Friday, June 15, 2012

Poetry Friday: Two Places

I'm traveling today, going between the place where I live most of the year and the place where I spend several weeks traveling in the summer. The first place, Haiti, the place I'm leaving, is where I've spent 15 years of my life and two-thirds of my married life, given birth twice, experienced some of the most beautiful and definitely the most terrible moments of my life. The other place, the United States, my destination, is printed on my passport, and it's the home of many of the people I love most in the world.

These two places are not even the only ones that have made me who I am - I'm leaving out my African childhood, my British high school years, my summer in France. But for today, two places are enough.


where we are (for edward field)
by Gerald Locklin.

i envy those
who live in two places:
new york, say, and london;
wales and spain;
l.a. and paris;
hawaii and switzerland.

there is always the anticipation
of the change, the chance that what is wrong
is the result of where you are. i have
always loved both the freshness of
arriving and the relief of leaving. with
two homes every move would be a homecoming.
i am not even considering the weather, hot
or cold, dry or wet: i am talking about hope.

I posted this poem once before back in 2008.

The Poetry Friday roundup is here today.

8 comments:

Linda B said...

Your life sounds fascinating, Ruth. But this poem, I imagine, can also be about the places of the heart, at least I read it that way today. I love the clipped way he puts it all down, & it's true about the leaving & the arriving, isn't it? Hope is there both ways. I hope your travels include good times with your loved ones.

Mary Lee said...

I love this:
" i have
always loved both the freshness of
arriving and the relief of leaving."

That's where I'm at right now with my visit to my childhood home...

Tara said...

Yes...it is about hope. One is always hopeful with new places, a change of scene...I think the soul needs this.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Yes, I know that sense of hope too; always thinking the other/next place will be better. Kind of like the school year and then summer. As long as it keeps going round...

Author Amok said...

Hi, Ruth. I am feeling your poem today. I grew up spending summers in England, where my grandparents lived. I have not been there in 16 years, but feel deeply connected. This summer, I will be taking my kids for the first time. Good luck on your travels!

Robyn Hood Black said...

Thank you for sharing this, Ruth - and warmest wishes as you travel back and forth. I imagine there are still many emotions with each transition.

Jessica Stock said...

I really love this poem, and I agree that your life is fascinating (you do plan to write a book one day, yes?) . . . I hope you have a good time in the States, Ruth. I wish I could see you!

rena traxel said...

ppI love the last line. So true.