Saturday, May 31, 2014

On Being "It"

    Public Domain Image, Old Teddy Bear by George Hodan

While I loved to play
Hide and Seek
when we were kids
I always hated being “it.”
I worried I would wander forever
and never find a single soul.
But then again, I worried when
I hid, no one would find me.
and there I would sit,
in the dirty clothes hamper
’till wash day.


This 55 is for all the Toads in the Imaginary Garden at IGRT, and especially for Hedgewitch who is taking over, this week, for the G-man.  Click on the link and check it out.


32 comments:

  1. Great pic to go with this one,Mary. And of course, 'It" made me instantly think Stephen King--and you give us a bit of King creepiness in this tale of the worst childhood fear, being lost and unclaimed. Thanks so much for playing, and if the G-Man were still doing this, this would be the point at which he'd graciously invite you to have a kick-ass weekend.

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  2. Hahaha - that he would! Thanks Hedge, and thank you for taking over the 55 reins for the week. Brilliant job, and I hope your weekend is equally filled with asses to kick. Er...well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.

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  3. Oh no for not being found, I hate that too ~ Such a delightful read this afternoon ~

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  4. But not being found you win, unless they don't want to find you of course lol

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    1. Right! That's what I was worried about, lol.

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  5. Glad I'm not the only one who felt that way. I sucked at being "it." But I also sucked at hiding.
    My 55 is here.
    http://poetryofthenetherworld.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-dad-on-his-78th-birthday.html

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    1. Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one too! :o) I just finished reading your very touching 55, Lily.

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  6. The grass is always greener! And one worries-- This is super charming--very well and succinctly done, thanks, Mary. K.

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    1. Awww - thanks K. And you're right, that grass is always greener...

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  7. This brought me right back!! I love this flash from you...endearing and heartwarming!

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  8. ha. glad you escaped the clothes hamper...i remember having similar fears....its why we begin to peek too...wanting to know someone is still seeking us....

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    1. Ah, peeking! That's a whold 'nother subject!

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  9. Yup! Hide and seek was fraught with social dilemmas - what if your friends were glad you were missing and could play without you?

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  10. :-). We used to play Sardines at my cousin's house, a more sociable form of hide and seek.

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    1. Oh, that sounds interesting. Lol, I am picturing a big pile of kids squashed in a closet.

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  11. I think we may all have felt that way, but i hadn't thought about any of it in many many years. You brought it all back, and I LOVE the picture of the teddy bear.

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  12. right back to childhood. well crafted, Mary ~

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  13. Please put this in a book of child's verses ... I love it! Image and all ...

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  14. A very difficult game for the self-doubting who fears being left behind. Almost cruel! You make it vivid.

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  15. To be left alone... I felt this a lot.. to be hiding and no-one ever find you (or maybe not even start looking for you) was the worst I think...

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  16. to be a child again...no too much uncertainty between the majisty of life at that age

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    1. Hey Chris - good to 'see' you again. Thanks for your consideration.

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