Poetry on Childhood, Home, and Cats

Recently, I’ve been writing poetry as a way to condense reflections of themes in my life or recent experiences. I thought of the idea for this first one, “What Do you See?” when I was thinking about the small number of images I can clearly see from my childhood. I very rarely see images in my mind, so to be able to see something, I must have spent a lot of time in a specific place or thinking about a specific memory. 

“What Do you See?”

What does childhood look like?

What does it sound like?

Taste

Smell

Feel;

–

I see a track with too many sticks on it.

The storm has passed;

I still can’t ride the neighbor’s scooter.

Like the shiny spot on Pawpaw’s head

A hole dug deep into the Georgia clay

Just to see where it would go.

–

I hear a gentle southern drawl.

Mammy answering trivia questions from the other room.

A kitchen with a song to dance to.

Clicking of a mouse;

Solitaire on a desktop.

–

I taste hoecakes

Soft and buttery, fresh from the cast iron.

Graham crackers and milk

Soaked for a tad too long.

The raisins out of the bran;

Flakes left for the adults.

–

I smell honeysuckle

Too apprehensive to taste;

And mildew

A couch too comfy to waste.

Mom burns incense to drown out

Puffs of a cigar,

–

Headache brought on by conflicting smells

Warmth of a hot meal

Sore stomach from laughing

Heavy eyes lying awake

Pieces held together in this body.

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I’m thankful to have traveled much more than ever before in the past few years. Each place I’ve visited, I’ve loved speaking to different folks and learning how they extend hospitality to visitors. I wanted to capture the little moments I experienced in each place while celebrating the joy of returning home. 

“Beating Around the Bush”

Los Angeles, California

2 churros please

You know, I played here once

Koufax was incredible

Best I’ve ever seen

I hope things work out with her.

–

Osaka, Japan

Teachers change classes here

Not students

Here’s your map

Sensei will be here if you have any questions

Japan’s best friend.

–

Baltimore, Maryland

If I buy tickets, can we sit anywhere?

Here’s your pitcher

You’ll need it 

It’s a shame you don’t drink

Thanks for having us.

–

Atlanta, Georgia

Come on in

Can I get you something to drink?

How’s your grandma doing?

That room sleeps hot

There’s a fan if you need it.

–

We beat around the bush. 

There’s a script

Tried and true

For people to be known.

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Finally, my friend Hannah and I wanted to write poetry one day, so we gave each other a title and 8 minutes to write a poem. This one is a tribute to my goofy orange cat who dips his paw into a water fountain in order to drink.

“Cat Water Fountains”

Flick flick flick

He swats 

And licks

And repeats;

An orange ball of fur

Quenching his thirst

–

Why does he do this?

Does it serve survival?

Is it necessary?

Perhaps the wrong questions.

He is safe;

Free to choose

His own methods of drinking water.

–

A fountain is provided;

No fear for survival.

He gets to be silly.

Both questioned and loved for his behavior

–

What wonderous things one does when they are comfortable

Am I not the same?

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If you’ve gotten one music recommendation from me in the past year, it’s probably been The Orchardist. Today’s recommendation is their song “All of Me” (or “Sentimental Man,” if you have Apple Music access… I think that song is only streaming there).