Sometimes an idea for a poem emerges when you are not necessarily in that focused zone, it rises up like a wisp of smoke and you feel compelled to explore the possibilities...
Only this week I met some young writers who were exploring different physical settings for their writing, and several of them informed me that poetry revealed itself to them and they felt compelled to write in response to that call.
A similar thing happened as I was compiling a list of the places I have lived throughout my life. It all began as a list making exercise. I was hoping to find new writing ideas hidden in the extensive list of places I have lived throughout my life; my personal home history. As I looked at my list, an idea for a poem emerged, and so I followed its siren song...
Clearly, it's a list poem, but it's also uniquely personal. It reminds me of an iceberg, where a portion is revealed, but so much more lies beneath the surface. A bit intriguing and worthy of more excavation.
My Marvellous Home History
From Whitehorse Road
to brick veneer Purtell Street
Then to Lake Road
And on to David Hill Road
McLaren Street
Heatherdale Road
Northgate Street
Hicken Crescent
Then a leap to Ballarto Road
Circle Drive South to Towerhill Road
Kooyonga Grove
Prince Street
Vasey Close
Bath Street
Across the ocean to brownstone Eighth Avenue
before an eyrie on West 48th Street
Then a safe landing in King Georges Avenue
And while I never lived in Everlasting Boulevard, Bong-Bong Street
Or Chicken Dinner Road,
My plethora of postcodes
Form a mighty life map.
These Melways markers of my life’s journey
Numerous and influential
Shaping me and my worldly responses.
I am composed of all the
places I have lived
I am stitched together piece by piece
from these experiences
These loved locations form my marvellous monopoly board
Vital cogs in my identity machine.
Alan j Wright
I love this, Allan, and it's true - it's unique but not so introspective that an outsider doesn't get it. Of course I have internal questions and want to know more - some of those street names are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased by your response, Sally and that your curiosity is piqued.
DeleteMarvelous monopoly board, indeed! I love that reference. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Irene. I played a lot of Monopoly as a child, which probably accounts for the reference.
DeleteWow, what an awesome idea for a poem! From someone who has moved nineteen times in my adult life, I feel so viscerally the truth that these "loved locations" are definitely "vital dogs in my identity machine." Thanks for the great idea, and for sharing your homes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind response Tanita. It was alos a surprise to me how often I had changed location across my life. Being a teacher accounts for a significant part of it, no doubt.
DeleteOH, Alan, what a joyous poem of your homes that "form a mighty life map." Such great lines and images here: "These loved locations form my marvellous monopoly board" and "vital cogs". By the way, that is a lot of houses!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of houses, Denise. I was surprised how many actually. Glad you enjoyed my collection of phrases. The poem emerged in a way that gave me a sense of great satisfaction.
DeleteHmm...you made me count. I've only lived at 8 addresses, and 3 of those were college dorm/apartments. Take from the remaining 5 my childhood home and my current home, what could be said about those final three? Hmm...you made me think! Best kind of poem!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAh, my poem has evoked some numerical calculations, Mary Lee. I'm pleased my poem resulted in some further thinking. May you delve into your locational history and discover delight.
DeleteI love some of those names, and the idea of making a monopoly board with all the different addresses is such a great visual! As Mary Lee said, you made me think. I've lived at my present address for 45 years, but there were others as I grew up that were special stepping stones that brought me here. Something to ponder.
ReplyDeleteThe names are often intriguing, Rose. I remember visiting Pineapple Street when visiting Boston. Wow, you have certainly put your roots down in your current locations. That in itself deserves unpacking. May your pondering lead to something tangible. I like the analogy of stepping stones...
DeleteThis is fabulous! The idea AND the resulting poem. You make me want to grab my pen and start listing too. The fun names in your poem are so geographically specific which I love. But, you are right--there's that universal experience of having moved and being linked to an address somewhere else. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generous response, Linda. Listing brought forth this poem, so good luck. The universal nature of our propenisty to change location and all that entails makes this a writing idea so easily shared.
DeleteThis is a marvelous prompt, Alan. I've lived at many different addresses and I'm going to follow up on your inspiration here. You've got me wanting to know more about Everlasting Boulevard, Bong-Bong Street and Chicken Dinner Road. :) And I love the image of your address history as a Monopoly board. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen. I hope you uncover your special locational history in the process. Interestingly, Everlasting Boulevard is not too far from where I now live and when I drive past it, I am intrigued. Chicken Dinner Road is in Texas. Can't remember where Bong Bong Street is exactly, but I think it is somewhere in Australia. We are renowned for unusual street names. I am pleased that the monopoly board image floated up as I was writing. Sometimes the words just slide into the right place with the gentlest 'click.'
DeleteAlan I love your poem and think it is a marvelous poem prompt–I think it would also make a fascinating anthology collection! I enjoyed how you moved us place to place, and liked this line also, "before an eyrie on West 48th Street." I had to make a list of my abodes too, and have a meager collection of 10, which includes three in Colorado that I'll have to do some digging to find the street names–thanks this was really a treat!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Michelle. Interestingly, I have already compiled a collection of poems from my David Hill Road days (ages 10 -22) Maybe some poems from my six years in the eyrie? Enjoy the digging into your Colorado times.
Delete"I am stitched together piece by piece" - yes, the power of place that forms us, stitched and sewn together over a lifetime. You have a motherlode of memories!
ReplyDeleteThank you Patricia. You are right, there's a lot more to mine here.
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