Sigma Tau Delta Workshop Pieces

The next two poems are circa 1998 -2000 or so. I went to the Sigma Tau Delta convention in 2000, when Eliza was 10 months old. Loyd and I had just separated, so I remeber that time quite well. The convention was in Savannah, Georgia, and I fell in love with that city. I remember that I was not afraid to walk out of the Hotel De Soto, leave my entire group, and walk down to the River Market all alone. In fact, I don't think I even told anyone I was going. And I was the world's worst with directions . . . Anyway, Savannah helped me heal a little bit back then.

Following are the two poems of mine that were chosen for workshop that year at the convention:

Home
The weather is changing here.
I stand alone amongst the trees,
In grass and flowers,
Below tall and unfamiliar things,
And I see the clouds move.
I know that what used to be home
Now is very far away.
Mother and Father
Now exist in only one.
The sky was blue yesteray --
Now it is gray,
And I haven't the strength
To stop the rain.
Through the rain I can see
The ghost of a child
Runnng and playing
And longing to grow up,
Which makes me weep for her
Because one day she will . . .
Oh, did I think it wouldn't rain?
That here the skies wouldn't change?
They always did
In the place
That used to be home.
Am I homeless now, Fatherless?
Here in this strange place,
Can't I fight the unfamiliar?
Wasn't I scared, before?
Oh, rain!
Rain like before!
Oh, shall these fears be calmed!
And the weather always change,
And the little girl grow up, And I will be
Home.


Just Leave Me Here
Just leave me here
On the side of the road
Leave me here!
Let me ball my fists and scream
Let the rain rain on me
Let me run and kick the mud
Let me jump over these railroad tracks
Just leave me here
To turn my face to the sky
To wallow in this gray day
To dwell on regrets
And feel sorry for myself
Just leave me here
To walk in the grass
Get soggy to my knees --
I'll see you there.