‘Puff’

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What about Puff?

Google Puff and you receive these results –

noun

1.a short, explosive burst of breath or wind.

“a puff of wind swung the weathervane around”

synonyms: gust, blast, flurry, rush, draft, waft, breeze, breath

2.a light pastry case, typically one made of puff pastry, containing a sweet or savory filling.

“a cream puff”

verb

1.breathe in repeated short gasps.

“exercises that make you puff”

synonyms: breathe heavily, pant, blow

2.cause to swell or become swollen.

“he suddenly sucked his stomach in and puffed his chest out”

When I decided to write a post about ‘Puff’, I was not thinking about the Google results.  What was I thinking about?   Was I thinking about me as a previous smoker and puffing on a cigarette?  The other day, I was thinking that soon I will mark a year that I quit smoking and will most likely write a post about it – be expecting that post in a couple of weeks.  Then again, was I thinking about something else?  At that time, my view was the window and what was beyond it; my view was leaves of yellow, orange and brown and possibly of ‘Puff’.  Those leaves of color reminded me it is still autumn; and then a favorite song popped in my head by a trio of singers –

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee,

From Spinditty.com –

Puff the Magic Dragon

Is a song that I remember well from my childhood. As a little girl I would play this song on a record player and when the song ended I would pick up the needle and move it back to the beginning so that I could hear the song over again. I didn’t know what the words meant but just loved that the song had something to do with childhood and I loved being a kid. As a parent, when I actually listened to the words of the song and realized that it was about growing up and leaving the toys of childhood behind, it made me cry and chokes me up still. This song, by Peter, Paul and Mary, is an all time classic that every child, no matter what age, can enjoy.

Lyrics to watch for:

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys

Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys

When I decided to write a post about ‘Puff’, what was I thinking about? Leaves of different colors or maybe smoking; then again it is autumn and the trees sway at times due to a short, explosive burst of breath or wind. Or maybe I was thinking about my childhood of long ago and the toys left behind; and my present grown up years, the here, the now & that, that which awaits me.

Lyrics from Puff the Magic Dragon –

One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more

And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

28 thoughts on “‘Puff’”

  1. What a cool post. And, congrats on your nearly one year without smoking ! That in itself is a huge accomplishment 🙂 “Puff” is an interesting word, and has many meanings 🙂 I remember the song Puff the magic dragon clearly, in fact when I read the title of your post, I immediately thought of that song. Enjoy the rest of your day further 🙂

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  2. I always thought the song “Puff the Magic Dragon was one of the saddest songs because of those last 4 lines. We all grow up and move beyond fantasy and play and it seems so sad. Now that I have children it seems even more heartbreaking.

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  3. I remember that song and I thought it was sad. My first work partner used to call me “Puff.” (It had something to do with my then last name.)
    When a mighty dragon finally ceases his fearless roar….how can that not be sad? Sort of like when “the bell no longer rings for me.”

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  5. I see puff and think of food – cream puffs! It takes me back to Japan when I lived there and ate them regularly from the convenience stores. Here in Wisconsin, we get them at the State Fair, but they’re the whipped cream-filled sort instead of the custard-filled ones. I prefer the latter!

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    • Thank you Joyce. I agree about the song, I never analyzed it before, and as you, I like folk songs also – and certainly yes I like Peter, Paul and Mary. Thanks for stopping by – hope your day was wonderful! 🙂

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  7. I haven’t heard this song in a great while. I always bust out crying when I hear the end. There is a poem entitled “Little Boy Blue” that has the same effect. I’m not sure why these tug at my heart string so strongly, but they do. It’s wonderful, isn’t it, that we can all enjoy different things and have endless variety in knowing each other? 🙂

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    • I am glad you can relate to this song in the way you do – I have the same reaction for songs as well. It certainly is wonderful we can all relate with a bond of sorts that brings us together. Thanks dear.

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  8. My mum had the song on 45 and used to play it on her old gramophone when we were playing after lunch along with others. Of course its poignant and it is a lovely take on the end of childhood. I love it anyway. Even if it does make me a little weepy. But I’m a weeper so there’s nothing new there. I just love the word ‘puff’ …. cream puffs and puffs of wind and not puffing on cigarettes all very very good puffs indeed!

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