Day 7 Napowrimo

I wrote today's poem in response to the Day 7 prompt on napowrimo.net

"And last but not least, we’re taking it easy with today’s (optional) prompt. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem titled “Wish You Were Here” that takes its inspiration from the idea of a postcard. Consistent with the abbreviated format of a postcard, your poem should be short and should play with the idea of travel, distance, or sightseeing. If you’re having trouble getting started, perhaps you’ll find some inspiration in these images of vintage postcards."

My poem takes the form of an epistolary or a letter poem. I'm writing to my past self. I'm not too sure about how successful this work is in becoming an epistolary poem, but it was cathartic to write.

Dear BJP,

I wish you were here when you were here,

that you had loved this place when it was yours.

Hiked Ranier and Hood and St. Helens and told

everyone, anyone who would listen that you did it,

that you started living as you were living. I wish

you had realized the beauty in every moment

and not just when you commuted across I-205 bridge.

I wish you had lived, so when someone asks me

on my deathbed, what are my regrets? I could say,

I regret nothing. But this isn’t true. I wish I had started

living the life I had, that I had touched danger and death

a little sooner, had been shaken awake, maybe slapped

or backhanded hard enough to loosen my milk teeth.

Everything worthy in my life has come from when

I shook myself, my body, my soul, rattled it

like coins in a cup, scared myself back into myself

on the cliff that outlooks one of the most beautiful

gorges on earth, with Hood in the east, with the river

below and the Chinook salmon churning in its deeps.

With hard love,

BJM

Vintage postcard of Mt. Rainier in Washington State