The very best place to be
when life is difficult for me
is a hop atop Toad’s wild ride,
stalwart Badger by my side.
When disaster seems too near,
as if prophesied by a rabbit seer,
I go all Watership-Downy and escape
every trap, snip-snap, in the landscape.
Or I push troubles to the back
of Wardrobe’s deep coat stack,
tumbling sideways toward a ghost —
Mr. Tumnus at Narnia’s lamppost.
Lion and witch flip and switch.
Winter’s chill becomes Munchkinville.
Aslan morphs into the Cowardly Lion,
lickety-split, without even tryin’.
White Rabbit reminds me I’m late,
I’m late, for a very important date!
But if my troubles double, I just wait.
Soon they’ll shrink and evaporate.
I find refuge in lashes-slashes of words
where storms divide troubles by thirds,
unlacing and remaking them as adventures,
sources of fun, possibility-epicenters.
Home comforts in Treehouse or Hobbit Hole
are recreated for friends, Toad and Mole.
The best part is when adventures are over,
my cares stay with Hazel, nibbling clover.
Copyright 2016 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: For Poetry Friday this month, we were challenged to write a poem about a place of refuge or solace by Ann Rider and Michelle Heidenrich Barnes at Today’s Little Ditty. I’m in under the wire.
Oh I just love all the pictures this gave me in my head! Wonderful fun – glad I saved it in my inbox for today 🙂
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I’m so glad you like it. XOXO
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Oh yes, exactly the place to go… I love that poem Brenda, such a clever blend of all those childhood fantasy stories… wonderful!! 🙂
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A lot of them are British stories. The Brits do a great job with their kids lit. I am quite jealous. 🙂
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This could easily transform into a full blown story 🙂 Just wonderful!
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Thanks, Morgan!
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Wow! I really enjoyed this! You felt really inspired!
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Thanks, Claudia. I enjoyed revisiting favorite books from my childhood.
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I like how you think and express your inner child, Brenda. I used to be full of more whimsy! 🙂 ❤
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You still creek-walk, and that has to be your inner child. 🙂
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If not toad stools, at least between the pages of a book. Nice.
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A couple mushrooms would be a nice addition. 😉
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I do like the company you keep, Brenda! And your place of refuge at the end of the day. 🙂
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I’m so glad you do, Michelle. Thanks for stopping by. I will try your trick with the padlet next time. XOXO
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it sounds like a great adventure with a safe place at the end, what we all hope for –
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So true, thus the enduring love for fantasy.
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Fabulous poem, with so many great books packed into it.
Quite superbly done.
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I tried to pick books that would strike chords with many of my young-at-heart friends. 🙂
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Love it, just the right place to escape to.
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Thanks, I do love my books.
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Such an adventurous epic saga. 🌹
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A romp, a tromp, a hullabaloo. The very best kind of fun is with you!
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Thank You, this is one phrase that I have never read/heard before.
Brava. (@–>–)
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I made it up, on the spot. I do that a lot. LOL
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Well, the spontaneous creation is a wondrous masterpiece. (@–>–)
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Thanks!
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Sounds like my kind of journey and destination , brenda is there room for me? xxxx
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LOL Hop on up, my friend.
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Thanks!!
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Wonderful places to seek refuge. 😍
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😀 Love to get lost and found in a good book.
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