Day 30 NaPoWriMo

And now, the final prompt. Artist and writer Joe Brainard is probably best remembered for his 1970 poem/memoir I Remember. The book consists of multiple statements beginning with the phrase “I remember,” including:

I remember my first erections. I thought I had some terrible disease or something.

I remember the only time I ever saw my mother cry. I was eating apricot pie.

I remember when my father would say “Keep your hands out from under the covers” as he said goodnight. But he said it in a nice way.

I remember when I thought that if you did anything bad, policemen would put you in jail.

Today’s prompt asks you to write a poem incorporating at least three “I remember” statements. This invocation of memory seems a fitting way to end our month together.

Good luck, and happy writing

So here is my attempt:

Red Rover game Wikipedia

I  Remember Being Ten

I remember the first taste of plums, bitter black
skin shielding  the sweetness in the flesh.

I remember winters in childhood, the temperature  sub zero,
the toboggan swift over snow, slam of spine against hard impact.

I remember the flash and flicker of black and white test patterns that filled
the television screen, dartboard geometrics, Indian head in full dress

I remember street games, the call and response, Red Rover, dibs and eeny
meeny counts, the sewer grate chosen as  first base, impatient warnings: CAR!

I remember Granny:  whispered warnings agains  opening the door to strangers,
Scotch mints in her pocket, her conspiratorial shush, finger firm against lips,

her sensible Oxford shoes.

Carol A. Stephen
April 30, 2012