Old Enough
I get up early cause I know Pearl will make biscuits, eggs, and crisp bacon and let me lick the warm salty lard with my fingers from the skillet once it cools off. I watch her go "mmmm, mmmm" and squeeze her lips into a smile. She starts the percolator for Paw-Paw, pours me a big glass of ice cold milk and stands over me saying, "drink it down." Pearl always makes hard things seem easy, not so good days feel okay and I wish she were my Momma. We don't look the same but if she asked me to be her child I'd be the luckiest girl alive. She pulls my fingers out of my mouth, " you get worms now, hear me?" I most definitely don't want worms so I am really trying to stop chewing my nails. Pearl's nails are always clean, trimmed, with a clear, shiny gloss. Her lips are full, ripe, like a fresh dark purple plum. She has fine teeth, big hazel eyes and wears tiny gold studs in each earlobe. I want earrings, but the thought of a needle being pushed though my ear doesn't sound like it's worth the trouble, at least right now. I would like some tap shoes though. Pearl laughs when I tell her about my dancing dreams. She says I have happy feet cause I am wiggling my toes all the time. When Paw-Paw goes out on the porch to smoke his pipe I always show him my latest moves. After breakfast, Pearl starts washing our sheets and says there is a dust bunny under my bed. I don't want to look. I scare myself enough just looking at hobos. Anyway, back to the railroad. Just can't help myself. I don't curse, smoke, steal or commit sins that I know of, but I can tell you right here and right now, hobos teach and preach more than any one body needs. I confess I became on friendly terms with a man named Hank. He'd wave and say, " Hey, May! Keep smilin' kiddo!" and he'd sometimes be laying in the shade right calm when I snuck up to see him. He always looked sad just before he caught sight of me. Soon as my big trap started jabbering he'd change like a chameleon. That is, he'd try to make life seem so fine. I new he was hungry. I started taking biscuits on the days I figured he'd be around and he was always obliged. Just like the song, Mr. Bojangles, I began to show off my dancing moves to cheer ole Hank up. How is it we just know someone isn't happy? He laughed and smiled; in my mind he had a harmonica or some groovy steps he'd show me, but he never did. When the rest of the jumpers, as he referred to his fellow train hopping hobos as, came around he'd shoo me off. He told me in a kind, yet tough way to go on home. Where Hank went I never knew; in my heart I liked to hold it was somewhere much better than the hard ass dirt he slept on, full of God only knows what, and lonesome nights with an empty belly and mosquitos. Back home, I'm hosed down. Pearl gives me a hard stare; I am guessing she is guessing where the heck I've been. I am full of cockleburs, red from the sun. She leaves Paw-Paw and me my favourite, whipped cream and orange jello. I always hug her when she heads back to the place she calls home; I will make sure that this summer I follow Pearl like a cat stalks, curious that is, not aiming to find trouble. Late, when Paw-Paw is loving his heap of second helpings from supper, I ease out from my bedroom and stand right in front of the late night news. Paw-Paw's old Grandpa eyes widen and I start dancing; I pretend to tap dance and point my toes toward the ceiling fan, clap my hands and fall onto the thick, Persian patterned carpet. Paw-Paw laughs with his belly bouncing. I guess for now, summer is getting off to a good start. I slink down the long hallway and slither into bed. I wonder where Hank is now; Memphis, Baton Rouge, New Orleans? By now, hobos, I mean, jumpers, could be anywhere. I say out loud as if I am praying, "Goodnight jumper Hank; goodnight Pearl". I wiggle my toes one more time, roll over toward the moon shining through my window and smile.
Comments (20)
Wonderful narrative poem, D.K. I feel like I went to Hawaii with you!
Wow! I love this Top Story and your Mum’s gorgeous photo too. ‘Meet me in Hawai’i the first of May On a sandy shore of a turquoise sea Greet me with “aloha” and wear a lei’🏝️💛 My fleeting visit to Hawaii was fabulous. I’m racing to finish my second travel story & will catch up on your other trips soon 🙃.
Congrats on Top Story! :)
I haven't been to Hawaii in 39 years. You brought a bit of my time there back. Thank you. Aloha!
I love this. 🫶🏼Have been daydreaming about taking a vacation there, so the vividness really appeals and hits home! Great work!
This is beautiful and quite sensory. Great job.
Great job!
So perfectly evocative! ❣️
Oh, this is beautiful! Made me feel like I was in Hawaii 🥹 I've been dreaming of going back to visit for awhile now. I love the way you incorporated the beautiful and lyrical Hawaiian words. Amazing Villanelle!
Gosh this was so wonderfully colourful! I loved it! Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congrats on your top story.
I loved this poem, DK. The language and the pacing felt like paradise!
Well done! Love the soundings of this.
Beautiful villanelle! And congrats on the Top Story, absolutely stunning as always.
always wanted to see Hawaii. Now, more than ever. congratulations on TS
What a lovely villanelle!
Well..this is just a lovely lovely villanelle...I love how delicate it feels and sounds and so what my head conjures of Hawaii...love the image you shared by your mother too! Well done! and congrats on Top Story!
Thank you so much, a wonderful villanelle, emphasising the wonders of Lei Day
Lovely. What a treat. I can feel the breeze and the crash of the waves.
Your villanelle sings! I'd love to meet you in Hawai’i. Since I was a child I've wanted to travel there, especially to experience it as the locals do. Your poem makes me long to travel. Your mom's picture is lovely, too!