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ASH MAGIC

 Saturday 13th December 2008.


We had a lovely magic-moment yesterday at the Kindergarten
in the woods round the bonfire, when one child threw his paper
beaker into the red embers of the burnt logs, we all watched as
it turned from white to a beautiful matt black with glowing orange
edges, then the whole became orange, still holding its shape so
to become grey, the colour of ash, a delicate blue-grey and
torn-edged, silk-papery in its looks, then to our surprise it became
the explanation for what we had seen earlier, those floating grey
fairy-like shapes so slowly, slowly, spiralling down to land like forest
leaves on the surface of the crystals on very white snow. 

The staff present were ever patient as they let child after child do
the same thing, even with unused beakers, all the while these cones
were watched intensely, their every change commented on, many of
them described the shape of the Norwegian o with the line through it,
was it the handles?

It was one of these that made me say "perhaps they are floating," as some
went upwards now, "to decorate the trees, they look like Christmas stars
for the tops of all the firs," and that one went, first left then right then up
some more to the dark of the tops and disappeared between the branches
just below the very top. 

What simple moments of wonder but how the experience stays with one
as adult and child both watch and learn of the magic of weight and change
in the objects of this world.

 


— Nordic cloud, Jan 23, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Oslo and Flatdal, Norway., NOR

Favorite Poets: Too daunting this.

More from this author

Critiques

O

Orphani

16 years 4 months ago

Bravo my dear sister. You

Bravo my dear sister. You were the biggest child of all in the group.Yes? How true it is that to maintain our sense of wonder in the world is our most precious gift. I remember as a kid spending hours catching grasshoppers and putting them in a bag and taking them home. Needless to say they got out and were hopping all over the room. My mom flipped out.I thought it was great. B
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 4 months ago

“My Family and other

"My Family and other Animals" Gerald Durrell, Barry you know that of course!! If not this is a must for you, love and thank you for the comment, yes to be a friend of a dog one has to be a dog! Anskie bird
L

lyz

16 years 4 months ago

Ann

Just as Barry has said, you were the biggest child of the group. Lol. This is a beautiful story. I know the wonder you speak about and I am in awe also. You have so much that you do and it is always for others. This was a true adventure of sorts, be it your job or not. The fun and joy you have all shared has put a smile on my face. What a lovely outing around the bonfire, and I can imagine those dear little rosy cheeked faces, mouths opened and looking up with wide eyes. Just brilliant, but hey, a bit of bias, so is the author. Lol. Love and thanks to you for sharing. Love Lyz. XX
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 4 months ago

with little children in the woods was a dream job

Yes, yes, yes, to be paid for playing with little children in the woods was a dream job for me even though one had to be on ones toes ALL the time, answering as Ken said, the questions every second of the day, no time for writing poetry or anything like that with many children as ones own for a long day, I couldn't think of anything but them, when I got home either, how can I help this one or that one, even in the middle of the night I would think about them, so it was sad but a relief, to be free as a pensionist, and at last be able to do something myself for myself. Here!!! Thank you dear understanding Lyz as aye Ann
Seren

Seren

16 years 4 months ago

awwwww Ann your forever an

awwwww Ann your forever an imp in my eyes dear lady this is just beautiful(huggles) love and hugs Jayne-Chloe x x x
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 4 months ago

Thank you my faithful friends

Yes those moments when the world stands still is when we see into the wonder of things. or in the words of William Wordsworth:- "While with an eye made quiet by the power of harmony and the deep power of joy we see into the life of things." He saw too, and we as poets do, and wish all those who cannot would; we do our bit by telling of it, but some never see s long as they live, so sad! Little girl Ann thanks you all.
Electric Blue

Electric Blue

16 years 4 months ago

Ash Magic

Ann Wonderful - I love watching the embers of an open fire from my fire pit on the mountain. I stare at it for hours feeling the warm glow watching the flame the pictures the visions in the flame appear harmony resides. A child we stay on the inside always so not matter how old on the outside. watch their little faces light up watching until completely gone. The magic is always there. I was there I could feel the warmth of the flame hear the crackle of the embers as they fall. Beautiful visions but they are real Electric Blue
I

Idlemindwondering

16 years 4 months ago

Enchanted

As a child, family and friends would break the ice in spring for early fishing trips; our tents pitched on the frosted ground and fire was the main gathering spot. All us kids would burn cups and plates and even Styrofoam cups were not safe. I could stare for hours at the coals and those tiny hot flames that come and go deep within the fire for hours. Now I watch my daughter, read her face as she learns and answer a hundred questions. There is wonderful magic in fire. I loved your story BTW :) ken
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 4 months ago

I saw this and I must

I saw this and I must respond dear Ken, Thank you first for your comment. Tents on the forsted ground, yes I know that and peoplewill think oh so cold and yet when the sun came up all was dry again in a flash that's how dry the Wintr can be whereas in Scotland, Rosina(!) teh damp is never dried up in WInter making it feel evn colder than the -%C here. The Kindergarten families went camping each year all of us staff too, grilling and eating round the fire on make-shift log chairs, then when the children had finished climbing trees and playing at 9pm. they went to bed, the wine and more grilling going on till late and the lovely chatter of mixed people too. In this country,there being so few people in it, we all can feel like one big family, as it should be, in this world. Whereve there are children there is love, there is interaction and empathy, they demand it and we give it richly in return. That's the kernel of life round an open air fire its crackle the warmth of friendship, and the gathering of all to one neucleus, one home. Just listen to the orchestra of the cracks and sparks that echo through the woods making the animals curious, the trees protecting even though their brothers are being sacrificed beneath them, its a strange world we live in. Thank you for commenting and waking thoughts Ken, with love from Ann
I

Idlemindwondering

16 years 4 months ago

I think

where you live sounds very beautiful; I love The United States, perhaps it's ideals more than it's realities. Still, to think of a camping trip with my daughter and her K-school class is just a wonderful dream to me, my country is too closed up to allow such a thing; afraid of ghosts, full of laws and limitations(and Lawyers)meant to protect as if we were all incapable of taking care of ourselves. I guess I am a bit jealous, but mostly I am peaceful to know that somewhere children can still climb trees. :)