Pippi
For the most part, my childhood nourished my creativity and sense of wonder. I feel so fortunate to have come up in a time before cell phones and social media. My knowledge of screens was limited to our old black and white TV set and the occasional movie outing. Children’s literature was a treasured part of my formative years. Some of my best friends lived in books! Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking stories were a special delight to my emerging and quirky young self.
I Miss You, Pippi Longstocking
Do you remember my name?
We spent hours together,
finding new and robust ways
to be contrarians
in a world
that wants their children
small and clean,
polite,
obedient.
We’d tie rags
on our feet
and go sliding
through the sudsy floors
of Villa Villekula
on cleaning day.
We’d grab soft drinks
from the Sockerdicka tree
outside your door.
We’d find adventure
without seeking it,
righting wrongs
and wronging rights
and telling truthful lies.
Remember how you
made me smile
and laugh
at the infinite possibilities
right there in front
of an ordinary day?
I’d dive
into the cool pages
and want to swim
with you there
forever.
I took a friend Thing Finding once
but she didn’t get it,
not really at all,
and when I told you this
you stood on your horse
and rode backwards through
the little streets,
laughing, laughing.
–Melinda Coppola