Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Kisses & Scolds

My mother voice kisses and scolds, scolds and kisses
I raise it loud in praise and warning and encouragement
They teeter on a tightrope cliff edge
Dreaming dreams bigger than I had dreamed for them
Proud of their fierce bravery
Worried I'll need a needle and thread to help them mend
Worried I won't be able to help
They reach for a passing cloud
My heart is in my throat
Kisses and scolds, scolds and kisses: it is all my love


TangledLou challenged fellow bloggers to the "Ten Minute Spill", a writing exercise by Rita Dove.  Write ten lines in ten minutes, include a proverb, quote or saying you have changed in some way, and five of these words: cliff, needle, voice, whir, blackberry, cloud, mother, lick.  I read Papa is a Preacher's post and was so inspired, I had to try it.  Challenge accepted.

Hardest part?  Picking a quote!  I have to thank Pearl S. Buck for her quote of Mothers who kiss and scold together.

6 comments:

  1. This is fantastic. The challenge has been itching in the back of my brain since I saw it over at Periphery. Off to check out Larissa's effort!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just go ahead and scratch that itch already, Masked Mom!

      Delete
  2. I too was inspired when I read Larissa's, and yours is fabulous! It, however, would take me ten minutes just to figure out what how/when to use the words and I would panick and give up! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm grinning over here. I'm so glad you tried it Michelle. This is great!

    I hope you two try it too MM & Judy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks! It was really a lot of fun, a good kind of challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Grr. Blogger ate my comment. I checked this out the other day and I love it so much! I am going to do a round up post here pretty soon & will add everyone's with links. It is fascinating to see how different they all are. So much fun!

    ReplyDelete