRAB THE MOVIE UP HERE
Dedicated to my best friend Daleen, my wife for 45 glorious years.
Copyright © 2014 created by Andre’ Hartslief (Tranquilpen)
it is such a beautiful poem. I would even go further and call it a word painting. The story of love is always a great view into the world!
Thank you, Doc, however, it couldn’t have been too great, definitely not for the discerning taste of the average Virily readers.
sometimes we have to consider our audience, sometimes we have to consider our art.
I am happy to share and support this art!!!!
This was wonderful and a joy to read.
Thank you Sandra it was my very first attempt, not Pullitzer prize stuff by any stretch but for an appreciative reader such as you. Thanks for checking it out.