Pitter Patter

note 4 july1016 126

THE PITTER PATTER OF JAKE’S PAWS ON THE HARDWOOD FLOORS, SHOCKS ME BACK TO REALITY FROM WHERE MY MIND REVIEWS THE KALEIDOSCOPE OF ENDLESS IMAGES THAT WEAVE THE YEARS OF MY  LIFE TOGETHER IN TAWDRY

FASHION.

THE COUNTLESS BIRTHDAY PARTIES, CHRISTMASES, EASTERS AND RELIGIOUS BENCHMARKS ALL ASSIMILATE INTO A MAZE OF PICTURES THAT FLICKER LIKE CARTOON STRIPS —

BLENDING TOGETHER MAKING THEM INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM ONE ANOTHER.

THEN THE KALEIDOSCOPE SLOWS IMPERCEPTIBLY AND REVEALS MORE IMAGES BUT THIS TIME IN CRISP CLARITY.

I’M NOW ON A JOURNEY TO MY YOUTH!

HOW THESE IMAGES AND EXPERIENCES BURST FORTH IN SUCH DETAIL – ALMOST AS IF I’M TRANSPORTED THRU SOME TIME TUNNEL- BACK TO THE TIME OF HULA HOOPS; PLAY DOUGH AND COLOR FORMS! MY BRAIN EXPOSES MY YOUNGER DAYS IN SOME MAGICAL WAY — FREEING THE MIND OF ALL CLUTTER AND FOCUSING RICHLY ON THE RELEVANCE AND IMMEDIACY OF THESE TIMES SO LONG AGO.

PERHAPS, IT WAS BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DID BACK THEN WERE OUR FIRSTS

OUR FIRST BIKE RIDE; OUR BRAND NEW TRAIN SET OUR FIRST CAR AND FIRST DATE.    PERHAPS THIS IS WHY, EVERYTHING THAT COMES LATER SEEMS TO GET RELEGATED TO A SECONDARY ORBIT.  OR — AS WE AGE — OUR OWN HARD DRIVE HAS SO MUCH CLUTTER – THAT IT BECOMES ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT TO REWIND EVERYTHING IN SUCH TRANSPARENCY.

NOW, AS JAKE STOPS WALKING, A SILENCE DESCENDS IN MY HOME, LEAVING A DESIRE TO HAVE THIS VOID ONCE AGAIN FILLED WITH THE PITTER PATTER OF LITTLE FEET!

 

J.L. LOBEL   1.25.2016

3 thoughts on “Pitter Patter”

  1. Joe,
    This is a fine poem. I like your extended metaphor of the kaleidoscope and the image of the time tunnel, along with your idea of the impact of “first” experiences. You strike some universal chords in this poem. The play on the pitter-patter of little feet at the end and the wonderful illustration set it off nicely.
    Tom Kersting

  2. It’s so true how sound, music, colors, etc. can send us back in time reliving the past via pristine memory. This poem carries a sweetness that is evident in much of your work. Thank you, Joe, for this journey.

  3. I love the “pictures that flicker like cartoon strips”…
    So many wonderfully relatable images and sentiments. Thank you for sharing the journey.

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