Tuesday, April 3, 2012

We Have History

We Have History

As a child, in the bath,
I’d dunk my head, pour
a silver dollar-sized puddle
of shampoo in my hand,
scrub it against my head
to make foam. I could
shape my hair, paper mache
my scalp. I’d make myself
into soft-serve ice cream,
fashion a helmet or beehive.
Slicked back, with suds
clustered around the ears,
I imagined a lace collar
and black jacket, felt just
like George Washington.

Had I forgotten this forever,
instead of thinking of it
today, my life would look
no different.

8 comments

  1. This reminds me of something William Carlos Williams would write...simple, well-stated, but brimming with an undercurrent of emotion. Bravo!

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  2. I adore stuff like this.

    Kudos on the titular double meaning.

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  3. Vivid imagery in a wonderful poem. I can see how the artwork inspired you.

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  5. This is lovely. It's terribly real, a shared memory, a sad thought at the end, dropping me sharply to a hard fall after you had lifted me and made me a bit cozy. I don't know what to do with my memory now.

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  6. I did the same minus the foam collar and I think I may have to disagree about the last part...had you forgotten this today would your life be the same...funny I had brought much of past into my future and feeling something undefinable in doing so...missed you and will have to make time to read what I missed...happy 3rd

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