by Sheila Deeth
Member since:
February 1, 2007

Tuesday's Child - poetry please - Tuesday

February 18, 2009 04:49 PM EST (Updated: February 23, 2009 08:42 PM EST)
views: 175 | rating: 10/10 (18 votes) | comments: 35

 

Tuesday’s child is full of grace

She wears the lace white skirt

In church she fiddles fidgets

Whistles words where children

Should be seen not heard

And chocolate on her face

This Tuesday’s child has rubies

In her eyes.

 

Tuesday’s child they’ll sing her song

But all along she knows

Not I she can’t belong

And tears the page to shreds

The words still forming in her

Head she cries out lies

This Tuesday’s child is raging

Her goodbyes.

 

Tuesday’s child not Monday born

Not fair of face nor worn

With Wodin’s sorrow torn

Between Thor’s hammers far

To go she isn’t giving

Freya’s hope nor Saturn’s

Labor lost nor cramming

Sabbath cost.

 

Tuesday’s child is who she is

No label rhyme nor reason

To define her ways the seasons

Of her love are hers to know

Her seeds to sow and see

The rubies, diamonds in her

Eyes are pleasing promise

Never lost.

 

© Sheila Deeth, February 2009

 
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Comments: 35

Marge H. Feb 18, 2009, 5:02pm EST
Wonderful imagery! I just love it, Sheila!
JOHN BECK Feb 18, 2009, 5:14pm EST
Interesting references to anglicized Norse mythology, Sheila. Your heroine is likely not a blue-eyed blonde. She's definitely her own person--a non conformist as we would have said in the 50's. I bet she's interesting, creative, deep, fun, and full of surprises. Is it OK to read so much into a short poem?
William Dotani Feb 18, 2009, 5:40pm EST
I like in the second stanza that you use her speech. I guess this displays the mind of the child in growing up stages.
William Dotani Feb 18, 2009, 5:42pm EST
I like John's comment, but I'm not so sure about her being non-conformist. She is seeing the world with eyes looking at the regime of life and experiences.
Shelbia C. Feb 18, 2009, 6:23pm EST
I like this
Bhawana 'Gather Proud Mom' Feb 18, 2009, 6:25pm EST
Brilliant choices of events, Sheila and you know more things.
Alison H. Feb 18, 2009, 7:19pm EST
Amazing poem! Beautiful word and myth play.
Ainsley Jo Phillips Feb 18, 2009, 9:57pm EST
I observe that only in the first verse is she completely okay with herself. In that verse, she's just the child being herself.

As she continues her life, she realizes how much pain can come from being Tueday's Child--and, yet, she'll change for nobody, as she'd rather have the pain than to lose any part of herself.

She grows into self-acceptance, but it carries the pain that wasn't part of her earlier and more carefree years.
Granny Janny H. Feb 18, 2009, 11:59pm EST
Please post this to Poet's Weekly Muse
as I would love to feature it on the group page. Why? Because it is lyrical, fresh, and rings true with Tuesday's child's description.
Svetlana Goryacheva Feb 19, 2009, 1:20am EST
Lovely work, dear Sheila! :-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Sheila Deeth Feb 19, 2009, 1:26am EST
Thanks Janny. Posted. And thanks everyone for the comments and analysis. It's really nice for me to see the poem through your eyes.
Granny Janny H. Feb 19, 2009, 1:41am EST
Thanks for posting to the group, Sheila. Your poem is now featured. You are one of my very favorite Gather writers!
lynn a. Feb 19, 2009, 3:26am EST
Sheila, I love the poem and all the comments. I especially enjoyed her time in church. It seemed so normal and safe. And I like the way you write it so that she is accepted as she is.
Gary (aka: William Pinn) J. Feb 19, 2009, 3:45am EST
Wonderful! I can't wait for the follow up: Wednesday's Child.
Barbra L. Feb 19, 2009, 10:01am EST
Sheila,

I loved this adorable vers de société. Witty with just the right touches of sophistication.
Great description of tuesday's child Sheila. Wonderfully written. Now, i'm curious to see what you can do with Thursdays child. I bet you'll get a lot of requests.
Beverly T. Feb 19, 2009, 7:39pm EST
I enjoy how you used the mythology in the third stanza. She suddenly fleshed out.
Jim Ross Feb 21, 2009, 1:35am EST
Here's a 10, Sheila, just because I like your style. :-)
William Dotani Feb 21, 2009, 9:55am EST
I reread. One thing I've noticed about most of your short stories and poems is that of something mystical in your characters.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. Feb 21, 2009, 9:59am EST
I love her description....very enjoyable writing Shelia
Patti M. Feb 21, 2009, 7:53pm EST
This is amazing to read. It takes more than one reading to catch everything in it.
Patti M. Feb 21, 2009, 7:53pm EST
Thank you for your comment on my post.
Lisa K. Feb 22, 2009, 11:23am EST
Beautifully written.
Tracey W. Feb 22, 2009, 12:51pm EST
Beautiful. I like the ending, but I really like this stanza Tuesday’s child they’ll sing her song/But all along she knows/Not I she can’t belong/And tears the page to shreds/The words still forming in her/Head she cries out lies/This Tuesday’s child is raging/Her goodbyes. Well done!
Mike Ellwood Feb 22, 2009, 3:26pm EST
Your poems never disappoint. Your creativity is always a delight, both in the originality of your thinking and in your ingenious word-play.
Congratulations.
Linda B. Feb 22, 2009, 3:26pm EST
Great Sheila, Congratulations on 1st place.
David P. Feb 22, 2009, 3:27pm EST
How wonderfully you sketch this character without spoonfeeding the reader. You coax us to think. Part of your creative skill shows in just how you make your line-breaks. The thoughts skip down the stanzas to the rhyme and reason that only a Tuesday's child would get. Though I enjoy it, I've not the grace to perceive a pattern if there be one. Somehow I come away with a sense of creative freedom within structure, as though Tuesday's --full of grace-- child moves within convention, but really according to her own inner spirit, and is not constrained. You are amazing.
Kathy W. Feb 22, 2009, 6:56pm EST
I'm with Jan-Gran: You are one of my very favorite Gather writers!

How I saw myself fidgitting on the pew. And never quite "measuring up" and tearing up, in private silent frustration, for fit the world, I never will, and don't care to now-- no matter...

Blessed be, Maybe I was borne on a Tuesday? For your poem is me. I'll have to look back.
Wilka
Sujata (funnily 'Suji' ) S. Feb 22, 2009, 7:44pm EST
perfect poem of Tuesday !

I like it immensely, enjoyed all the expert voice of the applause !!

And so is your skill you blessed friend ....

Heartiest Congratulations !

I feel worthy to have this opportunity learn !!!
Sheila Deeth Feb 23, 2009, 8:42pm EST
Thank you Tracey and everyone!
Granny Janny H. Feb 23, 2009, 9:00pm EST
I was born on a Tuesday and so was my daughter!
Virginia M. Feb 24, 2009, 8:48am EST
Congratulations, Sheila! Wonderful!:)
Marge H. Feb 24, 2009, 5:39pm EST
Came back to reread this and enjoy the comments.
Wilma M. Feb 25, 2009, 5:35pm EST
What a wonderful, well written description. It sounds like my granddaughter. I'll have to check and see if she is a Tuesday child. It's amazing how much psychology and personality you were able to fit into your few words.

I'm a Wednesday child and usually full of woe!
Joan O. Mar 22, 2009, 6:31pm EDT
Nice one.

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