A Hometown Beat – An American Children’s Poem
Ever since we returned to the United States, I’ve been thinking about my sense of home. It’s been wonderful to read about the things that inspire everyone at home in the comments of the penguin ornament I’m giving away on Monday (and wow! Well over 100 comments!). Many of you are motivated by the views out your windows, your children, each other, and the special features that make your homes your own. It’s been wonderful to hear about these things because they’re the small beauties in life that we don’t necessarily think about until we don’t have them or someone like me forces it out. ;)
I know that my best writing comes when I’m sitting by the window. I don’t know why that is. Martin will watch me temporarily settle in half a dozen places with my laptop no matter where we are. And in the end, I always leave my desk and choose to work exactly where he knew I would go – by the window. There’s something about the view that inspires me. And when we moved to Germany, I worried that the rush of Berlin wouldn’t have the same relaxing effect as the quiet images I was used to in the United States where everything out my window was spread out and sunny.
I wrote this poem (inspired by Langston Hughes) the last time I was in my hometown. It’s a smaller community where you always run into someone you know, and the grocery store aisles are jammed with old acquaintances who stop to visit. You know the kind of place?
A HOMETOWN BEAT
When you are out on the town
and strolling down the street,
can you feel a hometown rhythm
bouncing in your feet?
And do you roam the roads
and hear a drum beat in your heart?
Or feel the music flowing
when the trumpets start?
If you hear the tambourine
or see folks boogie down,
I think that you are lucky
to live in such an upbeat town.
(Image by my talented friend Vica. Poem by Katie for Making This Home. As much as I love to share, all content is copyright protected. Please do not copy or publish without asking.)
Keep it green and simple with 2 more ideas:
December 7th, 2008 at 4:36 am
I enjoyed your poem very much. Hope your are enjoying your visit.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Your poem is really cute, Katie. And that photo is so pretty. I’d love to sit in it and write. :0)
December 7th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Katie, I wish I can respond to your poem in the same style, with a poem, but I will just say that it is lovely :)
And you made me look different to my photo :) very nice combination, thanks.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Thank you, ladies. It’s wonderful being in my hometown, and so completely different than Berlin. Vica, you know how much I love that picture you took! So glad I got to share it with everyone :).
Katie
December 7th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Love the poem and the picture.
Glad that you are enjoying your visit home. :)
December 8th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Welcome home. I hope your Spiritual Sunday has been a good one.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Great poem. My wife will love the window. I’m going to send her by to see it. We took pictures of windows when traveling in England. Thanks for posting on Spiritual Sundays.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Love the poem. I’m glad you shared it with us. My husband read your blog first and he said I would love the picture of the window. He was right.
Blessings,
Charlotte
December 8th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Love this photo! Great window and foilage!
December 8th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Your poem and picture are priceless, thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Kathi :)
December 8th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Ah, a woman after my own heart – I love poetry! What a great poem – thank you for sharing it!
December 10th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
What a great post – and I agree, views are so inspiring.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Beautiful picture of the window. Wow! And a really lovely poem. It reminds me of my tiny town. It’s just not a successful shopping trip to the Grocery Store unless you are stopped several times to pass the time of day with friends.
~a
December 11th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
The poem is so nice, and the window captures my heart as well.
God Bless,
Ginger
January 5th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Thank you for submitting your post to the modern families blog carnival.