Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Walking

To walk in other's shoes,
it is to stories and poems
that I turn.

I enjoy giving
myself up, living through
their lies, loves, and laughter.

Strangers in history,
like surrogate ancestors,
are my touchstones.

Sometimes, so scared,
I edge down passages
in my imagination.

While my true ancestors,
Scottish fullers all, walked
on wool for their trade.

Would we have sat, sharing
stories, soothing our feet
around a fire pit?

My mind rebels
at a world of one people, one faith,
but it was so.

And then I return
to my life, full of sunlight
and deeper shadows.

I adopt a persona,
and write a story
not mine, and yet true.

Who shall I be today,
and what paths, false and true,
shall I tread with you?

* * * * *

This poem was written in response to the Walk a Mile prompt at We Write Poems.

9 comments:

  1. I remember clearly, all these decases later, the first time I went inside a book; recall feeling surprised (& a little disappointed) to suddenly find myself, some indefinite time later, still sitting on the couch.

    Well done.

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  2. Ah yes, this is definitely what is so good about writing poetry or prose -- the sharing of stories, some that happened, some that did not....bt all true! (and I thank you for visiting my blog!)

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  3. Mr. Walker, I found myself nodding when you said it is through stories and poems that you walk in another's shoes! Right on. "Who shall I be today?" is the question for every day. Enjoyable poem!


    http://troublebeingstrong.blogspot.com/2010/06/mile-in-her-golf-shoes.html

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  4. Reading books, poems, essays—the ultimate armchair travelers. Love the ambling manner that this poem proceeds on its way.

    It is when you write:

    While my true ancestors,
    Scottish fullers all, walked
    on wool for their trade.

    —that the poem takes on a fuller meaning.
    Wonderful poem.


    Linda Frances
    http://word-painting.blogspot.com

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  5. Ron, Mary, Diane, and Linda, thank you all for commenting on my poem. I didn't stay true to the prompt in that I didn't write from the perspective of someone drastically different from myself, but I was inspired nonetheless.

    Ron, I love that loss of time inside of a book. Thank you.

    Mary, thanks. I'm glad you got my point about truth in fiction and non-fiction.

    Diana, thanks. I was having a hard time coming up with a last stanza; I'm glad it resonated.

    Linda, thanks. I love that word, "ambling" - maybe I'll work it into a revision. "Fuller meaning" - ha, ha, - thank you for getting the personal element I wove into the poem, and my little pun on my name.

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  6. Mr. Walker, thank you for the thoughtful comments on my blog. You are an insightful poet.

    About this poem - I have been reading two series of books by Alexander McCall Smith, who lives in Scotland and was raised in Zimbabwe. Didn't have a clue about Scotland's "one faith" tradition, and now you are writing about it!@

    Funny part is, I was raised Anglican (Mayflower stock, ugh) and understand that country - religion mindset. Great work.

    Amy

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  7. Amy, thank you for your kind comments and praise. I enjoyed reading your poems. Thank you for returning the favor. I hope I'm right about Scotland's one faith tradition - that might be poetic license.

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  8. That is the magic of words -- the ability to enter into the mind of someone else. I love the question embedded in your final stanza.

    Some of my ancestors are also Scottish, but I know very little about them. I've been wanting to research them.

    -Nicole

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  9. Nicole, thank you for your kind comments, particularly about that last stanza. I know my surname is Scottish in origin, but I don't know much more than that. I'll have to do some research as well.

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