Teacher-writers at ethicalela are sponsoring a month of poetry writing.
All educators can join in, too, at this link!
Today's prompt is: core memories, based on a mentor poem by Maria Geisbrecht.
What I can't forget, the early years
a recurring childhood dream (nightmare?)
sitting on the edge of a bottomless pit, legs dangling
in the backyard of a red brick house
my parents calling me "Tina"
and the chorus line of a 45 rpm
"Tina, the ballerina, the belle of gay Paree"
the feel of a mini dachshund sleeping
in the curve of my legs, undercover
snoring and refusing to let me roll over
the tree that grew sideways in the scrubby forest
secluded, a place to share secrets
and the freedom we had to explore
the feeling of being the odd one out
always the new girl
always knowing we'd move again
wearing polyester pants
when everyone else was wearing jeans
and being shoved against a locker for breaking the curve
my hair turning orange from Sun-In
getting my first contacts
that first kiss, ever--I was worthy?
my mother, masterful negotiator
as my father and I fought before leaving
his tears as my mother drove me to college.
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