Kaleidoscopes
Kaleidoscopes belongs to the following groups:
Graphic Scratch, Melbourne & Victoria, Short stories - Spherical Scriptings, The Word Tree and WMGI had forgotten the days I spent staring at the sun through my grandmother’s kaleidoscope.
What do you see, girl?
She sat beside me on the grass, slicing stone fruit with her long enamel-handled knife.
Wild, beautiful things, Granny.
She murmured knowingly, her knife blade catching sun between wedges of sweet fruit flesh.
You cut silver holes in the roof of my world, mesmerising me with the same enchantment as that kaleidoscope. You were the kind of shimmering mirage fools cross deserts for.
I knew who you were.
I heard the stampede of hooves in your blood.
I saw the thief in your onyx eyes.
Still, I couldn’t stop myself from drawing you a treasure map.
I heard hot desert winds and beasts in dark forests howl in time with the beat in your chest.
I knew who you were.
Still, I couldn’t save my secrets of buried rubies and strings of black pearls.
While I plaited love knots into my hair, under a ghostly galleon moon, you pulled the darkest locked places in me apart and helped yourself to what wasn’t yours. With a twinkle in your eye and your bag of loot full, you set off on your black horse, the burning ghosts of your promises lingering amidst branches of sour, rotting cherry trees.
Thing is, about those wild beautiful things, my grandmother warned as I twirled the kaleidoscope around and around. They’re not real, girl. You can’t ever keep them, no matter how gilded your cage.
I was barely listening, drunk on amethyst streams, splices of gold light and swirling turquoise feathers.
Anyone who tries is a plain fool.
copyright © 2008, Holly Ringland.
butchart
wow….. this is great writing…...... you had me the entire way…....... bravo….......b
(you should join the group “the word tree”)
Holly Ringland replied
Thank you so much b, I really appreciate your comments. I’ve just joined The Word Tree… thank you for directing me there! ;)
butchart
:)
Sally Omar
Awesome writing!!!! Sally xxoo
Holly Ringland replied
Thank you so much, Sally ;)
oscarelizondo
I like the introduction of your writing as sitting around in the grass as this little story developes. It puts you in the mood to keep reading it as a poetic window of a world not just inside the scope, but inside your mind. The conversation between you and your grandmother is so much of some sound advice that takes the time with grandma not as serious as she likes. I can see where she wants to explore your mind knowing that that imaginary world inside the scope and yours are eager to explore. However, grandmother is a visionary, not so much as a dreamer as in her youth, but she loves her granddaughter and wants her to be aware of fairy tales. This writing is so crisp that it can break with any wrong word, in a sense of course. Beautifully done and really so sweet in style and presentation. You rock with this one, keep writing so vividly expressing those words that get deep inside the heart. Have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holly Ringland replied
Oscar, what a comment! Thank you for all of your thoughts and feedback on your insights into my work, it was wonderful to read and very much appreciated. Thank you for your encouragement and thank you very much for reading.
lianne
Wild and beautiful things – oh beware! A remarkable and beautifully poetic story that goes to the heart of longing. Stunning writing Holly – you touch me with every line.
Holly Ringland replied
thank you so very much lianne… beware indeed :) i’m so pleased you enjoyed this.
Tony Ryan
Beautiful writing. Think it is wonderful that people such as yourself can recount memories with such heart felt passion.
Paul Stephen ...
Love your use of adjectives it such a descriptive piece I see the little girl and her grandmother, how they are siiting and it all captured in my head , well done for doing that, equisite piece of writing Paul
Holly Ringland replied
thank you kindly paul, i can only thank the magic of my own grandmother for the authenticity of this piece :) thank you for reading and for your feedback, i’m so pleased you enjoyed the read.
Rajdev D
Beautiful….set’s the mind thinking
Holly Ringland replied
thank you so much rajdev, i really enjoyed writing this piece. thank you for reading and leaving your lovely comment.
Rajdev D
You are welcome
Paul Compton
You were the kind of shimmering mirage fools cross deserts for. Oh…...my…......one of the most wonderful lines I’ve read. Gorgeous, emotive writing. Keep creating Holly : )
Holly Ringland
oh stop… i’ve gone all giddy and silly. one of the most wonderful lines you’ve ever read? you’re too kind paul, that’s an incredible compliment to receive. thank you so much.
Kim Buck
I’m glad I read these wonderful comments before I got too excited and repeated everyone’s sentiments verbatim! I agree wholeheartedly with Paul – You were the kind of shimmering mirage fools cross deserts for is a jewel of a sentence… I’ve got a feeling it’s going to bounce around and around inside the echoing chamber of my mind for some time to come…
Holly Ringland
you’re too kind kim… nothing brings me more glee than knowing a few little words i’ve strung together are going to roll around in echoing whispers in your mind. thank you so much for reading, your comments are treasure to me.
Cassey
Holly, I felt like I was in a kaleidoscope of letters, each one painted a different color as you twirled and twirled them into words and phrases and created the sparkling jewels that can only be created by brilliance. Such a wonderful writer.
Astoreth
Holly….you will always be my word hero…you weave magic. xx
Rex Inkpen
beautiful holly. the piece is bursting with wonderful imagery and memorable evocative metaphor.
Shoaib .
ur kinda like magic
love it
shoaib