Okay, Erin's poems are getting me thinking creatively. I love wordplay! My poetic muscles, however, have not been exercised in quite some time, as may well be apparent by the attempt below. Forgive any creakiness...chalk it up to my being middle-aged and tired. :-)
This one is for moms everywhere. It's in honor of Lily Potter, whose love I tend to think of as the underlying melody of the entire Harry Potter saga.
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Lovely Lily, always smiling,
always winning, always shining,
lovely Lily, prettiest sister,
stubborn friend, staunch resister.
Not easy to sway, no simple romantic,
but once she loves, that love’s titanic.
Lovely Lily, precious wife,
still young mother, willing to give
herself for others, courage blazing,
voice beseeching, green eyes gazing.
Last moments spent with arms spread wide,
protector with nowhere to hide.
Lovely Lily, lioness
protecting cub in deep distress,
now forever memory, voice,
mirror image, finest choice,
shade who comforts, fortress strong,
the one to which he still belongs.
Lovely Lily, look down and see
the lion your cub has grown to be.
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3 comments:
Ooooh, I really like this. Dad was commenting the other day that there aren't that many strong female characters in the series in comparison with all the guys, and I see his point, but they don't come much more formidable than Lily. Really great characterization. I still think it would've been nice for Rowling to have played her in the films...
Glad you liked it! The poetic muscles really *do* feel creaky, but it was fun to stretch. I may try another one later today if I have a chance!
I think perhaps because I came upon the Harry Potter books when I was pretty much a brand new mother, Lily and her sacrifice have always stood out to me in bold relief. We may not see her much in the books, but her presence feels so palpable, and her story drives so much of this story.
I'm not sure if I agree completely that the books lack strong female characters. Well, maybe in comparison to the number of strong male characters, but I think Rowling's given us some memorable ladies. She essentially subverted the whole "schoolboy" story of English tradition by making one of the best friends in the series a girl, and Hermione has played such a key role throughout. Then there's the fact that Dumbledore's right hand at Hogwarts is McGonagall. I know he goes to Snape with some important things (like when he's in need of healing from dark injuries!) but McGonagall has been set up from the beginning as completely solid, dependable and trustworthy. I love her, and I was seriously freaked out when she took the stunners to the chest in OotP -- I momentarily thought she had died.
Then there's Luna, Ginny (to a lesser degree, but still a strong secondary character and not entirely there for the "romantic" angle) Katie and Angelina on the Gryffindor quidditch team (you'll note the Slytherins never have girls on their team), and of course Tonks. And if we're looking for snarky women or "strong" villains, I think Bellatrix, Delores and even Rita can hold their own.
And let's not forget Molly. As Harry's surrogate mother, I think she occupies a really important place in the story, and in reader's hearts.
I know there are lots more girls/women (Sprout, Fleur -- a triwizard champion!, Trelawney) but they do seem sort of secondary. I think one reason the books can feel very "boy-filled" is that we see things through Harry's eyes. And those Weasleys! So many males in one household! Good thing Molly and Ginny are strong characters!
I guess I think that in many ways, JKR has given a good balance. Even when you have six students in the big fight at the department of mysteries, you've got three boys and three girls.
I think she's got a good balance too, though at first glance - particularly in the first couple books, before Luna shows up and Ginny becomes really prominent - I can see how the male presence seems stronger. And she does seem to show a lot of girls - the Patil twins, Romilda, Lavender, Cho to some extent - acting rather silly, though for sheer ludicrous behavior I don't think anyone beat Lockhart!
But I definitely think she's given us lots of terrific heroines. Hermione is a great role model for girls, a really wonderful character who uses her brains to gets Harry and Ron out of all sorts of trouble, and McGonagall is definitely a force to reckoned with! And Molly and and Lily are the ultimate in maternal affection.
Oh, man, I was really sweating McGonagall in OotP. I thought she was a goner. I love how fiercely she defends her fellow teachers even though she may not think they're the most effective teachers. She's such a comfort to Trelawney, and she landed in St. Mungo's trying to protect Hagrid from the shady tactics of the Ministry. I love, too, how she makes such a point of including him in the conference following Dumbledore's death...
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