Poem: "Packing for the Long Haul"
This poem came out of the May 5, 2009 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from ellenmillion and sponsored by janetmiles.
Packing for the Long Haul
I am sitting on my suitcase when the angel arrives.
Iridescent feathers fluff. I hear a faint titter.
“You’ll never get all of that to fit.”
I have packed and unpacked and repacked
until I am sick of myself.
I have taken out and put back Forethought ten times
and Assertiveness twelve.
The Art set is scattered all over the floor
and I can’t even recall if I left any of it in.
Lore is in there, all right, a giant lump under my butt.
“Give me,” I say, “just another moment.”
I bounce on the suitcase and barely manage
to close the latch, pinching my finger in the process.
“I’m impressed,” says the angel.
“I know I’m forgetting something,” I grumble
as I lug my suitcase toward my next life.
“Don’t worry, you can pick it up when you get there!”
I am halfway down the chute before I remember
that I’ve forgotten to pack any Patience.
Packing for the Long Haul
I am sitting on my suitcase when the angel arrives.
Iridescent feathers fluff. I hear a faint titter.
“You’ll never get all of that to fit.”
I have packed and unpacked and repacked
until I am sick of myself.
I have taken out and put back Forethought ten times
and Assertiveness twelve.
The Art set is scattered all over the floor
and I can’t even recall if I left any of it in.
Lore is in there, all right, a giant lump under my butt.
“Give me,” I say, “just another moment.”
I bounce on the suitcase and barely manage
to close the latch, pinching my finger in the process.
“I’m impressed,” says the angel.
“I know I’m forgetting something,” I grumble
as I lug my suitcase toward my next life.
“Don’t worry, you can pick it up when you get there!”
I am halfway down the chute before I remember
that I’ve forgotten to pack any Patience.