POMprompt

POMprompt # 18

‘I don’t belong here.’

Ravyne Hawke Reminded me today that I have not done a POMprompt in a while, and she is RIGHT. It’s been since July. My goodness.

I guess you could say I have been busy. Life came along and turned me upside down and I have not quite recovered. But I have learned how resilient I am. How strong I am. And just how much poetry and my poetry community lift me up each day. For that, I am so grateful.

So here I sit. Where — you might ask?

On the couch belonging to the ex-boyfriend, who I LEFT back in July.

With my little doggie sleeping at my feet and my fluffball cat sleeping next to me. (They still live here — I do not.)

And I do not belong here.

The ex took off for a few days to another state. He let me know as he was pulling out of the driveway here and since I want my pets to be cared for while he’s gone, I packed a bag and came over here to stay for a few days. It was all very sudden and I do not do well when shoved out of my comfort zone. I prefer to take my own mental health risks, thank you.

And I really, really do not belong here. This is not my home anymore. Things look so different yet still the same. Everything smells different. I couldn’t find the remote. I don’t want to bathe here. I don’t want to eat the food or use the toilets or loiter for too long in any one spot. It is going to be a stressful few days. I may not sleep. I may sleep the whole time.

So I ask you, dear poets — when is the last time you found yourself in a place you did not belong? Perhaps you have felt this way before? What was it like? Put yourself there for a moment and tell me what you see. How you feel. What does it smell like or sound like? Let your reader FEEL this space and your discomfort. Let your reader sit with you in that moment and empathize, connect, understand.

This time you won’t be alone.

Your poetry prompt for POMprompt # 17 is “I don’t belong here.” Now, let’s see that deep, meaningful work!

For those of you who have never done a POMpromt, you can find the previous ones on the POMprompt tab of The POM publication. Here is the link for the post that tells how to participate — PLEASE follow the directions and save our editorial staff the eye-rolls and sighs :) We have so much to do it gets hard making all the corrections and messaging — just re-read the rules part ok? It’s about halfway down the page:

Thanks y’all — and wish me luck and all that for the next few days. I really am quite uncomfortable. 🙁 I guess I’ll sleep here on the couch? 😬

Poetically yours,

Christina M. Ward, EIC of The POM

Samantha Lazar and Arjan Tupan — heads up. Submissions coming! Make sure the #POMprompt tag is used and this post is linked at the bottom of the entries :)