Once, Just Once.

 We have all experienced a host of things 'just once' across our various lives. The poem presented below grew from a list I compiled in my writer's notebook concerning things I have only experienced once. 

My initial quest was to create a list of things and then see what emerged. I did not know, at that time, a poem would rise up and out of my list. 

Lists are important to writers/ poets. They stimulate thinking and ideas, and each listed item holds potential as a future writing topic or focus.

Our 'Once' lists are not only fun to create, they can reveal hidden treasure...

Once upon my time

Once,

Just once,

In a lifetime

-My lifetime to be exact

I bought a small red car,

-because it was all I could afford

I had my haircut in Mooloolaba,

-a somewhat spontaneous act

Owned a cat named, Alice

-who suffered strange fits

Bought a goat herder’s hat on the recommendation of George Harrison

well, through an advertisement to be accurate.

Visited Halifax Nova Scotia and met a girl who hailed from Ballarat.

Lost my way in Hue, not far from the Perfumed River

-Won a poetry competition in, St Lucia.

Sang The Tennessee Waltz with Denise Drysdale

-Was struck by a driverless car,

And accidentally set an emu on fire.

I am overjoyed in knowing

I have exulted in hearing morning birdsong

-particularly, the joyful carolling of magpies,

Too many times

To count.

Alan j Wright

It is Poetry Friday once more and our host this week is Ruth Bowen-Hersey @ There Is No Such Thing As A God-Foresaken Place. Ruth presents an ode to Autumn amid chaos, confusion and thanksgiving celebrations. Check out Ruth's Autumn Ode...