Thursday, January 19, 2012

Roaming, Back Home

I was outta there in a flash
skid marks hot on the street
still smoking as I lit up
my middle finger waving see ya
windows rolled down, wind in my hair
singin with the B-52s
the world was mine to roam at last
hip-to-hip through the WILDerness

and I went back in a fla-flash
of the C-word diagnosis
ten years older and wiser
dying to help out as needed
the bedroom still a sunny yellow
I saw my future through shutter slits
ready to make a change, but how
would I get there from here?

@laurie kolp

Poets United Thursday Think Tank: Goodbye
Poetry Jam: Going Home Again

22 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles...amazing how those diagnosis or tragic events shift our thought process and eat away our resolutions never to return...a great humbling...

Patricia Anne McGoldrick said...

I guess that Brian summed it up so well.
Poem rang true, Laurie!

Barb said...

A great story poem. Going back is never easy, especially when we want to move forward.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Thankfully - most thankfully - you did get here from there. Wonderful writing.

Mary Mansfield said...

A superb written poem, totally relate to it. Thankfully we do gain wisdom as we age!

Mary said...

Laurie, I think something like the "Big C" kind of diagnosis can change a person....whether it is a diagnosis of self or a close other! Somehow it is a good reason to 'go home again.' A moving write, Laurie. Thanks for jamming!

Buddah Moskowitz said...

Loved the shift midway through the poem, my favorite kind of poem - like a short film. Great - Mosk

Christine said...

the c word puts everything into perspective

Heaven said...

You wrote this beautifully with different scenarios yet linked together with your last question.

It does put everything in perspective ~

the wild magnolia said...

well said, what really matters.

thank you.

Erick Flores said...

I liked how specific you were. Well done. Interesting topic!
-Erick Flores
http://eflores3000.blogspot.com/2012/01/next-to-me-original.html

Judith Richards Shubert said...

Wonderful, wonderful poem. You are a master storyteller with a minimum amount of words. Touched my heart and gave me resolve at my advanced age and somewhat healthy body to get UP and DO!!

Kim Nelson said...

Laurie... this is bold and brazen. I love it. You are SO in your stride.

Helen said...

Loved the 'in your face' vibe in first stanza ... the 'facing it' vibe in the second!!!

Zouxzoux said...

Life shifts often change our outlooks. Thanks for sharing.

emma said...

Laurie, this is a moving picture you've painted here. It's hard to return to somewhere we thought we would never have to, but good to know that we will be accepted back. And yes, I agree with the other commenters, life-altering diagnoses can shatter all of our resolutions. Wonderful poem.

The Bug said...

I remember not being at ALL sad to move away from home - only to discover years later that I never really moved all the way out...

rch said...

We may leave home but it never leaves us, we just see it through different eyes, nice.

Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) said...

agree with Mosk the visuality is very much like a short film or a wonderful poem... "future through shutter slits" ... beautiful!

Lolamouse said...

Great story poem, albeit sad. I remember cruising along to the B-52s as well. Still do at times (Love Shack, Baby!)

Margaret said...

What an amazing shift of feeling from one stanza to another... young and carefree to humbled and responsible...

Promising Poets Parking Lot said...

awesome writing.

make a contribution to us if you could, bless you.