Sunday, June 10, 2007

Poetry Train Monday - 5 - 100% Humidity

And it's raining, right now!

This is from my June 1987 burst of poetry writing.


100% Humidity


Why do I feel like
Running out of the house
When the rain explodes over the
Seeds clogging the drainpipe
Obscuring the view
A camera's blurred focus
Flashing me backwards

If foundations should be
Swept away
I want to feel it on my skin
Want the danger
Of being smashed against the rocks

I've never yearned for wings
To split the speed of sound
No, I was the kid
Who dipped her boots
In all the puddles
Watched as Mom
Pulled the stopper from the tub
Sat till the last swirl down the drain
Left me run aground
Turned willingly into a prune
Unready to leave the water's embrace

Perhaps I suspect
This collection of raindrops
Will wash me out to sea
My powerful tail
Will kick off the cumbersome garment
My sisters will dress me in pearls and coral
My hair will sway with the tide
And I'll dance with the mermen
At King Neptune's court


Copyright 1987 Julia Smith

20 comments:

Akelamalu said...

Love the poem but especially these lines

My sisters will dress me in pearls and coral
My hair will sway with the tide
And I'll dance with the mermen
At King Neptune's court

Beautiful!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Julia, that's neat. I like how there is this fear of being washed down the drain, but then it turns to longing to be outside.

Lovely!

Anonymous said...

I love your poem, Julia. And I love the lines akelamalu mentioned, too. I can picture that scene vividly in my mind.

Rhian said...

"If foundations should be
Swept away / I want to feel it on my skin / Want the danger /
Of being smashed against the rocks"

Loved that!!! it complete evokes how nature can wrap us up in dare devil excitement to the point where you want to join it by flinging yourself off the cliffs.

Heather Harper said...

Okay, I'm ready for my pool pass now. :)

Ann Aguirre said...

I agree.

"My sisters will dress me in pearls and coral
My hair will sway with the tide
And I'll dance with the mermen
At King Neptune's court"

That bit is fabulous.

Red Garnier said...

This is so romantic, I feel like flying, Julia!! BEAUTIFUL!!

I liked it ALL, and didn't know what to pick for favorite. Maybe this:

Perhaps I suspect
This collection of raindrops
Will wash me out to sea

I feel like being washed away I guess! =)

Carol said...

Oh, nice. Swimming with the mermen dressed in pearls and coral. I remember wanting to be a mermail as a kid, pretending, in the swimming pool, to have a mermaid tail. Carol

Unknown said...

Awesome. Really. I totally just get this.

Anna J. Evans said...

Beautiful poem :). I loved it. It made my brain tingle, and that's always a great sensation, lol.

really enjoyed it,

anna j evans

Miss Frou Frou said...

Julia - great poem again... I too was/ am the girl who is willing to turn into a prune... I'd live in the bath if I had my way.

It's raining here too... a very cold.. my favourite time of year.

Amy Ruttan said...

Very cool poem Julia. It's so hot here I wish I could be washed away!

Ann said...

Great poem, lovely images. I was a real water baby growing up, I remember opening my presents and running to my best friends house to jump into her pool. Now, however, it's the mountains that speak to me, but there are truly lucky places where mountains meet the sea (heaven *g*).

Rebecca said...

Love this bit;

"If foundations should be
Swept away
I want to feel it on my skin
Want the danger
Of being smashed against the rocks"

And this:

"Turned willingly into a prune
Unready to leave the water's embrace"


You love the water, eh?

loopdlu said...

i liked all of the water images, they were compimentary and conflicting at the same time. great poem!

Dr. Bill Emener said...

Hi Julia,
Great poem... I love it. The visualizations it surfaces are awesome.
I hope you have others to share.
Thanks!
Bill

Kelly said...

I showed your poem to some friends who are suffering from summer.

Dewey said...

I think we were the same kind of kids.

And this is a wonderful poem!

Ire said...

"If foundations should be
Swept away
I want to feel it on my skin
Want the danger
Of being smashed against the rocks"

Very beautiful! loved your poem.

Dara Edmondson said...

Very nice. Wish I could do peotry that well!