About my serious side

Not to break the spell or spoil the fun, but you've probably figured out my real name isn't Dummy.

The CTD Diaries is my playground. No one tells the truth in their diaries anyway so I figured I should find another place to get real, where the head lights aren't so bright. I originally thought this would be a good place to post my creative writing, but I think this is just a good place to tell the truth.

Monday, March 2, 2009

I'm In A Georgetown State of Mind

My English class is reading Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried and we're talking about things that haunt us.

So in regards to ghosts, and in honor of Ellen Hopkins--NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR-- for commenting on my Monster post yesterday, I wrote a poem.

(Do you know how long it's been since I wrote a poem?)

I wrote it Ellen Hopkins style, but blogger doesn't support the format so let me explain it to you. The lines in between each stanza are supposed to be justified to the far right. Those lines must be read as part of the main poem, but they also make up their own poem when read alone.


Last summer

I spent a whole day alone, wandering
the streets of Washington D.C.
Just me. And my ghosts. It was

lovely to see

them again--to give them my
undivided attention. We caught
up over Philly cheese steak on

street corners

then took a taxi to Georgetown
where we strolled arm in arm
past bloodshot windows,

neck and neck,

as if through a Coldplay song—
The Scientist, maybe,
Or Keane’s Somewhere

Only we know--

and feeling like a kid at Christmas,
flipping through mom’s Ideals
magazines and wondering

what it was like

to live inside snow-capped cottages with
roaring fireplaces and smells of nutmeg
and cinnamon sticks. How would it be

to have plenty

of hot apple cider, divinity and love?
Georgetown is like that when you
wander through it. It's almost enough,

but not quite . . .

and it strikes you that here you
will come together, but also separate.
You are in this world, yet it is not quite

enough

in you. I love you, it whispers,
but I don’t know where to put you.
I wish I had the courage to ask it not

to put me away.

6 comments:

nevadanista said...

Wow! I loved it. Poetry is difficult to write I think, but you did so well, like it's second nature. I'm going to have to pick up those books.

I wonder if you've ever read 'Out of the Dust' by Karen Hesse? It's also written in poetic style. Made me cry.

I love 'The Scientist'!!!

verifier: readt

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Wow I loved it.

Sandi said...

How come some people get all the talent? seriously. I think Ellen Hopkins would be impressed!

Unknown said...

OK, this is amazing. I'm honored that you find me funny, because you are clearly an incredible writer. I'm signing on to follow here and heading over to read your diary!

Amanda said...

what? you were here last summer and didn't stop in? oh wait, I didn't know you then....ok you're forgiven.

Seriously, you're talented! I'm impressed with your many voices

WV-moless...mo' is less? I knew I always had that saying backwards.

Anonymous said...

No place to comment above?