Jules readies herself for Stevon
as I damn another day’s driving
to pick up Len at Cleveland-Hopkins Airport
where Len will take the wheel, and we’ll
chatter a scattered path to Rochester
discussing house issues,
reprehensible renters,
curtains, paint, and stoves oh my—
Why did we buy this house so far away again?
It whirs hominess, family.
Trees and outbuildings mark its acre,
a summer kitchen,
an Amish shed.
Pears gild that tree, casting spells.
Its price parted clouds.
But mostly,
impulsivity blessed us both.
We will laugh as Pennsylvania blinks by
then land deep into blanketed bliss
at Henrietta’s Red Roof Inn near Rochester,
reality only a stone’s throw away.
*
For Stevon’s arrival in Dayton,
Jules twisted and dyed
vibrancy into a white cotton sundress.
The marvel of newly rendered dreadlocks
that buzz with life, animate her shine.
“Only 12 more hours until he gets on his plane,”
bursts forth from percolating dreams of life
in hippy-strewn Missoula
with her hairy man.
Jules’ smile ripples rings toward
tomorrow and yearning’s completion,
while I sigh and scan the clock
wondering how long her couch will
allow me to sleep before I get up
and drive yet again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wrote the poem the day before I left for Rochester, to pick TL up from camp. Julie was picking up her boyfriend, Stevon coincidentally on the same day Len flew in, to spend the rest of vacation with us. It was interesting to see her enthusiasm compared to mine. So I explored it here. Julie is moving back to Montana, after being out here for nearly a year. Her boyfriend is excited, as they are moving to Missoula together. It’s a new life for them and it’s fun to witness their blossoming together. After I wrote the poem, I did the wordle and added all of the words to the piece, I like it better with the wordle words. I’ve never done a wordle poem that way before, it seems backwards, but Pamela Sayers did it once, and I always wanted to try it. It was a worthy pursuit.
Please visit The Sunday Whirl for more poet’s use of the wordle words. The creativity and caliber of writing is impressive.
undercaws 
This is such a lively piece. I like the way you added the words later. I’m going to try that next time I struggle.
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“Curtains, paint, and stoves oh my” – you’re not in Kansas (or Montana) anymore there, Dorothy. This had a great rhythm and pace to it. I also love the pears gilding that tree. I love driving across Pennsylvania, which we did not do this summer, so reading about your family made me think of mine.
Richard
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Lovely lovely lovely … I can’t believe you are on vacation and still finding time to write so eloquently! I must admit that I, too, have written wordles this way: poem first and then add in the words. I find it adds a depth my poems otherwise lack!!!
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I really loved so much about this. The wonderful descriptions. . .
“Trees and outbuildings mark its acre,
a summer kitchen,
an Amish shed.
Pears gild that tree, casting spells.
Its price parted clouds.”
and. . .
“Jules twisted and dyed
vibrancy into a white cotton sundress.
The marvel of newly rendered dreadlocks
that buzz with life, animate her shine.
“Only 12 more hours until he gets on his plane,”
bursts forth from percolating dreams of life
in hippy-strewn Missoula
with her hairy man.”
Sounds like my kind of place and my kind of people!
. . . and this is definitely my kind of poem. 🙂
Really enjoyed this.
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The narrative is animated & very alive! “Impulsivity blessed us both” made me smile. Happy vacationing Brenda.
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Brenda, it is hard to let our children go off on their own. I think you expressed it beautifully here. Thanks for mentioning the fact I chose to do this with one of my wordle poems. It wouldn’t work all the time, but it can if you have something sitting looking for some help. 🙂
Pamela
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“Jules’ smile ripples rings toward
tomorrow and yearning’s completion,” grabbed me. I may have to try adding the wordle words to a completed poem if they can come out this good.
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I really enjoyed that, and think your idea of adding the words post poeming is absolutely splendid.
For me, it is always the words which spark the poem, and if it doesn’t come straightaway Ieave the document open and keep coming back to it until something gels.
Bon route, et bon séjour.
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Brenda- Wow… I’ll have to try that next time. Love this line:
We will laugh as Pennsylvania blinks by
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Thanks Laurie. Let us know if you try it. The drive from our place to RIT goes along Lake Erie. I think both Pennsylvania and New York both fought for lake borders. Pennsylvania’s is not very big, but they do boast the city of Erie. 🙂
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I added them to a piece after it was written, it does add to the excitement of the creation of it as it all ‘fits’ together at the end. Your holiday sounds very tiring!
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It is tiring…but enjoyable. I’ll sleep more when I get home, again. It’s hard to believe I might arrive back in Montana a week from today! I miss our animals.
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I enjoyed your process notes. I would never have thought to add them to an already completed poem. I do like road trips, but ALL that driving would be hard. I think this poem gives a good ‘picture’ of your daughter. I especially like these lines:
Jules twisted and dyed
vibrancy into a white cotton sundress.
The marvel of newly rendered dreadlocks
that buzz with life, animate her shine.
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Thank you, Mary. The driving was hard. I’ve been spending this week peeling paint, and will paint the kitchen tomorrow. We have a property management company coming to look at the place at the end of the week. This has definitely been a working vacation, and has given me ample time to fall in love with this house and property, too.
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