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A Land Like Oz

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Originally published: 24th August 2022

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Childhood innocence and 'the rosy recollection' of time and places past.

I knew a land not far from here
where stories kissed goodnight
 - a land like Oz before the storm
when all was black and white.

Yet now as ruby tinted mists
add colour to that time
 - a distant land of spires and farms
awakes as church bells chime.

I see a land beyond the clouds
where people stop to talk
- a land of blue remembered hills
where poets often walk.

I see a land from way up high
where children still believe
 - a land of snow where brass bands play
on every Christmas Eve.

Those happy highways where I went
had homes with open doors 
 - and lemon drops and chimney tops
in worlds that had no wars.

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Gail Debole

Date: 11/26/2024 12:08:00 PM

Gary, Very sweet poem. Still hoping for a world that welcomes diversity and leaves the idea of a war behind. - Gail

Gary Radice
Date: 11/26/2024 10:35:00 PM

Thanks Gail. The perfect idyll that sadly never was and sadly never will be. But there's always hope, dreams and poetry. Cheers - Gary

Janice Canerdy

Date: 2/14/2024 7:35:00 PM

If only . . . Gary, SO well done, CONGRATS on your win. Janice

Gary Radice
Date: 2/15/2024 6:02:00 AM

Thanks Janice. Congratulations for your win in Brian's contest too. Cheers - Gary

jen rynbrandt

Date: 2/12/2024 7:21:00 AM

Hello Gary! I'm the art editor and an editorial assistant for Sonder online magazine, a quarterly magazine by Conservatarian Press. Conservatarian Press is a boutique publisher that is about two years old. I'm also an editor there for women's fiction. This Oz poem would really pair nicely with one of the short stories we are publishing in our winter 2024 issue. Any chance we might add your work (the first two parts) if we properly cite? Also, I'd encourage you to submit poems to us for pub!

Gary Radice
Date: 2/12/2024 10:33:00 PM

Hi Jen. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my poem. I'll send you a Soupmail later today if that's OK? Cheers - Gary

Marikate Kingston

Date: 10/15/2023 10:02:00 PM

I wish to be in this magical place. I lived in a huge neighborhood growing up and your beautiful last stanza reminds of my Oz. No social media of any kind. Climbing trees, hiding, picking berries. Today we prayed in mass for all the people of Israel being killed horrifically. "where are those worlds that have no wars?" I might share it with my childhood friend, Megan Glad to have found.

Gary Radice
Date: 10/16/2023 1:40:00 AM

Hi Marikate. Thank you for your lovely comments. I think if most of us had the chance we would all opt to living in that magical place of memories and long hot summers. I hope that if you do share this with Megan that she, too enjoys its sentiment. Cheers - Gary

Christina Bowring

Date: 8/27/2023 12:14:00 AM

Had to read this one Gary as ‘Oz’ is one of my all time favourite films and I’m very glad I did. I love it! Simply gorgeous. Love the line, ‘ yet now as ruby tinted mist’ (reference to her shoes?) So beautifully written. Wish we could all live in a happy, peaceful land. Thank you for this delightful read. Have a wonderful day.

Gary Radice
Date: 8/27/2023 12:36:00 AM

Hi Christina. Yes! The ruby tinted mists are a reference to her shoes. Sometimes when we look back we tend to add colour to the times as we remember them so fondly. Thanks for your visit. Cheers - Gary

Daisy Meadows

Date: 6/30/2023 5:30:00 AM

A lovely poem. Well written

Gary Radice
Date: 7/1/2023 2:33:00 AM

Thank you Jeanette. I appreciate your visit and comments. Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck

Date: 10/4/2022 10:07:00 AM

Such a beautiful poem; so sad those things go away as we grow up.

Gary Radice
Date: 10/5/2022 6:00:00 AM

Agreed Ann. Oh for the chance to live in the idyll that was Forever The Past. I turn 61 soon and am beginning to sound like the old guy I've become. :) Cheers - Gary

Gail Debole

Date: 9/29/2022 5:31:00 PM

Gary, It would be nice to be able to live in a Utopian world, but even Oz had its negative aspects. Your descriptive phrases are delightfully unique and mentally pleasing. - Gail

Gary Radice
Date: 9/30/2022 12:29:00 PM

Thanks Gail. Yes, Oz had its negative aspects. Whenever we remember 'the good times' it tends to be out of context with everything else that was going on at the time doesn't it? Cheers - Gary

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 9/25/2022 5:50:00 PM

I wish we could return to that world but it has all been blown away. Enjoyed the fable for a moment. SuZ

Gary Radice
Date: 9/27/2022 9:42:00 PM

Hi Suz. When I look back I always remember a slower life. No world wide Web meant people not venting and / or transferring their anger onto others and overall, just more patience with things. We have lost that. We are bombarded with messages and a lifestyle that tells us what to think, not how to think. Cheers - Gary

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 9/19/2022 6:15:00 AM

I loved the wonderful Wizard of Oz and love your poem too Gary, an easy read sure to please and it flows and rhymes so well… Belle

Gary Radice
Date: 9/19/2022 2:11:00 PM

The film is a classic isn't it? I grew up with it despite it being made in '39 due to the fact that it was first shown on UK TV Christmas in '75 and nearly every year after that. :) Cheers - Gary

Andrew John

Date: 9/6/2022 3:24:00 AM

Nice land to be in, Gary. Pity we have terrible wars. Anyway, enjoy the lemon drops - I haven't had any of those for years!

Gary Radice
Date: 9/6/2022 4:27:00 AM

Agreed Andrew. Nostalgia always adds that warm glow to times past doesn't it? For Lemon Drops read Sherbert Lemons for me. :) I'll nip over to your poems later today Andrew.. Cheers - Gary

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 9/4/2022 12:26:00 PM

Gary I myself also love this here , here It flows like the green green grass of what probably for Ukrainians used to feel like home Oz World before War began and had an open door policy and chimneys without funeral smoke plumes eminence being dispersed Great Stuff Sir

Gary Radice
Date: 9/5/2022 9:09:00 AM

Thanks for the read and your comments Christopher and yes - life for those you speak of was so much better before the war. Cheers - Gary

Bill Baker

Date: 8/31/2022 4:12:00 PM

A p-leasant and enjoyable poem, Gary. Thanks for some cheerful poetry. Bill

Gary Radice
Date: 9/2/2022 11:26:00 PM

Thanks Bill. Whenever I look back with my poetry it always appears more cheerful..The naivety of then versus the realities of now. :) Cheers - Gary

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 8/30/2022 2:55:00 PM

WOW. Just love this! Awesome write. God bless you. Love, Gina

Gary Radice
Date: 8/30/2022 11:13:00 PM

Thank you Gina, I'm glad you like the poem. Cheers - Gary

Wendy Watson

Date: 8/30/2022 11:46:00 AM

I rarely visit this site these days,Gary but I happened to 'drop by' and just had to comment on how much I appreciated your wonderful poem both for the sentiment expressed and the musical flow.Thank you!

Gary Radice
Date: 8/30/2022 12:08:00 PM

Thanks so much Wendy for your lovely comments. I hope all is well and sincerely hope that you visit the site more often so that all at Poetry Soup can enjoy your own wonderful poetry. Cheers - Gary

John Watt

Date: 8/29/2022 6:21:00 PM

Gary, in my opinion nobody writes nostalgia like you do. This intersection of Housman and Baum is fascinating to observe. Your patchwork quilt of Oz (ruby tinted, black and white, lemon drops, chimney tops) and Shropshire Lad (spires and farms, blue remembered hills, happy highways) creates a melancholy-tinged tapestry of wistful remembrances. But as Housman wrote, we can't go back again. Beautifully written. Cheers ~ John

Gary Radice
Date: 8/30/2022 11:51:00 PM

2 / 2: I meant to add John that I've also used the line 'way up high' and referred to the line "..where the clouds are far behind me" from "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" For some reason that song has just stayed with me all this time and reminds me of my very happy childhood when the film seemed to be shown every Christmas on TV during the 70s. What's so sad of course is that the film was full of childhood innocence but behind the scenes things weren't too rosy for Judy Garland with her treatment by MGM: She was allegedly told to lose weight for her role and given amphetamines in order to do so. Cheers - Gary

Gary Radice
Date: 8/30/2022 12:14:00 PM

1 / 2 Hi John. I don't know what it is about nostalgia that has me putting pen to paper.I have one of those memories that remembers so much from childhood but has difficulty remembering what I did last week! :) I truly appreciate your continued encouragement and support.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/27/2022 3:20:00 PM

I was a child of the 50s,60's and 70s. There were always the wars, but you are so right. Our cultural values were better than what I see thrown at kids today. You sure can write a great poem!

Gary Radice
Date: 8/28/2022 1:52:00 AM

I appreciate your comments Andrea - thanks so much. It makes this hobby of mine feel all the more worthwhile. Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck

Date: 8/27/2022 2:57:00 PM

Gary, your poem is wonderful, especially the last stanza. If only we could live like that again. I'm faving. Pretty soon, I'll have a book of your poems faved :)

Gary Radice
Date: 8/28/2022 1:51:00 AM

Thanks Ann. Lovely of you to say so and thanks for the fav. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 8/27/2022 9:30:00 AM

Absolutely wonderful Gary. You have masterfully integrated images of Oz with your childhood innocence into a landscape where war does not exist and we, all of us, long to visit and stay! You do have the poet's ability to tame the wild word into a vision. Congratulations on your win! This is a fav for me! Cheers!

Gary Radice
Date: 8/27/2022 10:08:00 AM

Sam, your comments are always a treat to read. Thanks so much for the fav. In addition to 'The Wizard Of Oz' I also refer to the English poet A E Housman's poem: "A Shropshire Lad".. "Into my heart an air that kills From yon far country blows: What are those blue remembered hills, What spires, what farms are those? That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain, The happy highways where I went and cannot come again." Cheers - Gary

Speaks Volumes

Date: 8/26/2022 8:45:00 AM

Opening your poem in Kansas, and taking us through a child's world of make believe, is such a delight Gary. If only it was a reflection of real life with lemon drops and no wars. Thank you for the journey you created, it was a wonderful read.

Gary Radice
Date: 8/27/2022 12:57:00 AM

Thanks Wendy. I loved the transition from b&w to colour in the film and wanted to introduce that feel in my poem. I'm glad you liked it. Cheers - Gary.

Timothy Ray

Date: 8/26/2022 7:23:00 AM

if wishes were horses....the world would come to know the heart and depth of this poem and ride into a joyous sunset....excellent job

Gary Radice
Date: 8/26/2022 8:20:00 AM

Timothy, your very generous comment qualifies as a poem in itself in my book. Thank you. Cheers - Gary

Deb M

Date: 8/25/2022 9:32:00 AM

An enchanting beautifully written poem Gary! Loved it! Debx

Gary Radice
Date: 8/26/2022 3:08:00 AM

The lemon drops line comes from the song 'over the rainbow' :)

Deb M
Date: 8/26/2022 3:00:00 AM

Hey Gary…I think we all tend to look back with rose tinted glasses or perhaps look back and just see the positives in the years gone by? Or maybe times were better , simpler , less complicated and more fun….who knows!! Your poem is thought provoking Gary. I love the lemon drops and chimney tops line….ending the poem perfectly. You did good hehe!! Debx

Gary Radice
Date: 8/26/2022 1:08:00 AM

Thanks Deb. I really appreciate your comments on this as I'm really happy with it. I'm never comfortable explaining my poems as I feel it makes me sound pretentious or some other word that describes such..and I may not even need to explain this one ..but..Hey! I'm going to anyway :) It's my take on viewing the past through rose tinted glasses and questioning as to whether everything was better in the 'good old days'. I'm sometimes guilty of adopting a 'misty-eyed' melancholy and wistful approach to the past in my writings (particularly as I get older) in much the same way I think English poet A E Housman was with 'Into my heart an air that kills' (From 'A Shropshire Lad') Cheers - Gary