a little birdie told me so: Magpie Tales

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Magpie Tales

Far Sighted

Outside in, inside out
Someone please tell me
What to think.

Confusion mirrored
In the window's
Mindless reflection.

Stories embedded
Deep within
A lost imagination.

The present
Slips quietly away
Replaced by reflections of the past.

The undefined image in the window set me to thinking about my ex husband's grandfather's losing battle with Alzheimer's. How he slipped away bit by bit. How he needed someone to define the world he could see, but no longer understand.

I'm still away on vacation, but had a few quiet moments this morning to try my hand at another Magpie Tale. To read more click here. I will be traveling tomorrow and visiting you as I am able this coming week.

10 comments:

ZuzanaSeptember 13, 2010 at 2:35 AM
Enjoy your vacation.;) Btw, love that sweet baby picture on your sidebar.;))
xo
ReplyDelete
Replies
DarylSeptember 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM
Lovely ... and so sad
ReplyDelete
Replies
cosmos camiSeptember 14, 2010 at 10:40 AM
A nice reflective poem. I like it.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Brian MillerSeptember 14, 2010 at 10:47 AM
quite the stirring verse...having know a few curse with alzheimers...as it slowly slips away to a pale reflection...nice mag!
ReplyDelete
Replies
Kathe W.September 14, 2010 at 12:09 PM
Thanks for taking the time to write and share this thoughtful piece.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Tess KincaidSeptember 14, 2010 at 1:35 PM
Such a poignant piece Stevie. My mother-in-law sadly slipped away bit by bit like this. (thanks for Magging even while on vacation, such dedication!!!)
ReplyDelete
Replies
Carrie Van HornSeptember 14, 2010 at 3:41 PM
This is beautiful Steviewren! You captured the loss of understanding with Alzheimer's in such a gentle way...hope you enjoy your vacation.
:-)
ReplyDelete
Replies
HelenaSeptember 15, 2010 at 7:00 AM
Alzheimer's took away my aunt. One of the hardest things I've lived through. Your poem tugged my heartstrings. My imagination would be last thing I'd want to lose.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Tumblewords:September 15, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Thank you for posting this fine poem - the reflection of this dreaded 'slipping' is well crafted!
ReplyDelete
Replies
SusanSeptember 16, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Just lovely...and so heartbreaking. Wonderful poem, Stevie.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."

...."We were Birds Without Wings. You were a robin and I was a blackbird. And there were some who were eagles or vultures or pretty gold finches, but none of us had wings. For birds with wings nothing changes. They fly where they will and they know nothing about borders and their quarrels are very small. But we are always confined to earth, no matter how much we climb to the high places and flap our arms. Because we cannot fly we are condemned to do things that do not agree with us. Because we have no wings we are pushed into struggles and abominations that we did not seek and then after all that, the years go by. The mountains are leveled. The valleys rise. The rivers are blocked by sand and the cliffs fall into the sea." -Louis De Berniere

Who Said It First?

The phrase "little birdie told me so" may find it's origins in this Bible verse. "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say" (Ecclesiastes 10:20). The earliest form of the saying was included in John Heywood's collection of proverbs (1546). In 1583, Brian Melbancke wrote in 'Philotimus'" 'I had a little bird, that brought me newes of it.' In 1711, in 'Letter to Stella,' Jonathan Swift came close to the current version: 'I heard a little bird say so.'