Sunday, April 24, 2011

who i am--barest of bones

autobiography of a [insert applicable noun]

       age 5: count things. over and over. until they feel right.  meet new words.
       age 10:  count possessions. again and again. until i am soothed.  befriend new words.
       age 15:  count identities. repeat and repeat.  until they express life.  overuse hyperbole by exaggerating words.
       age 20:  count substances. inhale and exhale. until i cannot feel.  forget many words.
       age 25: count relationships. begin and end. until i find myself. manipulate words.
       age 30:  count knowledge.  rewind and fast forward. until i am soothed. appreciate new words.
      

22 comments:

Iself said...

Still trying to think of the best applicable noun :)

Liked this original approach to autobiography a lot.

Jinksy said...

That seems like a writer's life in a nutshell. Imagine what I'd be able to add from my Age 70 vantage point!LOL

Ron. said...

Great approach to encapsulation of ditinct periods, continuity of experience, changed over time. I wish I'da thought of that.

Olivia said...

What an insightful one!
Very well expressed.. :)

I liked what Jinksy said.. grinn!!

I am glad to meet my owlies again.. lols

Hugs xoxox

Anonymous said...

You can count on me to enjoy this. Love it.

Sweet Lily said...

That's cool and inspiring, rock on!

Amanda said...

age 35: count blessings. wishing it were the same for others. rediscover old words.

Oh wait. *sheepish*

Great post!

Lyn said...

Full circle..I love this brilliant poem! You'll never run out of words!!

brenda w said...

I love this piece...it's a great autobiographical exploration of the time's passage.

Cadan Henry said...

thank you for visiting. i also enjoy your words. look forward to returning often.

C

Gloria said...

This is such a creative response to the prompt...I'm glad you manipulate words...you do it well! ;)

Mr. Walker said...

Clever, fun, with some depth thrown in for good measure. I like the way it builds up by fives, with counting, and the take on words in each stanza.

singkittyle000 said...

*sigh*

I don't know why...that just made me breathe in deep
"aaaahhhh"
and breathe out deep
"aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh"

caaalm. calm. thanks!

Hyde Park Poetry Palace said...

incredible lists..you rock.

M. A. S. said...

I really like how you describe your evolving relationship with words, and perhaps your compulsion for counting.

Mike

Nicole said...

What a nice autobiography exercise.

The Madlab Post

Bubba said...

A splendid summary, T.F.

Ella said...

Great exercise, I look forward to more of your words~

Sherry Blue Sky said...

What an interesting take on the prompt. Wow, I could write a REALLY long poem, if I went by decades(hee hee). I enjoyed this poem.

Carrie Van Horn said...

You have the heart and soul of a writer Templeton! :-)

Raining Iguanas said...

Can't wait to return in five years. Fun twist with the prompt.
I am
smiling.

Anonymous said...

i like how you look at life from the point of view of counting.