On a back road singing
Windows down
Breeze blowing
Broken by siren
Flashing lights, tears
Late to work
Almost fired
Woke and couldn't
Open mouth
Teeth impacted, pulled
Came home and fell
Into a dark hole
With no ladder
All boxes for
Perfect, happy life checked
But
Not happy
Divorce
Nearly hospitalized
With bronchitis
Two car accidents
One botched burglary
Before
She saw the light
Through the cracks
Shoved Perfect to the curb
Disappointed her parents
Quit her job
Started law school
Met her soul mate
And realized she'd rather go naked than
Wear the coat the world made for her*
This is written for the prompt from Mary at Poetry Jam poetryjaam.blogspot.com with quotes from the book Two or Three things I Know for Sure by Dorothy Allison-- Dorothy's quotes spoke to me so strongly that I used one of them for the last two lines of my poem. The other quote that spoke to me (and made me laugh) is "that change, when it comes cracks everything open." Yes, it does...and sometimes you have to have cracks to see the light.. That was quite a year :-) So here's to cracks and wearing what makes us happy ;-)
Sara, this poem made me feel good. Yes indeed sometime a person has to push perfect to the curb and do what one wants to do to gain that happiness that is deserved. Loved how you worked the one Allison quote into the last lines of your poem. It made for a perfect ending. Smiles. And, by the way, I am sure the book is still available. Check Amazon Marketplace, if nothing else. The whole book is worth reading....her story is amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! That is one of the best compliments, to have a poem make you feel good. :-) Thank you very much and thank you for the inspiration, can't wait to read the book!
DeleteWOW! I cant tell you how MUCH I love this poem - and this story! Yes, this is the way life works..........LOVE! IT! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry! I love that you and I picked the same quote. Thank you so much for the enthusiastic compliment! :-)
DeleteYour poem tells a great story and Dorothy Allison's quote rounds it up perfectly. I like how the persona breaks free and meets her soulmate in the end, especially since it involves realizing she can only be herself!
ReplyDeleteHi Gabriella! Thank you for all your kind words:-)
DeleteWhat a year indeed! I just love that despite everything, she saw the light.
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie! That's one of the best life lessons, isn't it? :-)
DeleteLoved it! "Wearing that coat the world made for her" is an amazingly evocative line. So memorable.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary Ann! Yes, Allison's line really resonated with me too:-)
DeleteSome times it takes a hammer I love the title (and the poem!)
ReplyDeleteHi Rae! Thank you very much for that compliment, it really took me a long time to come up with that title :-)
Deletenice....glad she found her way and gave up on trying to keep everyone else happy you know...or just trying to be perfect which really isnt in our interest either....we each have to live our own life....
ReplyDeleteHi Brian! Exactly:-)
Deletesometimes we have to disappoint others to find ourselves... no one manages to keep everyone happy....i'm glad she found her way...
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia! Yes, that's a tough lesson, but very worthwhile :-)
DeleteThank goodness for those cracks that let the light in! Love the line "shoved Perfect to the curb"! Who can ever live up to perfect?
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn! It took me a long time to figure that out ;-)
Delete