David Walker Poet Free verse

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Landmarks From Childhood Out of Order

Landmarks From Childhood Out of Order
David J Walker

Perhaps it was just the random 
remembrance of landmarks
From a childhood well past

Retracing steps made in snow 
as if
They had no better place to go 
although
Every day was easy and arrived with
its own adventure 

In Summer we sunbathed on the 
Crowded shores of Towne Lake 
Mother warned of burning 

The Autumn air was filled with the
Twentieth Century smell of smoke 
From the front yard mountains of 
burning leaves on every block

I had forgot the name 
For the scent of rain
By the time Spring came 
round again 

The first year of High School
Overwhelmed with the
Fear of being the first 
of the last and lost

The beige tiled hallways had 
A history spanning its own eternity 
of teachers and names
Of forgotten students

Mrs. Beards Kindergarten class 
Taught everyone to tie their shoes 
To know their colors 
and count to 100


Junior High was an awkward Pimple fest 
But the worst was dyslexia and 

Puberty attacking in a two-front war
On my misplaced adolescent identity 

Was there a better day to be born
With a different date

Was there a year when I would
Better fit in

I remember an assembly in elementary school
That father attended 

He said nothing but I was so happy 
To sit beside him

I remember a western festival in high school
That father came to

He was smiling though 
at 16 
I felt obligated 
To ignore him

I remember Field Day the last day of the 6th grade
before the summer of Jr High

I remember the disappointment of the girl who
Would only date boys of her own religion 

I remember her dropping out 
to have a baby

I remember someone walked me 
to my first day of class in kindergarten 

It might have been my Mother

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