when i see that certain smile
it heightens moments
i feel more than approval
it is that playful adoration
that tells me
the heavens are at peace
no star out of alignment
flocks of wings in synchronicity
ocean breezes freely dancing in palms
pelicans gliding above waves
children raised hands down the slide
all the galaxies are accounted for
no nail missing in the structure
a building anticipation as the roller coaster
reaches its peak in the climb
the taste of cotton candy
already upon my tongue
in the fervent hope
that the smile is a promise
of the kiss to follow
the roller coaster now earthbound
the ones i cherish most deeply
approval in a moment
of playful adoration
it is when i wear a simper
you do that to me
shy and wanting to pull on pigtails
Oregon 9/22/26
Pigtails are fun, they make me happy ~
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
pink haired girl with the glitzy blue eyes
she zips through the jungle as the glow flies
I know her heart, she is good and wise
Drew her myself, she wears no disguise
I have not named her yet, it’s coming to me
She has a trim waist, pigtails too, I see
A jungle jane, she is full of humility
Placed her into a world of green fantasy
I shall call her Murial, it suits her fine
Enjoyed drawing her up with many a curvy line
Her legs show her flexibility;, she is not one to whine
I enjoy her company on the wall as I sip and dine
individual
suited to your taste
shocking or simple
Yule Brenner shaved
beauty shop Bertha
mohawk friendly
fixed and fancy
pony tails
curly or straight
beads and bows
one lone braid
pigtails
messy
coiffured
hair
Can a man be be both blessed and cursed,
by long memories of combs and curls..
and is there any true penance to be done
believing anything could be worse?
The girl of aubern riding fast past my porch
always laughing into the dusk-
still, smile
in spite of myself,
remembering it just as it was.
Popcorn smell wafting down the cinema hall,
and what's more, thank the lord!
invited to sit with two college sorority girls
replete with rice and loaded squirt guns
at the late night Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Holding hands with the girl nextdoor,
Miss Dear to Heart and friend.
Return to that wonderous world of before-
ah, to be sixteen at Six Flags
again!
Just wish I could remember the names,
that belong to all those laughing faces...
in fine pigtails and shining braces,
held now, and forever
in a heart's Hall of Fame.
advertised herself as the biggest faerie to date
dressed herself in a tutu and did a quick figure eight
four hundred pounds had never moved this fast before
she passed a bit of gas as she sailed out the front door
the children were delighted, they screamed with delight
she twirled back inside, her cheeks were all pink and bright
best faerie in the world, a little girl with pigtails said.
the faerie felt good; this gave her an enormous big head
Flowers in my hair
pigtails light as air
Sequenced bows oh what flair
for a pretty girl named Claire.
Many headbands I shall wear,
count them if you dare !
I find an album with matt thick black pages
my wet eyes hungry for each pose of this girl
in pigtails with a reluctant kitty, then on a bike
in a pretty prom dress, then holding a baby, me
turning the pages your smiles become frauds
your skin wrinkled, your pain quiet and graceful
Giggling and playing hopscotch
Indigo dreams of being a star
Running wild before training bra
Laughter and smiles come from heart
Pigtails and bikes dolls and skates
Onyx starry nights by the lake
Whimsical dreams esteemed out loud
Emerald queens and all girls scouts
Ready to live learn camping out
Peggy had never been a fighter or a scrapper or such
But she got tired of being teased by a bully named Hutch
He called her names, and pulled her pigtails too
This happened many days in a row, possibly twenty-two
Peggy finally had had it; she gave him as good as he got.
Punched him so hard, his nose released a keg full of snot
The other kids watched in horror; they were terrified of him.
He had already beaten-up Dickie, Tommy, Jerry and Jim.
The teacher had never seen a girl stand up to a bully this way.
When Peggy landed on him, she wanted to yell “hooray”.
But instead, she had to send her to the principal’s office to think.
So, you finally took on Hutch the bully, he said, with a wink.
The small bowl sits in the corner
Ceramic, lopsided, and beige
Small fingers impressed in the clay
Snake curled in the bottom awaits
Made for her momma in art class
Wee age of seven or eight
Initials inscribed at the bottom
A determined look on her face
Not really meant for her momma
Never liked her too much even then
But she did what her teacher told her
And offered it up mournfully
Mementos and pictures torn down
Sweet face and blonde pigtails a dream
The small bowl still sits in the corner
Snake curled at the bottom stares through
It catches the ashes that burn
From the incense she lights every night
Snake lurking below the embers
Of the fire that’s burning her heart
Pigtails sat tightly on her head
Curls poking through
And framing her face.
The bear kept her company,
Sat close by her head.
The dolls sat carefully placed
Drinking tea around the table.
Her name in blocks
Across the wall,
Not easily missed by passing eyes.
A rainbow spread above her bed,
Sparkles raining down,
A crown above her head.
Drawings littered the floor,
Colors outside the lines.
A perfect metaphor, she thought
For the life she had made.
The curtains are pulled
Closing off the sun
Yet the walls were still bright
And young
And innocent.
She stood in the doorway,
The image fading.
The walls were still bright,
But the memories dimmed.
As long as she stood there,
The room would not change.
They kept it the same,
No matter how long she was gone.
Her clothes were now dark,
Her hair loose and full.
She stared at the room,
For one last time
Hoping she could return
Although the hope
Would not last.
On the faded wallpaper what do I see,
an old picture on the parlor wall.
Many years ago grandma took it,
Sis and I were young and having fun.
On that very hot summer's day,
we were in shorts and pigtails.
Grandma always said she loved that picture,
we did not know why because we hated it.
With grandma long passed,
I can now see what she saw.
Two cute girls having way too much fun,
on that very hot summer's day.
Like the faded wallpaper on the parlor wall,
the picture and time have also faded far away.
She smells like nothing
To the whole world
Tattered dress ripped leggings
Pigtails on the sad girl
No one sees her face
She slinks around
All hopes and dreams
Shattered no fortunes found
Onlookers judge her dirty clothes
Unrecognizable the sweet
Child of nobody and no one
Raised in the street
She smells like nothing
To the whole world
those moments i hold
when love held me
jewels that adorn my memory
some are of you
others are lodges far deeper
a populated field of young
wannabe future all-stars
filling a sandlot full of future
where wild horses reign free
you lost in hugging the dog
the cat cuddles up next to you
even deeper those pigtails
the temptation before me
how else do you tell them
I have it bad for you
which I had perfected
the moment I saw you
that instant love brings you
into its' sweet embrace
and so I measure life
as such
these jewels within memory
and nothing in life may intrude
bitterness stands as an anathema
before Grace
I give no quarter to resentments
because I have no expectations
wherever life takes me
this is the only bag I carry
love's sweet embrace
life is a miracle
deserving a devotion of gratitude
Oregon 7/23
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