Monday, June 8, 2009

Poetry Train Monday - 104 - I Can't Handle It All


My computer's still in the shop, so my blog schedule is a bit of a challenge right now.

Here's my latest found poem, taken from a diary entry from 1980 when I was in grade ten, my first year in high school. All through the school year I'd had a crush on Philip, a guy one grade level ahead of me. We were both in choir together.

This poem follows a memorable moment for me, one which helped me to decide that he was perhaps as interested in me as I was in him.



















I Can't Handle It All


I can see it in his eyes
Can sense it when I'm next to him
So much happened to me today
I can't handle it all

While walking to Math
He saw me
Backtracked through the crowd
Told me he'd see me
The last two periods in the afternoon

At the beginning of Study
He came right out to
The Music portable
To work on Romeo and Juliet
With me

Fate must have been with me

I learned from Mike
That I'd be getting last period off
Phil had last period off
I forgot Romeo and Juliet at home
We got our books and walked
To my house

I didn't have the key
I had to crawl through the window
And run to unlock the door
To let him in

He'd had to carry his sax
All the way to my house
The saxophone is heavy

We listened to Dave Brubeck
He got out his own saxophone
And played along to the record

We went in the kitchen
And worked on Romeo and Juliet
It's going to be funny
I can't wait

My sister came home
He helped her clean the fishbowl
He made himself and me
Some good British tea

He asked me to come see him perform
With the jazz band at 7
So Connie and I went
We came in just as
Phil was doing a solo

The movement caught his attention
His eyes flashed
As he looked around Mr. March
At me

His excitement to see me
Danced all over his face
Over the top of his music

When I waved at him
He gave me a wave back

When the band finished playing
He hurried over
To sit beside me

It's so wonderful

- Julia Smith, 2009 / original text June 6th, 1980

Ride the Poetry Train!

Akelamalu says Ah a poem about a first crush - sweet.

Marinela Enjoyed your poem :)

10 comments:

Akelamalu said...

Ah a poem about a first crush - sweet and I love the photo Julia. :)

Marinela said...

Enjoyed your poem :)

anthonynorth said...

A sweet poem.

HeatherK said...

It's nice that you have kept your journals. In my wandering moods I end up shredding things. I actually took a few of Emily's writing out the garbage today (without reading them) and shoved them among baby items in storage closet.

Lynne said...

Hi there Julia,
Memories... Enjoyed this glimpse into your writing when much younger and seeing that photo of you two! Touching.
(We met when I wrote under my nickname of "Gel" for Poetry train.)
My computer crashed and broke, besides internet issues so I've been gone from blogland a few months.) Hope yours are fixed soon! Good to see you.

Louise said...

I remember 1980 - but I was in 6th grade and I actually think that it was the year I kissed a boy for the first time. Brings back memories, wonder what he is doing now and where he is in the world...

I have awarded you the Lemonade Award ;) Please share the love when you have time:

http://louspages.blogspot.com/2009/06/lemonade-award.html

Unknown said...

Look at your cute self in high school! Enjoyed your poem, Julia.

Shelley Munro said...

Aw, this was great, Julia. It brought back some memories for me, too. :)

Anonymous said...

I still love that photo. ;-) Very cute poem, too.

gautami tripathy said...

A sweet poem about first love. First crush.

stuck in time