Lost. Missed.
by Brenda Davis Harsham
Break my arm
on a dare,
climbing aboard
a rusty, swing set beam.
Father freaks:
“Move your fingers!”
“NO!” word swims
in a red-faced, salty ocean.
Dad wraps arm
in a newspaper.
Blankie dries
every tear. Fingers wiggle.
That night. Sleepless.
Arm throbs. I
realize Blankie
is across town, at the ER.
Parents? “No way.”
Dare? Done.
Courage? Won.
Blankie? Bye. Lost. Missed.
AUTHOR’S PHOTO CAPTION: Me, at two, holding Blankie — lost but not forgotten.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I broke my arm around age six. I grew up in the tough love generation. My stepmother was probably happy that blankie was gone and her daughter on the way toward growing up. Not many kids had blankies in first grade. At that age, I didn’t understand how tired parents can be after a day like that one. I do now. These days, I agree with Washington Irving, “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brenda Davis Harsham lives and works in New England. Her poetry and prose have been published in anthologies or journals including the Best of Today’s Little Ditty, NY Literary Magazine, Silver Birch Press, The Writing Garden, and The Paperbook Collective. One of her poems won First Place in NY Literary Magazine’s Awake Best Poetry Contest. She writes poetry and fairytales for kids of all ages at FriendlyFairyTales.com and tweets as @BrendaDHarsham.
Silver Birch Press 
very clever poem – so many of us had our ‘blankies’
Hi Maureen, Happy to see you here. I expect every generation does its best with its children, as my parents were trying to do. I remember that night, the long dark of understanding that Blankie was gone. I don’t have the heart to take my kids’ away as a result. No doubt that will have consequences I don’t foresee. And so the world goes around. 🙂 Each of us making our very own set of mistakes. XOXO, Brenda
Mine was a special pillow, and I was devastated when Mum replaced it…
Aw. Hugs. My daughter loves her buddies. 🙂 I don’t know how old she’ll be when she gives them up. She’s 8 now.
Reblogged this on Friendly Fairy Tales and commented:
Here is a tear-jerker from my past. In a new house, new neighborhood and BAM! A day to remember… Have a magical rest of the weekend!
Blankies are so important. My oldest son used one for a long time. As it grew worn and ragged, I just kept the small shred of a worn remaining square under his pillow. I think it stayed there through high school, just as a reminder of simpler days. It might still be in a box of memories somewhere.
Oh, those memories… very well told Brenda… love this piece of your little life! 🙂