Paint-By-Numbers

Remember Paint-by-Numbers?
I loved them as a kid.
You filled in all the numbered spaces
Marked out on the grid.

You had your plastic pots of paint,
Each one a numbered match.
Creative juices didn’t flow,
No effort made from scratch.

Yet if you stayed within the lines,
A masterpiece appeared.
You didn’t need instruction
So no parents interfered.

The end result produced a smile
And bursting sense of pride;
A feeling of accomplishment
Just couldn’t be denied.

A lashing out at Lego toys
Brought back my painted treasures.
Some criticize new Lego sets
Which, though providing pleasures,

Deprive the seed of fantasy
Existing in each child
From blossoming and thus,
Imagination can’t run wild.

A Lego Star Wars figure
Builds just that and that alone,
Preventing kids from coming up
With patterns of their own.

To this I say, just let them play
Or paint or draw or build.
Whatever talents wait inside
Will somehow be fulfilled.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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A  Avatar
February 25, 2013 at 5:00 PM
Ilene' congratulations with your sweet win 'take care~SKAT
Ryerson Avatar
January 26, 2013 at 4:26 PM
Know what Ilene?...I've fallen in love with your simple but insightful style...you are establishing a poetic identity, in other words. read one of your poems and you know that's Ilene talking!...this brings back so many great memories...my fav was Lincoln Logs and putting those plastic cars together - Tim
Kovacs Avatar
January 20, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Neat poem. I still live in a Lego world. My kids have carried on the tradition. Congrats on your win.
Macfarlane Avatar
January 19, 2013 at 12:44 PM
Delightful write Irene.....big congrats on your win! Hugs
Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
January 19, 2013 at 6:28 AM
sorry i am late with congratulations Ilene , very unintentional xx
Johnson Avatar
January 16, 2013 at 2:51 PM
The seeds we sow, we'll someday know. Time is short, I have to go. :)
Dietrich Avatar
January 15, 2013 at 10:06 PM
I remember this gem. Congrats on your well deserved win.
Roberts Avatar
January 15, 2013 at 6:53 PM
Congrats ilene
Guzzi Avatar
January 15, 2013 at 5:22 PM
Fond memories of my son. Congrad's on your win. Light & Love
A   Avatar
January 15, 2013 at 8:14 AM
Ilene, ~ congratulations with the wonderful win in Frank's ""DO YOU REMEMBER? " contest. have yourself a nice day~ xox~PD
Ober Avatar
January 15, 2013 at 6:53 AM
You are so good at evoking nostalgia!! I used to love Lego and always made up my own designs instead of going by the instructions. (And let's be honest - I would still play with Lego if I still owned any.) Congratulations :)
Eastman Avatar
January 6, 2013 at 2:32 PM
The first painting I did was painting by number. Then I started doing it on my own. Eventually tremers stopped me so I picked up the pen... And writting by computer is easier than the pen... so I wrote on... You brought back great memories I had as a child... My first paint by number was a dog.
Dailey Avatar
January 6, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Well said Ilene - I used to love those paint by numbers but must admit, without the numbers and outlines, I can't paint a thing so that you would know what it was. I guess I will stick to word pictures. Mike
A  Avatar
January 6, 2013 at 11:00 AM
good poem~ LUV~ SKAT
Andresen Avatar
January 6, 2013 at 7:05 AM
Kind childhood activities ..... I remember that I liked it ... - Thank you, Ilene. Have a nice Sunday. - oxox / / Anne-Lise :)
Collins Avatar
January 6, 2013 at 6:54 AM
Ilene, sometimes I wonder how the wisest words come out of your pen in the guise of what seems a simple poem. Bravo! love, Kathy
Dietrich Avatar
January 5, 2013 at 5:02 PM
what an interesting topic to write about, Ilene. You could even develop this philosophically and further discuss how something can look so masterful when it is not truly of one's own making! I enjoyed this.
Horne Avatar
January 5, 2013 at 11:49 AM
yes, such truth here, Ilene - beautifully written, as ever
Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
January 5, 2013 at 11:16 AM
This is so true Ilene, I did paint by numbers as a child and I am considered artistic mine looked awful compared to my sister who not considered artistic. Each t their own and let the creations come forth xx
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