This is an edited (shorter!) version of my poem Places In The World
You can watch a video of it, a Poetry Collage, made by Sue Perlgut and read by 12 wonderful women:
https://vimeo.com/414863437/fcd8a0f227
Places where I hesitated before entering
where I bought a book just because I liked the cover
where I was the least athletic person in the group
Places where I felt invisible
where I forgot to breathe
where I wanted to leave but had to stay
Places where I learned something new and fabulous
where I didn't know any language that was useful
where I was still and quiet and alone and happy
Places where I felt comfortable in my own skin
where I embarrassed myself by laughing uncontrollably and inappropriately
where I held her hand and she held mine
Places where I danced with abandon, until my feet wouldn't move any longer
where I was mistaken for somebody else
where I was actually very brave
Places where I kept my mouth shut
where I pretended to be English
where I said the opposite of what I meant
Places where I have gone in my dreams
where I met someone I'd always wanted to meet
and they turned out to be as wonderful as I thought they would be
Places where I had an epiphany
where I didn't understand the instructions
where I expected to be welcomed with open arms and I wasn't
Places where I succumbed to the irrational urge to buy at least
one new pen that I didn't need
where I wept in public
where I entered a room and walked right out again
Places where I waved to somebody, thinking they were somebody else
where I fell asleep in public, drooled a little, and maybe even snored
where there was a ghost in the room
Places where I didn't see her at first and then I did see her
and I was so happy she was there
Places where I sat around a campfire singing those
good old tunes with utmost sincerity
where I wrote in the dark
where I gave up too soon
Places where I had to say "no" repeatedly before I was heard
where I regretted not being more competent in math
where I bumped into something or someone
because I was walking and reading at the same time
Places where I looked up just in time to see a bird begin its song
where I could have consulted a dictionary but I chose not to
where I didn't recognize myself
Places where I ran out of ink
