Her Life As a Poem

She was big-boned.  Her spirit
a fine-spun sprouting of prairie brome
threaded through moss and engine block.
Her home was a pine and beatboard camp
for wayward cats.
She would discourse from her tangled porch
where poems grew in small pots
muddled with Ramen noodle and Maui Wowie.
Her life often vacationed to a studio apartment
on the east bank of her right eye.
She wrote on the back of her mouth
with cigarette smoke.
Her poems were the rain-filled footprints,
of Jack Kerouac.
She had pronouns before and after her name.
She wore a local fame, made legendary
by the gaps in her thoughts,
thoughts she shrewdly refused to fill in.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Ashley Avatar
March 6, 2020 at 3:15 PM
Your textured and thought provoking imagery causes me to linger long over the fascinating finesse of your poem, Eric. Such a great last line to end an intriguing piece and a great first post as well! Warmest wishes always, my friend.. ~Susan
Ashley Avatar
March 6, 2020 at 6:09 PM
Mi amigo, thank God, PS doesn't delete any poems from one's catalog.. I love going back and reading the earlier pieces of poet's I follow. I'll be reading more from your back pages, Eric. Have a nice weekend!
Ashford Avatar
March 6, 2020 at 5:30 PM
Thanks so much for visiting my archive poems Susan. I write a lot, and All Poetry deletes poems after the list gets over a certain number, so I am glad this one has survived for now,and that you enjoyed it. It's always good to make poetry friends, and I am happy to be you amigo. Much obliged John.
Ferdous Avatar
September 22, 2019 at 10:28 AM
A poem telling a lot of things but most of all, telling about her life as a poem. Take care.
Ashford Avatar
September 22, 2019 at 10:33 AM
Many Thanks Tamanna!
Lamoureux Avatar
August 12, 2019 at 8:55 AM
I enjoyed reading this one. I like the easy familiarity of this piece.
Ashford Avatar
September 22, 2019 at 10:33 AM
Thanks Richard!
Delaney Avatar
July 24, 2019 at 5:41 PM
....where poems grew in small pots....great image. Love your style a lot. SuZ
Ashford Avatar
July 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Thanks Suz, we poets are a strange breed.
Lamoureux Avatar
July 12, 2019 at 8:47 AM
Ha ha, I like it. What a great poem to introduce your quirky style. Welcome to the soup.
Ashford Avatar
July 12, 2019 at 3:21 PM
Poetry comes easy to some, but getting it down on paper or print is the hard part. Here's to those who live their lives as poems! Thanks again, Richard.
Chircop Avatar
July 6, 2019 at 5:04 PM
Enjoyed reading your poem :)
Ashford Avatar
July 12, 2019 at 3:18 PM
Thank you, Charmaine. All the best.
Ashford Avatar
June 22, 2019 at 10:32 AM
Many thanks, Mo. I'm hoping that this does not need too much editing now.
Pigeon Tart Avatar
June 21, 2019 at 8:25 AM
...And Welcome to Poetry Soup Eric! Mo
Pigeon Tart Avatar
June 20, 2019 at 9:50 PM
I love this. A fave. :)
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