These Days
My grandsons beg me
to drive around
their old neighborhood
when they visit
It’s mostly Jujutsu Kaizen
with them these days
So here’s a moment
their heads are up
their eyes are open
their hands still
That one house where the roof leaked
That apartment where the dog died
The field beside their last house
where sister broke her arm
Passed the derelict pool with weeds
the shuttered Frosty Freeze
the tobacco warehouse flea market
Passed their old elementary
out for the summer
We stop and run,
hearts open, pumping
to the swings
Remembering that time
we opened our mouths
and words came out
10 thoughts on "These Days"
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Nostalgia isn’t just for us old folks, eh Liz?
Nice poem.
That’s right! They were truly nostalgic about street corners and memories. It was wild.
I love all of the visuals you incorporated into this piece, I really felt like I was driving around the neighborhood with the poem
I can picture this clearly
and the last stanza
defines the age(s)
Wow. I agree with Jim. It hits pause while I read those last lines again and again. It’s all in there.
Beautilful.
“the shuttered Frosty Freeze” is such a good mouthful of sounds. Wonderful imagry throughout!
Great capture remembering what grandkids remembered!
btw Avery and some of your other students were involved with publishing a magazine. I have a copy for you if you haven’t seen it!
I’ve seen kids do the same thing, how hopeful!
You balance the tenderness and the somber elements well. I keep returning to:
“Passed the derelict pool with weeds
the shuttered Frosty Freeze
the tobacco warehouse flea market ”
What a beautiful poem.
This reminds me of when I first “toured” my husband’s hometown. He drove us around and pointed out so many similar things — the moments that feel significant to us are so often unknown to others, but it’s a gift to share in them later. Thank you for your poem, Liz!