I am from…
I am from Paris via Quebec, Northern Ireland,
Massachusetts, a carpenter in Wales,
I am from Bridgeport, cousins,
pajamas at the drive-in,
dodge ball in the road,
I am from hotdog-chocolatemilk-frenchfries,
when dad was home on leave,
Chubby Checker, A Hard Day’s Night,
I am from dot candy and porcelain elephants,
traded for giggles and hugs,
sugar snow-balls eaten in the shopping cart,
I am from, she always had a smile on her face,
the best mistake she ever made,
peering over, into her Cadillac front seat,
“it’s a great life if you don’t weaken”,
and her cow bell in the night, harkening,
bring the nitro,
i am from sin-twisters,
kissing-cousins,
Liddle Kiddles,
Pippi Longstocking,
I am from dark waters of Long Island Sound,
fleeing man-of-war,
minuscule beach frogs,
barefoot on seawall rocks,
sunburns, sunfish, lemon ice,
I am from Abby Road
for having a sore throat,
sharing Valentine candies,
I am from Little Women, Little Men,
by flashlight, and
dancing to Stevie,
I am from secret passageway,
goldfish races, silhouettes,
pink feather pen, cigarettes,
I am from wanting, not believing,
confusion, not achieving,
nightmares, humiliation,
lack of preparation
I am from, keep going, step up,
keep going, for the sake of life itself,
and hugging gently, so as not to hurt one another,
I am from tracing my mother and grandmother’s hands
while oiling the pie-crust table, and the secretary,
and from cousins, and clutching dear
all I had thought I did not need,
and mincing for memories,
I am from constellations by hot tub steam,
Ghost Ranch and O’Keeffe,
pink aspens of twilight,
Leonard Cohen, gratitude at night.
Sue, I saw this on my FB page. I love it! I responded but I guess I’m confused about weather you’re on FB or not. Nicely put woman, I’m very proud of you. love Ellen
I absolutely love the flow of your words Sue, each memory was a flashback. You’ve got great style and class just like your beautiful Mom.
xoxo Love you, Diana
Really lovely, evocative, love tracing the hands, and many more. Thanks!!! Katherine from poetry class!