Once Upon A Time

On the edge of the woods in mock suburbia

Child stands to listen, once upon a time begins

Exploring in shadows in the sunshine cache

Freedom sees the tadpole swimming, paddling away

Sweetness warms, melodic waving boughs, come along

Careful courage navigates, invigorates whim

Fascination clinging, vistas from the air

Overly ripe pears, bees a-zoomin’, yesteryear

Each year rolls inside on edge of discovery

Carved initials, love proclaimed jingle doth jangle

Planning on sunshine from sweet mazes to tango

Two steps forward, one step back explains, please follow

Unwinding the imagination supposed

Painting expositions beyond discarded clay

Majestic Summer season, bees humming a trade

To find sudden consequence, no time for goodbye

In the distance, rings of life, once upon a time

In this spent day of youth of broken heart mending

Woodland breach, benediction beneath silent sky

Ensorcelled snugly, like of essence dragons dwell

Acquiesce miles from peek-a-boo leafs, gone now

Vanquished serendipity, once upon a time felt

Exit falling promises, visions once touched high

Comments: 50

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 3, 2010, 2:49pm UTC

beautiful beautiful

William Dotani Mar 3, 2010, 3:01pm UTC

Thank you Sir.

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Deb J. Mar 3, 2010, 3:33pm UTC

Oh so beautiful Bill!! You are giving me Spring Fever for some reason my friend! Just love the way that was written...with such abandon! Great work!

Rita B. Mar 3, 2010, 3:58pm UTC

Me too Deb, saw four marmots today, that is the sign of spring.

William, I think we are all ready for the bees a-zoomin', tadpoles a swimming brings back childhood memories. Nice!

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:04am UTC

Spring was on my mind. I'm glad to give you both such thought in imagery. TY.

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Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind Mar 3, 2010, 6:01pm UTC

Beautiful imagery, Bill ... haunted and haunting imagery contained within nostalgia - or that is how it strikes me.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:03am UTC

You have tapped into the underlying soul of my verse. Thank you.

Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind Mar 4, 2010, 4:58am UTC

My genuine pleasure, Bill!

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maria (lurking in the shadows of the night) B. Mar 3, 2010, 7:11pm UTC

We are in Autumn now and it's still raining here. of course it is much needed but enough is enough!

A beautifully written poem William. You are the master of words.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:01am UTC

You could go outside and shampoo. Thank you.

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Kushal Poddar Mar 3, 2010, 8:53pm UTC

It is spring here and your 'sweetness warms' is appropriate.
Wonderful wonderful. Great.

tropical bird for mother

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:00am UTC

Thank you.

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Lawrence U. Mar 3, 2010, 9:08pm UTC

Well done, William!

I like the "shadows in the sunshine". Thank you for the piece so sweet and so profound.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 3:59am UTC

Sweet and sad memories. Thank you.

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Sheila Deeth Mar 3, 2010, 9:34pm UTC

Sad and beautiful, and the over-ripe pear is a beautiful image surrounding it.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 3:58am UTC

Thank you for understanding.

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JOHN BECK Mar 3, 2010, 10:06pm UTC

Once again I enjoy the sounds of your poetry, Bill. You taught me a new word also; I was not familiar with "ensorcelled". Alliteration is skillfully applied without being overdone or forced. The last line is special.

Donna C. Mar 3, 2010, 10:23pm UTC

I always learn a new word from William's work.
Had to look up ensorcelled...........

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 3:57am UTC

I just woke up after a straight 7 hours of very deep sleep. I had pain in my upper abdomen yesterday, which I've had since 2000. I still forced myself to go outside for 105 minutes of Tai Chi/Yoga and walking exercise, then took a 45 minutes very very hot Epsom salt bath. This poem I mentally formulated while exercising. It looks like almost everyone understands the gist and such connection makes me glad. Thank you.
I did zero house chores yesterday proving I can be an old fart.

Deb J. Mar 4, 2010, 5:27am UTC

I need to learn the type of walking and yoga that you speak of Bill....because I always wake up with pain too, but I have to get up and get myself awake at least an hour and a half before Chloe (at 6:10) and get myself awake....but I need to do it after she goes to school if I could just get off my lazy ole behind! Of course you know it's a little harder than that.

Deb J. Mar 4, 2010, 5:29am UTC

woops...sorry I repeated myself on the awake.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 7:47am UTC

Here's a very simple exercise. Put you feet at shoulder width with your arms by your side. Lift your arms very slowly to a horizontal position and while doing this breathe in through your nose. Hold the horizontal position for about 10 seconds and then slowly move your arms slowly back down to your side while breathing out through your nose. I usually do around 15 and it takes about 10 minutes. When I first started I only did 5. As for walking, find two points roughly 30 feet apart and then walk figure eights using these points as a guide. You'll be surprised how much this exercises you. The turning is very good for both perception and balance. I often do such figure eight walking for 20~30 minutes daily. You don't need a book to do that natural.

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Chris Brockman Mar 3, 2010, 10:08pm UTC

I feel as if you wrote this about me. I lived this with a variation or two. But then, many of us did, with only the loss varying in degree and detail. Excellent evocation.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:06am UTC

I very much want the common touch we all share and feel in my verse. I appreciate your comment.

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Donna C. Mar 3, 2010, 10:21pm UTC

So very beautiful, William

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:06am UTC

Thank you.

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Mustafa Demiri Mar 3, 2010, 10:48pm UTC

This is astonishingly beautiful, Bill. It is well wrought tribute to golden season of youth, and the mythic ideals we all had then... and perhaps never fully relinquished.

Mustafa Demiri Mar 3, 2010, 10:48pm UTC

This is one that I will revisit often.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:07am UTC

Some things we never forget or relinquish. I appreciate your thoughts.

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Elsie Duggan Mar 4, 2010, 12:38am UTC

Absolutely lovely William, are you writing about my life again, or do we all really follow a similar pattern through the time we have on earth, This poem make me smile and feel calm, thank you very much, goodnight William, I love you, Elsie

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:09am UTC

I believe we all have a common thread and I hope my verse touches this for you and others. I appreciate your comment.
I just woke up after a nice deep 7 hours of sleep. I wish you sweet dreams.

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Linda T. Mar 4, 2010, 2:21am UTC

William this is a beautiful piece! Your words threw me back to the magical world of childhood. It is a shame that when we are children we have no clue what an enchanting time childhood is. We move forward in life but always long for those moments in life that were carefree and filled with hope.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:11am UTC

Linda, you have the gist of my verse. I appreciate you taking the time to let it be of your memories.

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Kay M Mar 4, 2010, 11:27am UTC

Ah, vanquished serendipity. I am sighing. This is pungent and bittersweet.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:40pm UTC

It is a circle of emotions intertwined by thought instead of time. TY.

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Karen D. Mar 4, 2010, 4:12pm UTC

Sweet innocence of youth!

William Dotani Mar 4, 2010, 4:41pm UTC

Yes, I do believe you are a Spring chicken. (Think that line was on the Golden Girls). TY.

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Tracy Fabre Mar 6, 2010, 10:29am UTC

I see spring... I see summer... I see fall... I see hopes and realizations and life. *applause*

William Dotani Mar 21, 2010, 10:58am UTC

A simple thank you from me as I bow and sometimes fall.

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Marge H. Mar 6, 2010, 1:10pm UTC

Memories of childhood, some sad some beautiful. Once again I am impressed with your word choices. You always seem to know the perfect words to use for your word paintings.