Poem: "The Kiss"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is the freebie for today's Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by prompts from the_vulture, aldersprig, and meeksp.  It belongs to the Monster House series, and you can read other poems in this series on my Serial Poetry page.

The Kiss

The first year that
we took our daughter trick-or-treating,
she dressed up as a Hershey kiss
in a costume of smooth brown satin
wrapped up in real tinfoil
with a white-and-blue ribbon
sticking up from her pointed hat.

The tinfoil crinkled with every step
and she moved in a cloud of cocoa scent
thanks to some fragrance oil,
because she wanted to wear a costume
that everyone could enjoy.

When people gave her candy,
we didn't have to prompt her to thank them,
and we giggled every time she smooched someone.

Comments

[aldersprig.livejournal.com]

<3, that's awesome!

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

It seemed like a popular idea, so I went with it. Sheesh, now this series has three Halloween poems in different years.

Re: Thank you!

[aldersprig.livejournal.com]

Well, it is Monster House.

Re: Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I even got a dark-toned poem this time too.

[thesilentpoet.livejournal.com]

That's adorable!

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to hear that.

[meeksp.livejournal.com]

sweet ^.^

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it.

[fayanora.livejournal.com]

Oh darn, why didn't I think to suggest Halloween!

Good poem! She sounds sweet. ;-)

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, it's covered!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

This is utterly charming!

[clare-dragonfly.livejournal.com]

That was so cute!

[kelkyag]

D'awwwww. :)

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

A Hershey's Kiss! Hee!

(Of course she's not going to dress like a monster. :D )

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Or if she did, her interpretation of the term would probably be different.

Re: Yes...

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

Very likely; it'd be like dressing up as Uncle George. :)

Re: Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I was thinking more along the lines of her dressing up as a Conquistador or a foreclosure auctioneer.

Re: Yes...

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yep, that'd be her interpretation of 'monster'. :)

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Heehee. ^_^

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I had to read it about four times before I figured out why the little girl was "smooching" people. Duh, Janet, she's a kiss.

Very cute; much fun.

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Sometimes there are sneaky little connections in these things. ;)

[eseme]

Wow, that is totally awesome. I love the idea of a costume that everyone can enjoy. What a brilliant little girl.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

She has a distinctive way of moving through the world.

It's kind of interesting to contrast her with Rai, another of my blind characters. She's very aware of other people's perceptions, enjoyment, limitations, etc. Rai is more aware of himself; if he's wearing something multiperceptional, it's probably for his own gratification. But he does run a store with goods that appeal to visually handicapped people. Even with a similar trait, their personalities are quite different.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

I remember reading this poem back when you first posted it for us to enjoy.
I enjoyed re-reading it just as much as I enjoyed it the first time around.
:D

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

That's really good to know, and something that folks rarely think to mention. It bodes well for book format eventually.

Re: Yay!

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

Your writing is NOT read-once-and-forget-it stuff.
:|

Re: Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I aim to produce things that will stick in people's mind, with little nuggets of truth that can be taken away and applied elsewhere. I know that I enjoy going back and re-reading stuff I've written, and it still makes me laugh or shiver. But I don't know how it affects other people unless they tell or show me. Lots of people will comment the first time. Only rarely does someone mention rereading, so it's very precious.

Re: Yay!

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

I've been avidly reading fantasy and science fiction for soon to be 33 years. I read plenty of stuff that's only good once-around but your stuff is definitely in the other catagory.
:D