Sun Kissed Days

Sun Kissed Days

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Her Needlepoint




Brother,
life is a journey,
that took us through storms,
and tangled woods,
and dark places.
Remember our home,
warm and loving.
We built forts
out of pillows and bedsheets.
We pretended to be cowboys,
like the ones we watched in the local theater.
Italian western films with subtitles,
starring Giuliano Gemma,
an actor no one remembers.
But I remember his full lips
and dark eyes that drew me in.
I was the tag along baby sister,
that you dragged with you,
as you voiced your protest on deaf ears.
My eyes wide open,
to your mischief,
flirtations with girls
and nonsense talk with your friends,
attempting to keep your secrets.
A cigarette you used as a bribe,
to keep my mouth shut.
You explained french kissing at seven to me,
since I overheard you with your friends.
You lured me into playing cards,
and you won my allowance,
until I got wise.
Simple days,
childhood memories,
a lifetime ,
we have shared.
As we laid mom to rest next to dad,
we shared tears,
our heartbreak would leave scars on our soul.
Home, far away,
across the ocean.
Memories that will remain,
in our hearts,
in our veins,
in the canvas of the needlepoint,
mom stitched called life.


I have two brothers that I love. My older one is eleven years older than me, so we didn't get to share some early memories that I am sharing about my other brother. He is five years older than I am and this is a snapshot of some of our memories. Join us here http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts. The photo above is of Giuliano Gemma, the Italian actor mentioned in this poem.

78 comments:

  1. smiles...i always envied my best friend for her older brother...he was really cool and taught us some cool and some not so cool things...ha...enjoyed your poem a lot ayala... great you got such a good relationship...

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    1. Thank you, Claudia. So true we learn cool and not so cool things from them ;)

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  2. smiles...this took me right back to following siblings or cousins and the things they teach us....absolutely love that close as well with mom...great stuff...

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  3. Lovely poem and lovely memories. I always wanted a big brother.

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    1. Thank you, Mama Zen :) I always wanted a sister which I don't have ;)

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  4. Some great memories indeed, I also tricked my brother out of his allowance...lol

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  5. Ayala

    I enjoyed this graceful retrospect. Your words resonate so well with so many. You find a way to write what so many have on their minds.

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  6. I can see why Giuliano Gemma drew you in! LOL.

    I have an older brother too so many of your memories stirred up memories of my own. Similar and yet different. Thanks, Ayala!

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    1. Thank you, Mel. Glad you enjoyed it... I still think he is gorgeous :)

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  7. Easy for me to understand how a girl, age 7, might be attracted to Giuliano Gemma.

    Wonderful memories, and funeral tears sharing, Ayala!

    Just how many of us have you led (today) through our own memories of storms, tangled woods, and dark places?

    Thank you for this 'meditation' tonight.
    PEACE!

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    1. Thank you, Steve. Lovely thoughts from you, I appreciate it. Peace.

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  8. Awww... I come from a huge family of brothers and sisters so, this made me smile from ear to ear. What a lovely piece and I'm sure if your brother reads it, he would be smile too. What a lovely tribute to such happy days. :)

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    1. Thank you, Bren. Those days seem so far away....you are blessed to have a big family :)

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  9. You bring those childhood moments to life, ayala. Those are indeed the tapestry that mothers are always needlepointing, and that we their children live.

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    1. Thank you, Joy. True as mothers we create the memories for our children...the tapestry that we want to stitch so well for them.

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  10. I felt sentimental about your post...and made me recall my fun childhood memories with my 2 naughty brothers ~

    Thanks for your wonderful comments in both my blogs ~ I appreciate them ~

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    1. Thank you, Grace. Glad this brought back fun memories for you...and love visiting your blogs :)

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  11. Oh, I remember building forts with whatever we could find, too. I have a brother that is 4 years older than I. Makes me think of childhood memories. Lovely thought to think of life's moments stitched together by someone you loved so dearly :)

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    1. Thank you, Lori. I like to think of those days when life seemed simpler ... :) Glad it brought you some memories.

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  12. You share so much of you with us in everything you write. Amazing to find a pen so true...you've a real gift in your sharing, and I love this as much as I have every other. Fantastic, once again!

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  13. Oh, this tugs at my heart... what sweet memories siblings are building together. Thank you for sharing this, makes me pause and think of my siblings and the memories my children are making together.

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    1. Thank you. So glad that it resonated with you :)

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  14. i never knew brother, but i always remembered him

    three dancer senryu

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  15. What beautiful memories you share with your brother. :) I am quite close to my bro, but the fun began a bit later in life for us. :)

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    1. I am glad that you were able to make memories after all.

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  16. How I envy your relationship with your brother. Always wanted one...I always enjoy your sharing family relationships with your readers...find it comforting, hopeful, and filled with love. Thank you for sharing :))

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    1. Thank you, Jackie. It wasn't always an easy road....but in the end it's all good. :)

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  17. How fun to be the "dragged" little sister. I was too. I learned a lot but also had another person watching after me.

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    1. It was fun for me but not for him ;) nice that you were one too ;)

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  18. aren't you glad we have memories... nice reflections

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  19. Beautiful memory poem here, which triggered some of my own. I remember playing cowboy as a child too. (Something that no children probably do today.)

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    1. Thank you, I think not too many children play cowboys these days...too much technology around :)

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  20. The needlepoint is a wonderful metaphor for the tapestry of memories. Much enjoyed.

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  21. What a wonderful metaphor for all the stitches that hold us in the weaving of our lives--Beautiful work!

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  22. What a beautiful way to share the wonderful memories of your childhood and family.

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  23. very touching... thank you for sharing your memories with us :)

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  24. so touching ... very beautifully written.

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  25. you certainly have a beautiful passion in your writings about family. there is a powerful touch you have with the personal subject matter. very, very nicely done.

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  26. Beautiful and such a tribute to both your brother and your mum ...loved it thank you x

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  27. This is so sweet, it is nice to be able to have warm memories of childhood and of siblings.

    Cheers,

    Mark Butkus

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  28. I've always said that the best poems are those with a strong metaphor, that explore and make use of that metaphor to the fullest. Here, you've taken the needlepoint metaphor and made it very personal, and yet universal. A memoir, a tribute, and amidst all the details of cigarettes and smoky theaters, ultimately a poem about the endurance of love.

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    1. Thank you , I appreciate your thoughts here. Glad you enjoyed it :)

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  29. So nice you have such great memories...

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  30. Thank you, Glad this brought back great memories :)

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  31. Sensitive, special memories. Almost makes me wish I had a brother.

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  32. Lovely, sweet cadence. Your words reminded me of my childhood best friend, my sister, and our adventures together. I love poems like this that weave a story, paint a picture, give the reader a glimpse of life that have similar threads.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you, Sandi. How fortunate to have a sister as a best friend. Glad this brought back nice memories.

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  33. Lovely memories...I don't have a brother but your poem makes me wish I did... oh so much I could have learned.

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    1. Thank you, Di. So much you could have learned, just made me smile ;)

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  34. This is lovely, and I envy you. My only sibling, a brother, died as an infant and I think I miss having a brother or sister now even more than in childhood. Very touching write.

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  35. So funny how how you mention him as the actor no one remembers. :)

    Lucky you to get to be a tag-along at movies. We lived way way out in the sticks and got to the theater maybe once a year at Christmas. :) But I'm serious about that!

    Brothers are so special. My 2 remaining ones are 2 and 4 years older than I, and very precious to me. I miss them, them being way way up in Canada land.

    Blessings and hugs!

    xo

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  36. Dear Jannie,
    I didn't mean it in a bad way...I figured no one has heard of here in the states. :)
    Brothers are special :) sad that you don't get to see yours....My older brother lives in Israel so I don't get to see him much either.
    Blessings and hugs to you.
    xoxo

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  37. You don't have a comment box or its not working on your new post about your son ~ Maybe you need to check the settings
    ;-)

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  38. There is special connnection between siblings. There is of course the past, when you can say remember when? I love the nostaglic feeling between siblings.

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  39. Very beautiful Ayala, I enjoy your blog (and dog) very much -- SMA

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    1. Thank you, S.M. I appreciate your kind words. :)

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