first day of school today
my nephew wore a soft hoodie
he hugged me near white roses
while my old friend sang
and played a blue guitar
i stood here before
and before
but i’m not the same
drove downtown today
my daughter wore black converse
she walked upstairs to therapy
i watched the wind
dance in the trees
i stood here before
and before
but i’m not the same
“remember me?” he asked today
spine still bent, fresh new boots
i gave him a notebook
with a kitten cover
and he added it to his cart
i stood here before
and before
but i’m not the same
none of us are
*44/100: For the next 100 days, I’ll be writing and posting a poem every day.
**All photos are mine, taken with an Olympus E-M1 MarkII and edited with Lightroom Classic
Do you remember?
I do. It’s the same old homeless man I’ve helped many times before. He actually has been getting some help and I’m always happy to see he’s still trying to keep going. He asked me for paper because he likes to draw.
I worked with a homeless organization years ago and it never occurred to me how many of them might like pens and paper. After that, I always keep cheep journals in my car to pass out.
Great work Bridgette. 💕
Being the homebody I am these days, I don’t get many opportunities to do those kinds of things anymore. That’s a great idea.
Beautiful memories.
Thank you. It’s interesting how all three things happen all the time (first day of schools, driving my daughter to therapy, helping the same homeless man), yet none of the people in those moments is the same. I’m not the mom who dropped my girl off on her first day of school and the auntie who showed up yesterday with a smile and her camera.
Lovely memories. None of us stay the same. I am not the same guy in some ways I was in 1980. That’s a good thing! 😂
So true. All of that happened in one day, yesterday, and it reminded me how often I do all those things (first days of school, drive my daughter to therapy, and help the same homeless man). Yet also how different I am in all those places. And yes, you are right, nobody wants to stay stagnant!
❤️ Have a great weekend, Bridgette.
You too! Hope you get a break in the heat. We’ve got a breeze tonight, finally.
it did cool down to the 90s but the low 100s are returning dry soon. Those are normal temps.
We pass through recurring moments of pleasure and pain, that sometimes feel like Déjà vu. They accumulate as we move on, leaving us a little changed each time. Life goes on. For all of us.
That refrain is the key: i stood here before / and before /but i’m not the same.
There is an echo here of Pablo Neruda’s lines:
The same night whitening the same trees.
We, of that time, are no longer the same.
Exactly this. Thank you! All of that happened yesterday, but each moment was a reminder of how I’ve changed, and how the other person has changed too. It felt bigger than usual yesterday.
so true!
None of us are the same… that’s deep, and kind of fitting considering what this weekend is.
What’s this weekend? And, yes, it’s not really that big of a message, but it sort of hit me yesterday when I did three things that I do a lot, but I’m not the same as I used to be in those situations.
I just meant the big birthday we were talking about in the other comment, and how life is always changing and such…
Bridgette, the first day of school, work and relationships turns us into something different. Society trys to change us but that little child inside remains the same, never lose them grab hold with both hands. Well done Regards to all 😊
Aww! Thank you. I’m trying to care for my inner child a lot these days. She was really anxious and I tell her all the time I’ll do my best to protect her.