Poetry Drop
My good friend Craig Stewart over at Written Works does this thing called poetry drop. It’s where he shares a poem and explains the meaning behind the words. As a poet, I am naturally drawn to read. This week's drop is Poetry: #28 The Choices of Life.
I shared some new material while out with Craig at Jiranis Open Mic in Manassas on Thursday. It was personal. Some were dark, and some were uplifting. At the end of the night, I was sitting with local artist Ryan Blaine discussing the lyrics to his song Breathe Out. Some of the other performers stopped and paid compliments to me on the way out. I took this as high praise. One gentleman performed Gunga Din by Rudyard Kipling and the other Blackbird by the Beatles. Both were terrific.
It reminded me that poetry is supposed to be shared. And that maybe my friend Craig was on to something with these poetry drops. Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Here is my Poetry Drop.
Poetry Drop: I rub her feet.
I rub her feet.
I rub her feet because the weight of the world passes through her shoulders down her thighs and into her heels.
I rub her feet because she carried my world. She teaches little feet when to step forward and when to wait patiently.
I rub her feet because she picks up my slack. When I forget my way, she walks me back.
Her heels are callous and her toes are soft. Tan lines and tattoos paint her feet with palm trees and hearts.
I rub her feet because gravity is heavy and her feet are small. Pressing back against the force, releases the weight of her day.
I rub her feet because in a world that pushes us down, we all need a partner to push back in the places we can’t reach.
I press into her heel and she talks about her day. The moments she can’t control and the moments where she loses control. The moments she guides and the moments she was guided.
I rub her feet to listen.
I rub her feet to learn.
I rub her feet. Because she is my wife. I am her husband. And I love her.
I rub her feet, because it’s the least I could do.
My thoughts on the Poem
I was lying in bed reflecting on the day. She was asleep next to me. I was sitting there thinking about our conversation from earlier, how she started out a ball of fire but walked away a marshmallow. The world is unforgiving. And people struggle. Talking helps. She was amazing. I thought about how much I loved her. And I wanted to show her. So I got up from bed, walked to the bathroom, and sat in the folding chair in the corner. I opened the Word app on my phone, selected the file poems 2023, and wrote it down in the simplest terms I could think of. Explaining the event and how I felt.
I love this poem because it is a memory. It’s a moment chiseled in stone of the love my wife and I share. When I rub her feet, I share my love through action. When she shares her day, her good and bad moments, she is sharing her love through trust. When things get tough I look back to remind me of the blessings of life.
What are your thoughts on the poem?
Comments help create conversation. The world is unforgiving. And people struggle. Talking helps.
You can watch the performances mentioned in the Drop below. I perform at :40, Blackbird is performed at :58, Kipling is performed at 1:07, and Ryan performs at 1:57.
I encourage you to check out the whole show. The amount of local talent this community has is impressive. Let’s support them.
And take a moment to subscribe to Written Works. If you like creative, thoughtful writing, you won’t be disappointed. Craig and I are starting a Podcast called What the Book? A podcast about books from folks who know books. Available on Written Works soon.