My photo
Poet, Artist and co-owner of Lasting Images Photography

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Hopping on the poetry bus




From Karen's prompt: write about school or schooling

I walked home from school
in the days when a child could still do that
in the days before 
the wall-mounted telephone
fell in to disrepute
I carried my books in a plastic satchel
It was plaid with a red handle
and a metal clasp that looked like brass
but wasn’t
All the houses I passed on my 4 block trek 
were either white or gray
except one
tiny pink shotgun 
with a tumble-down porch
and screens full of holes
The lady there didn’t like kids 
to cut across her yard
with its patches of brown grass
sprinkled between the weeds
She glared
from the kitchen window
and sometimes
knocked on the glass
so I  would cross over to the other side of the road and quicken my steps till I was past that house
I crossed the street
without a crossing guard,
I walked home from school sometimes alone
or else I rode my bike
barefoot and without a helmet
with no fear at all
but for an old woman in a sad pink house
on a corner lot
of an old shell road
in a little town
were everyone knew my name

3 comments:

Karen said...

Hi, Judy! What a testimony to the differences in then and now. Your details -- the satchel, the wall phone, the walking or riding the bike alone -- all remind us of how far we've fallen. Your lady in the pink house, though? I'll bet she still exists in every town. Some things never change!

I'll give a shout on my site, but the Bus has moved to Marion's place (http://dragonflyspoetryandprolixity.blogspot.com), and the passengers may not be looking back here now. I'm glad you joined us, and I hope to see you again!

hwf said...

A great poem Judy, brings back memories. I might just change that last line from everyone knows your name, as I'm reminded of the theme song for the TV series, 'Friends'.

But. perhaps, that's appropriate for what you're expressing.

Helm.

Judy Clem said...

Cheers. and yes that line has been bugging me..I just haven't found a new one yet. and congrats on the IBPC!