delft blue afternoon

visiting Holland again after many years...memories flooded back

photo taken by me in zaanse schans in the netherlands may 2019

the sun peeks through a cloud

like a sequin in the sky

it sparks a memory

i am magically  transported 

to a once upon a time of long ago

i take a bite of the the tastes 

still wrapping my tongue in love

i see wooden shoe images 

turning on the blades of windmills

and hear the language of my childhood

i am your little girl again

how fortunate i am

my ewer of memories

holds potent potables

on this nostalgic delft blue afternoon

a bit overwhelmed

i really thought i held the perfect words

in the palm of my hand

but in a split second of poignant understanding

i knew all i held were scattered letters

and a heavy sigh

yup, there's a 50% chance of melancholy

as i walk here again

but i wouldn't have it any other way

              

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is a great personal share! I loved being taken on this journey of melancholy with you! I was teetering on these two ideas -- seeing Holland (which I'm not familiar with) in your personal details & then again, thinking about how I also feel permanently connected to the land where I grew up. I had to look up "delft" & this is an image-provoking title! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Lydia Shutter]

My entire family is from the Netherlands...Holland. I was the first born on US soil. My dad used to say, "made in Holland, born in the USA!" Dutch was my first language and there is no one left for me to speak it with anymore. My family is all gone. Being in the Netherlands and hearing the language, seeing the sights, tasting the foods again, well, it was wonderful and sad all at once. Thank you, Margie. Lydi**

[barleygirl]

This is a beautifully enthusiastic share! I'm feeling you! *smile*

[Chris Shaw]

This was beautiful to read Lydi**. Nostalgia at its best, so visual and with much emotion in the lines. I have never visited Holland. Maybe one day I will. I would like to see those windmills you have photographed and also the tulip bulbs in spring. Thank you for sharing this lovely poem.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

I am sure you would love the scenery there. Thank you for your review, Chris. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

You are very welcome :)

[Ted Kniffen]

Lovely bit of writing, Lydi. I had many Dutch friends as a boy. Many families from Holland settled in our town after the war...as the Canadians liberated Holland from the Nazis...my father was one of those liberators...and the friendships that developed were close.
Holland's royal family was sent to Canada for safety and every year thousands of tulip bulbs are shipped to Ottawa...quite the sight in spring.

Thanks for bringing that memory back, Lydi, I appreciate it.

[Lydia Shutter]

Yes, many Dutch people settled in Canada. I knew about the tulip bulbs being shipped to Ottowa each year. How cool you had a lot of Dutch friends.....we are wonderful people, doncha know? :) Thanks for the lovely review. LydI**

[Ted Kniffen]

Yes, so it would seem. ;>{0} And you know a bit about windmills and dykes.

[Einstein Noodle]

i find this line stunning: "still wrapping my tongue in love" and so well placed ... repeating the title in V3 puts a wrap on those verses so the turn in Vs 4&5 make all the sense in the world for the change in voice .. now the imperfect poet feeling the humility of the attempt ..which, by the way, is mwahvelous ... the pic, the words, the scene .. i was transported Lydia ... and absolutely love the closing ... we try .. do our best .. write and re-write .. edit .. seek counsel .. edit and finally hit the post button .. or we are hit by a blaze of inspiration and out it pours .. complete with a warning not to change a thing ;))) great read for me ..so much inspiration :)
E.

[Lydia Shutter]

E, you are such a sweetie! Thank you very much for really reading me and understanding my words. Lydi**

[Einstein Noodle]

good morning me dahlink Lydi!!!

[Lydia Shutter]

And good afternoon to you, E!

[Patricia Wedel]

The Delft blue afternoon and the photo of windmills ... steal my heart back to my
childhood when my Mother's friend from The Netherlands gave her authentic Wooden Shoes.
I inherited my Mother's treasured feelings of Windmills and Tulips. A Gift for you to softly
reminisce your childhood memories... a 50% chance of melancholy to walk those paths again.
truly beautiful. Pat

[John Alexander McFadyen]

So enjoyed this nostalgic look back at times past and the fourth stanza really hit home Lydi. Strange how we can still have mixed emotions even now.

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you very much, John. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and forecasters make mistakes often enough...so perhaps, the melancholy will miss the speaker altogether...it is much too beautiful to bring sadness.
love the nostalgia you are able to conjure up with your write.
j.

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you so much, Jacob. There was a bit of melancholy, but also a lot of joy. Lydi**