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Picture taken by my friend Cyndi Leos....thank you Cyndi.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Magpie Tales #44: No One Believed In Fences...

Another Magpie Tales challenge...

Photo from Tess Kincaid

From 1952 to 1957
we lived in
Bremerton, WA
with four seasons.
It was the best
of my childhood
memories...

Winter meant
 breaking off
ice cycles hanging
from the roof,
snow angels,
shoveling snow,
making snowmen,
building the best
snow fort,
snow ball fights,
and 
best of all...
sledding.
No one believed
 in fences...
 Our sled run
was the top of the hill
from our neighbor's
back yard
all the way to the
bottom,
around
the curve
to the
street below us.
Bundling up
layers of
clothes,
gloves, boots
scarf and hat.
cup of
cocoa with
marshmallows
and away
we went.
Sitting at the top
of the hill
butterflies of
 fear and excitement
(excitement always won)
booted heels
dug in the snow
 either side of
my sled.
gripping the steering cord
both hands with
just the right
space in between.
rocking back and forth
to get
the runner blades
ready...
pushing
forward
to the slope
of the hill
 cold and wind
biting my
rosy cheeks
Ready...
PUSH OFF!!
One foot on
then the other,
crouched down,
getting the feel
of the rutters,
steering,
careful...
snow flying on my face
 in my eye lashes
(hated goggles)
gleeful giggles
imagination kicks in
skiing
racing
escaping
winning
gathering speed
gotta stay on
all the way!
all the way!
feeling free
so very happy
adventure
bravery
guts
pride
skill
all
the
way
to
the
bottom
and then
pulling it
back up
the hill
and
DO IT
AGAIN!!!

~dkb~

12 comments:

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, those were the days! Wonderful imagery in your poem!

betty said...

loved this, Donna! wonderful memories!! Glad you had those four years to experience it! we always enjoyed sledding in Montana (except for the year that son broke his nose sledding and the next day daugther sprained her ankle sledding, but all in all, they were fun times :)

betty

Marilyn & Jeff said...

Fabulous, wonderful memories. I have never experienced sledding - no snow here!

Southhamsdarling said...

Loved your poem. Happy, carefree, innocent days. I have popped over from Teresa and read your wise words, so here I am! I will now follow you.

Wanda..... said...

Sweet Memories!

I have the same...my own, ones with my kids and now...ones with my grandchildren!

Loved your post...it had the look and feel of going down a hill!

Helen said...

Great Magpie!!!

Teresa said...

wonderful, just wonderful!

(my son and his family live in bremerton now)

i remember one winter when i was about 12 or 13. we lived in an area where there was no traffic and one cold, snowy night my older sister and i decided to bundle up and go for a sled ride down our street. my mom thought we were nuts but the moon was shining brightly (there were no street lights) and she knew we'd be safe. everyone else was sound asleep (i bet it was midnight or so) and off we went! what a wonderful time we had that night.

Anonymous said...

How wonderfully you described your winters, little story, with beautiful words! Thanks for sharing!

Berowne said...

Very well expressed.

Anonymous said...

lovely magpie.
well done.

hope to see you at our potluck tonight.

Tess Kincaid said...

Ah, the good old days! Wonderful memories.

Anonymous said...

Please consider link in 1 to 3 poems to Jingle Poetry Potluck week 14.
We are open and will remain open 24 hours from now and appreciate your submission today...

any poems are welcome.

your talent rocks.
share your poetry today,
stay blessed.