It’s week 25 of the paint chip poetry prompts. I feel good about keeping this going and not giving up. Those of you who have participated have been my motivation. Thank you for playing along.
The Challenge
This week’s challenge is an opportunity for nostalgia as we write about “My Hometown.” Unless, of course, you are one of those who still live in your original hometown and never plan to move away. That could be a whole other angle on this prompt. You could write about yesterday.
There are some great words in the line up today, and no weird phrases, so my challenge is to use all seven of these words in your homegrown poem: jasmine, spotlight, fog, bubblegum, pyramid, scarecrow, and sand. You can rhyme or not; it’s up to you. Free verse is a great option for sharing fond memories, but some of these words have wonderful rhyme choices.
My Poem
My Old Hometown The first thing that comes to mind when I think of my childhood hometown is dusty dirt roads with soil finer than sand at the seashore. Pedaling my banana seat bike up hills and down, dodging dust devils and pot holes. Warm wind in my hair and sun on my face, chewing bubblegum and loving life. Rural life was peaceful and blessed. I remember the garden in our back yard, with fresh veggies ripening on the vine. We didn't grow jasmine or sweet William, no daisies, just beans and carrots, tomatoes and dill. We didn't have a scarecrow to keep away the birds, but our cute, noisy little dog did the trick. Tucked away in the mountains, our wee town was miles from civilization. Coming home from the big city meant traversing a winding road socked in by fog. There might be a deer around any curve, or a coyote slinking across the road. I remember one time we'd been to a scary movie and I imagined nightmares in every rock and crag. We had no great wonders of the world in my hometown, nothing to rival the pyramids or attract tourists, although the San Diego Wild Animal Park was just down the road a piece, where a spotlight shone on the zebras and antelope at night, and you could see them from the roadside turnout. Our closest claim to fame. Fond memories of my California hometown, good friends and church ties; Collier Park pool and Dos Picos Park; the home of the Bulldogs, our high school mascot. These images make me smile wistfully. I often wish we hadn't moved away when I was just a tween, to subsist in an equally small, rural town that will never seem like home.
Your Turn
Now it’s your turn to write about your hometown, or maybe someone else’s. Or perhaps you want to wax philosophic about hometowns in general? The choice is your. But remember, use all seven paint chip words. Post your poem in the comments, or post it on your blog and share a link in the comments. If you post on your blog, I’d appreciate a link back here so others can find the prompt and join the fun.
Shared for Open Link Night at dVerse Poets Pub.