Notes About The Poem

After Stephanie Deshpande's Assembling the Pieces

Don't find contemporary free rhyme as a choice of forms--interior rhymes for me are

leg, egg, edge, nutmeg, wile, pile, idle, while, 'est words 

Thousand Pieces of Puzzle Present

We don’t so much as beg, “Mom can I?” no, just stand idle,           lean on one leg, 
pick up                           and set down pieces with the care of an egg the quietest
until we know            it fits                                     into the slowly growing frame,
and sneak , click it in, every once in a while
or we seek out edges,            set them in a pile
            sort by color         and             sort by texture
until “would you please bring me?”                              from a parent sends us off
after we bring mugs of Tom & Jerry’s with a dash of nutmeg, or plates of cookies 
       back the fastest
                      we find a reason to sit,                  no one says anything
this is our one large family present,    one thousand pieces spread across our table
we are entitled                                                                        such are our wiles 
unnoticed we fit in to the family picture,           puzzle hour after hour until the day 
or hour or errand                         came and we steal away and see who could hold
out longest 
hiding the piece that fits into the thousand pieces last


                                                                                  or is forever 
                                                                                                                  lost
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Jerden Avatar
March 16, 2014 at 8:31 AM
The layout so fits the theme of an unfinished jigsaw puzzle! Loved it!
Hamilton Avatar
February 24, 2014 at 10:26 AM
I really enjoyed this poem Sheri hate a missing piece lol ty for my place in your contest and for running it hugs
Harper Avatar
March 1, 2014 at 7:16 PM
Thanks so much Shadow, appreciate it
Flannery Avatar
January 23, 2014 at 6:15 AM
Enjoyed your creativity so much Sheri. Very deep poem expressed so well. I enjoyed the lay out of the words as it added to the tone and feeling of each group. Take care.
Harper Avatar
January 23, 2014 at 3:04 PM
Thanks so much Vincent
Kamoonpuri Avatar
January 21, 2014 at 8:04 AM
A fantastic family puzzle poem! Yor rhyme scheme is extraordinary! Warmest hapy new yr n thanx so much 4 d wn.
Harper Avatar
January 23, 2014 at 3:04 PM
Happy New Year to you too, S.zaynub
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