My life started as a single speck.
9140 Harrison Drive
Springfield, Texas.
West of 9140
lies the brown brick building of Birkes Elementary.
The carefree nature of my youth.
Here I swung from my calloused hands
on the monkey bars.
I dared Hannah to breach the hill and near the fence.
East of 9140
The intersection of Telge and West Road
is the Chevron I went to for cherry Icees
Wednesdays, when school let out.
The dry cleaners where I dropped off my mom’s
silk, polyester, chiffon, and linen clothes
to get professionally cleaned.
And at the end of the line was the
“go to” family restaurant Husky’s.
Fixed to the wall was the menu
above a floor sticky with spilt soda,
and an arcade in the back for the kids
with Dance Dance Revolution and Pinball.
Gone now, are Husky’s burgers and sticky soda floors.
Replaced by Verna Mae’s po-boys and seafood.
Revamped with dining room seating
and dazzling light fixtures.
The hushpuppies keep me going.
North of 9140
At Telge and Freeway Access Road
stood a gas station. A dying Chevron turn
shiny new Swift station, but the “w” missing.
Opposite the station was the rail yard
that housed the freight trains.
I heard them every morning.
I pass my childhood constellations
and teenage stars, reaching out
toward the next glinting speck. Adulthood.
Now in college, I am an astronaut
that can’t see my future in the constellations
Their light has not reached me yet, but in time it shall.
-
Author:
M.E.M. (
Offline) - Published: May 1st, 2021 12:34
- Comment from author about the poem: This is a poem based on where I live. Created:1/22/2021 | Edited:1/28/2021 | Finalized: 5/1/2021. Comments welcome!
- Category: Family
- Views: 34
- Users favorite of this poem: A Boy With Roses, rebmasters
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Comments4
I live in Scotland, and for as long as I can remember I've always been weirdly fascinated with the Americana beauty. This poem is a deep ocean of life you've facsimiled and turned into words. I could live in the bittersweet happiness of it.
This work really drew me into your place in an environment full of texture and detail. A three dimensional picture. The feel of time passing and thus change also in the mix.
Really engaging read which put together elements of your life and transformed it into so much more.
Many thanks for that, M.
Very easy to envision and relate to. I'm there. I appreciate the aspects of direction and progression.
utilising purposed imagery and detailed - clarity, to produce poetry
with a capacity to gift your audience
a painstakingly rendered and immersive reading experience,
(through countless subtle revisions, I imagine)..
such a brilliant read!
thanks for choosing to share your unique voice, dear poet
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