Girl up the road whose mailbox says "The Miller Family"

weird stuff I notice

She has lots of children, I think.

So many that she's too tired

          some days

she wears patchwork flannel shirts 

and jeans three sizes too big.

I see her in the yard arranging things

sandbox, tether ball, badminton.

Or sweeping the deck, 

her arms swinging back and forth,

long brown hair bending with each stroke

The yard has swings and slides

& riding toys galore,

so many things she must tend to.

She has lots of children, I think

Although I've never seen one. 

Author's Note

I'll work on this a hundred times before it's done.

Reviews

[Daryl]

I like this! It's haunting and human. Is she suffering from unfulfilled hope, or from loss, or is she simply the mother of a whole lot of children who simply never appear in public? It leaves the reader wondering, and feeling caught between curiosity, empathy, and sadness.

[An Ordinary Woman]

thank you my friend and it's quite good to see you here. Are you writing? Hmmm. I'll go see if you have anything up!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Strange. There's a similar house in our neighborhood. I've always thought maybe it was a daycare of some sort but I've never seen a kid playing there, just the toys. You don't think she's moved here?

[Writergurl]

I LOVE this one, This is full of vivid imagery. awesome write

[R. Schreiber]

I am not sure if this poem has a certain meaning. This poem shows me a sense of darkness and the kind of purple bags you get under your eyes when the coffee maker's to slow but still determined to work a 48 hour shift. It shows me a woman can be so restless and sheepishly tired that she can barely function. But as a woman we can still save a life, make something better, blow someones mind, etc. Even though the coffee maker isn't working, women can find something to make others glad theirs were. I also would like to admit, it does leave the reader wondering about the children that have never been seen.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

This moves me. I love that you notice these things and have immortalized this neighbor whose actions and surroundings seem to speak loneliness, even though I would expect something else. You have done a marvelous job with this.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I love how you conjured this up, making it read like someone we all know, if only we looked a little deeper.

[wordman]

maybe she`s getting ready for a day care,loved the write

[An Ordinary Woman]

thank you and yeah, that's a good thought!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Some people are just naturally needing to be working on something at all times. It is a trait I truly admire… fine work extraordinary lady.

[An Ordinary Woman]

Thank you Dale. I admire her too...also curious. Maybe I'll meet her someday.

[Ed Hart]

i know about working on poems 'forever'...as for this, it's a little scary, maybe a little sad, maybe very sad; or just maybe children have all grown up and moved away, and now she's waiting for the grandkids...

[An Ordinary Woman]

Thanks much my friend. It is a curious situation, isn't it? So sad to see. Let's hope for the grandbabies to get there soon. :)

[Donald Meikle]

It can't get any better. Write something else instead. (advice from a weirdo)

[An Ordinary Woman]

Not a weirdo! But thanks. I have been looking for words for a long time Don.