The Red Dress
Poets and Storytellers United
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| vintage print in author's collection, unknown copyright |
Your little dress and shoes were red,
your sister's all in blue.
She held your little bouncy ball,
the dog was dressed up too.
You went out in the garden
to play a jolly game,
but tripped into a puddle,
which really was a shame .
Now dry those tears
and have some tea,
with gingerbread and cream.
Tomorrow is another day,
just you wait and see.
©2022 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved
What a darling photo. I like how your gently uplifting message captures its vintage mood.
ReplyDeleteIsn't is such a precious illustration! Thank you for your compliment on the poem!
DeleteOh, but I recognise that picture!! Or at least the style. The same artist (whose name escapes me too, by now) must have illustrated at least one of my childhood books, very likely a book of verse for children. You poem exactly captures the spirit of that picture, those books, and the 'Englishness' from which they emanated. (Very different from the Australia I was actually growing up in, but we didn't question, back then.) You've given me a delightful step back into joy and innocence.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to have given you a little nudge back into childhood! I got this print (in a very old frame) free. I'm not sure if it's done there, but here when there are leftovers from yard sales they are just put out on the curb for free, then the address is listed on Craigslist. I scour those ads on weekends, and Mondays! It's such an adorable image, with no copyright at all, nothing written. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a book illustration. I have pretty good success identifying prints, since they aren't one of a kind, but this one defies me!
DeleteLovely verses and photo
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend
Much❤love
Thank you. You too, the good weekend!
DeleteDelightful....I remember illustrations like this from chilhood books
ReplyDeleteYou picture find is sooo cute!!! And your write matches what those girls would do. I've just come back from Mrs. Jim's family reunion in Louisiana, the little kids there were just like your poem and picture. I'll have to try your technique on the garage sales, can't go wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe neighbor's cars, I have a few more, I've shown several so far here and there, this blog and my other meme one. We have about the oldest family car in the neighborhood, it is a 2011, eleven years old, about twelve, with 151K miles, and is relegated to the driveway to make room for
its elders, the Mustangs. And I never buy new cars, haven't since 1972, it was a yellow Ford Pinto when I worked for Ford.
p.s. I didn't see your sign in with the Friday Writers group??
..
I schedule my posts to go up at 6:00am, then once I'm up the links are available, so I add them later.
ReplyDelete2011? That's new to me! I have a 2000 Explorer! But, it only has 95,000 miles, and Ford trucks last.
That reply was to Jim...
DeleteI wore blue and my sister wore red.... but then there is this:
ReplyDeleteOn the last day of her stay
she was given a new dress
a consolation cheek pinch
to fill the hurt of being homesick
It was a big girl’s dress for all to envy
red like the hat my love bought me
after we lost each other on the mountain
He said red would make me easier to find
My mother used to say, when seeing someone in vivid clothing, "You won't lose them in a snowstorm!" Red is an advisable color to wear in the mountains anyway, it let's hunters know you're there. It would smart to see a sister get a new dress and not get one too. Hopefully a one time favoritism.
DeleteThe rhymes and the script font go so well with the picture, all up to the last line. At that period using an assonance like "cream" and "see" was not something nice little primary school girls were ever allowed to do! Yet the assonance seems right--Mamma or Nanny wouldn't say "have some cream with gingerbread and tea"...
ReplyDeleteCould this be more endearing, more precious .... not in a million years.
ReplyDeleteAww... that's such a sweet comment. It is a precious illustration and I couldn't resist writing something based on it. Image, someone giving it away!
DeleteSweetness! The illustration, the poem brings me back to good times. I so loved jumping into puddles in my red dress. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is such a sweet illustration. I too loved puddles. I do remember one muddy one I was pushed into in nursery school, and I hid. The teachers had to come look for me after recess!
DeleteSo charming and gentle — wonderful. 🙂
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
Delete