Sunday, February 16, 2020

Places in the World

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