5o years 2 months 6 days ago,
2618 weeks and 2 days,
the 28th day of the fourth week of 1962.
Where were you?
At 3:24 a.m.
my momma was popping me out into the world
her second child, a girl,
while the radio at the nurses’ station
blared Joey Dee and the Starliters.
1-2-3 kick!
1-2-3 jump!
The nurses ignored my momma’s cries.
They twisted and kicked,
they twisted and jumped,
they twisted the Peppermint Twist
until my momma damn near delivered me herself.
Brenda Warren 2012
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NaPoWriMo Day 3 where the prompt asked that we write a poem inspired by the song that was #1 on the day that you were born. For me the song was “The Peppermint Twist,” by Joey Dee and The Starliters.” …..and no, my mother did not almost deliver me herself, or if she did, I’ve yet to hear that story.
undercaws 
Delightful! I am laughing, laughing, laughing at the exasperation of your momma—and the nurses twisting, kicking and jumping. Oh, yeah! 🙂
Six Takes on ‘Harbor’
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LoL Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm. You’ve got me smiling, now!
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Most enjoyable, Brenda. I hope you ask your mom, too.
Pamela
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Thank you, Pamela. I like it, too.
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This made me laugh!! Great way to use this prompt!
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Thanks, Hannah….it was a fun prompt for me.
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It’s so great to see people finding joy in what they do! :)’s to you!
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I enjoyed your good-humored twist on the prompt! (And perhaps you should ask your mother while you can. There are many things I wish now I had asked MY mother.)
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Yes, I will. Thank you Mary.
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Great poem. What a creative take on those moments in time!
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Thanks, Nan. Thank you too for sharing a video of Mary Oliver reading on your blog. It rocks!
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Twisting your way out to the world, I like your version of your birth, Brenda, made me smile. Now I’m so tired, I’m going to bed.
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I hope you had sweet dreams, Irene. Thanks for your comments.
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Fun and light-hearted poem, Brenda. I was probably sound asleep when you were born, dreaming my starry-eyed teenage dreams, never anticipating I would someday write poetry!
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And so you do! Thank you, Marianne.
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Thank you VIv. It was fun to visit the day I was born in song.
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Where was I? Probably feeding my 6-week-old son, singing lullabies in the quiet of the night.
That pop song thing is such a memory jerker. I enjoyed your poem very much.
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