Joan Jett on cassette
softball summers
of field-dirt-crusted scabs
on my knees
and thighs
sliding into second
my dad said I never did it quite right
because there should be more on my thighs
if I were
a cherry Tootsie Roll Pop
with a ‘tude
sneaking gin and Jack Daniels
and smokes
dreaming of VW Super Beetles with glitter in the paint
or a ‘64 convertible Mustang, cherry red too, of course—
and The Outsiders
fast-forward
in audible
relief, mom and dad,
glad
I didn’t turn out wielding
a six-string and blowing sugar pops
but still I do
Love Rock ‘n Roll
Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner
ah i grew up again in your words...haha...we played a lot of field baseball and had scabbed knees....joan jett...ha, nice...the audible relief...yeah i think my parents had that as well...cool verse...
ReplyDeleteThose were the days...as they say...thanks Bri!
DeleteLove your ending. You still have that tough side to you even though you grew up. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been told that before...a lot...recently...ha...thanks Gretchen. I really enjoyed your piece for the prompt as well.
DeleteGreat journey through childhood... from sports to sneaking drinks... Joan Jett brings back lots of memories.
ReplyDeleteI think I wore that tape out...thanks for commenting Laurie :)
DeleteI love the recollections ~ I believe somehow we do find our own unique journey, and its not as bad as our parents feared its going to be ~
ReplyDeleteI think you're right in many respects...thanks much Grace.
DeleteExcellent memories put together in a way that had me recalling my own. Loved the retro feel to this with the Outsiders and Joan Jett. Really liked the way you fast forwarded the cassette in the last verse.
ReplyDeleteMy 12 year old recently read The Outsiders and that fired up a lot of memories...a perfect prompt to at least make mention...thanks so much ND--always appreciate your words :)
DeleteI loved all of your reminscing here..love those softball summers...and I remember them too. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteThose were some fun times...smiles back...
DeleteBrilliant...just love it and rock n roll...sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Di! Loved your piece for the prompt too.
Deletesuch great and vividly painted nostalgia...i like to think that the closing lines mean that whilst we haven't ended up quite where we expected in life, we can still have dreams, in fact, it is VITAL that we do
ReplyDeleteAmen. Great prompt Stu, as always! Thanks so much.
DeleteChildhood and scabbed knees? It was a badge of office! Worn with pride.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat sir.
Deletesmiles..so cool...i had a vw beetle as my first car..oh it spoke of freedom...smiles...wonderful memories..and yeah..i too love rock n roll still...smiles
ReplyDeleteI really wanted one with the glitter paint for awhile...ha...fun stuff :)
DeleteVery cool. You painted the picture so clearly with your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks David, glad you stopped by!
Delete..you must be my daughter's age..fun images..my first car was a 1965 beetle and I still love rock and roll..:)
ReplyDeleteWhy stop? :-)
DeleteLoved your "child to teen to adult" approach.Great job painting a picture of your youth. Glad to know you still love rock and roll (so do I)!!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Ginny :-)
DeleteI SO LOVE THIS POEM! Sigh. Those were the days, my friend........
ReplyDeleteahhhh yes...indeed they were :)
Deletefamiliar imagery, great snapshots with grit and sparkle. rock on =)
ReplyDelete'Grit and Sparkle' my new band name ;)
DeleteRock on!! Keep a bit of that rebel in you. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't seem to get rid of it ;)
DeleteThis poem reminded me of when as a child I wanted to play a lot of baseball, but in Italy it is not easy to look beyond football.
ReplyDeleteI would have missed being able to play it. Thanks for stopping by Matteo.
DeleteJoan Jett wasn't really big over here - except for that song! I loved it - my Dad didn't. Odd to think that only a few months later he didn't turn a hair when Iron Maiden were blasting out of my room!!!
ReplyDelete'...Hear the rime of the ancient mariner...' now you're taking me back again... :-)
DeleteCasettes! Do kids today even know what those are?!
ReplyDeleteHa! I don't think they do. :)
Delete