My ‘That Was I’ poem inspired by the ‘That Was I’ poem by Ted Kooser. Written August 23rd, 2019.

 

i was the little girl you saw with her nose stuck in books,

whose mother did her hair,

in skirts and lace socks,

the neighbor elderly women became nannies for me and my siblings,

the four of us growing our collection of different brands of toys,

we ate egg sandwiches,

and held hands during family prayers. that was i. 

 

and that was i, on the move to palmyra,

adopting two dogs,

and at the winding bike trails at the park

pumping water for my dog,

and getting ice cream from the tiny town square.

the dilapidated red barn and the promise of horses,

and home-hatched eggs.

i was the girl climbing trees, who lead adventures through the woods,

and still the master at hide-and-seek.

yes, that was i. 

 

that was i,

at the lakehouse and the new house,

i finally had my own room,

the one who no longer read for fun,

whose dog is greying, 

burning candles in the dark,

yes, that was i.