It opened so many doors
skeletal though in shape
my memories whirl
for a moment I escape
***
she had curly hair
a saucy cherub smile
she never got angry
well maybe once in a while
**
she gave me the key
it opened a world
my imagination
was unforgettably hurled
*
the day that she left
tears rose like the Sea
I wanted to lock
every sweet memory
**
now this hangs to remind
of the door to her heart
it never is closed
though we live far apart
****
The key above does in fact dangle off the handle off an antique. It originally opened the doors in my grandparent’s home.
My grandmother the queen of storytelling and opening the imagination of a small girl.
This week’s prompt for Poet’s United Midweek Motif is Key
I also pulled this short story from my archives. This is the type story my grandmother would have told.
The boy’s hands had been frozen cold by the snow. He shivered wondering if he had the strength to return home. He looked at the key. So tiny yet full of life; he could feel it. As the gold key turned in the box, the key began to grow and glow. “I am warm,” the boy said in cheerful surprise.
The fire he had hoped for sprung up around the key, but the boy was brave and touched the fire without being burned. He now knew this was no common key.
Though many people in the presence of magic ask for something to ease their lot, the boy was content to hold the warm key and box. The box got heavier until the boy reluctantly set it down on the ground. He held fast to the curious box fearful it would vanish.
The box became hot as it ignited from the key’s glow. The boy continued to hold on tight. As the flame grew more intense, the box, which revealed itself to be pure gold, became clear like glass. The boy expectantly peered inside. The only thing he could see was a plain gold ring. He reached in through the fire, grasped the flame filled ring, and placed it on his finger.
An onlooker would have seen a most magnificent thing on that cold frosty morn. A key, a box, and a ring transformed a boy to a knight. The glow about him melted the snow. A kaleidoscope of color mingled with the fire, flowers sprung from the impotent earth, fruit sprouted on nearby trees, and life that had so long ago departed returned to the barren land.
Little did this simple boy know that he was chosen by the key for a mission. The knight would save many downtrodden soul in the cold, unrelenting world and provide golden hope for the besieged. Long after the knight was gone stories would be told, through the land, of the knight who carried warmth for all in his heart.
******
The Golden Key by the Fairy Tale masters the Grimm Brothers is the preface to this story.
Ah, keys hold such memories, don’t they? I have a key to a former residence here; also a bike lock key to my childhood bike, etc.. I can understand keeping the key to your grandmother’s house & the way it brings you back to those days & the gift of imagination that she helped you develop. Nice!
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yes they really do hold such big memories for such a small item
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I live the image if her hair and smile…really captures her..and what a wonderful key to pass on…it obviously works well..
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I malfunction live = love , if = of :~
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It the keys (on the keyboard) they are out to trip us up as is spell check 🙂
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WOW! to both poem and story. You were lucky to have such a story spinner in your youth. I had one too and I have been writing a novel with one as the central character–of course the stories are my own and I’ve got very few pages given the 4 years I’ve been writing it! I love the parallels here among human skeleton, skeleton key and keys to both story and imagination.
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yes I really was. Thanks Susan
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Love the story behind the key prompt…a pleasant way to start my day.
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This is both sad and pacy: first the loss and then the resignation to the loss and the acceptance of the fine rembrances
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A key with a memory…. beautiful…
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yes – magical
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love the short story moonie…def one that my boys would appreciate when going to bed….
and the first one…i thought of people that had believed in me and opened doors
for me in my own life…i also thought about the gift of reading and how that is a key to most anything
when given…
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Thanks Bri.
If by chance you do read this story of valor to your boys read The Golden Key first. I asked the Grimm Brothers to write a preface to my short story 🙂
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So wonderful to have that key to your grandmother’s house. Wow! She sounds wonderful. I love the poem, your explanation and the story very much – she sounds like an awesome storyteller and you follow in her footsteps. Grandmas are so wonderful!!!
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what would we do without the grandmothers we had…
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I admire that bit of a prose, very magical for the boy ~ I love that part of the key of your grandmother, such a wonderful keepsake ~ Lovely share, thanks ~
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Thanks Grace it was fun to add the story
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loved your poem and the story too..your grandmother sounds like a wonderful lady….very nice
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Thanks she really was …
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Your poem, the prose, and photo… grand! _m
__We are shown; by yesterdays’ keys we keep; unlatched tomorrows.
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It’s a beautiful poem, Leslie.
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Thanks so much
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Loved the story and the poem… sweet stories of childhood woven into verse… 🙂
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Thank you for the beautiful poem,Leslie.
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Lovely and so wonderful that you have that antique to hang it from.
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love that key Leslie to unlock the treasure trove of grandmas…and also the magically woven tale…
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Loved the poem and the story. The key holds memories, and tales 🙂 Hope you are doing good my friend 🙂 Be happy and keep writing 🙂
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This is a truly haunting poem of lost love… at least that’s my interpretation. 🙂
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I love the story. Almost like Harry Potter. and the key poem before it was just as brilliant. cheers!
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What a magical story! I’d love to see it animated…This is kind of story I’d listen and listen…,and first one – nice gentle tribute to your grandma .Thanks
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