Moment, Not Yet a Poem
I had a Moment today
of reflection,
brief,
so subtle as to almost
go unacknowledged,
sitting in the back of my mind,
on the drive
from work to the babysitter
enough to keep me from filling the space
with cell phone calls to friends
Met a woman today in passing
we paused briefly,
seeing something familiar
in each other's faces,
I seeing I
She seeing She
Her seeing where she's been
Me seeing where I can go...
we shake similarly soft
and cinnamon colored hands.
Remembering, she reaches up about to touch my hair,
but knowing it would be too intimate
for strangers,
I look at her and see close cropped curls,sprinkled with silver
recognize my future self.
She remembers
when she was some version of me,
I think to myself,
that I can't wait until I can afford
a navy blazer and
shiny red patent leather loafers,
knowing that one day,
years from now,
I will be sitting at my desk
in new shoes, and remember
this exact moment.
Mamas:
I met a school Principal, today while running an errand as a favor for another teacher in my department, and she smiled at me when I came in the building, and when she saw me leaving, she introduced herself and asked me if I was a first year teacher and said, "It's funny, how you are on your way in, and I am on my way out because I am retiring this year, but no one really believes that I will do it, and I used to have long hair like that you know...and it just made me think about it all...Do you know what I mean?" And I said, "Yes, I do...I will be you one day." and she smiled and nodded, and said that she was going to stay home with her grandchildren, because it was time, and she looked at me in this way like she was at ease now, because she knew it would all be taken care of.
****Not really a poem, just kind of a note to self for future use in writing, as I use this blog as my main journal. When I write a "real" journal, I have a tendency to throw away what I have written because I get too self critical. Also it makes it easier for me to relax and just write when I am addressing it to the mamas.
"But is it my manner that keeps her from hearing, or the threat of a message that her life may change?"
-Audre Lorde
I enjoy the idea of passing the torch. Bittersweet.
everyday moments.
thank you for sharing it.
Is it because you wrote so eloquently about how lives touch each other in such profound ways? In the most unexpected ways? How all of women are really so alike? Thanks you for sharing this. You never cease to touch my heart.
We need to feel the cheer and inspiration of meeting each other, we need to gain the courage and fresh life that comes from the mingling of congenial souls, of those working for the same ends.
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin
about my first paycheck which has not gotten here yet, because first thing on my list is to order a piece of your jewelry which I have been waiting so long to do! A reward to myself!
Glad to see you checking in with such a powerful observation from your life.
We are connected to the women who go before us. Sometimes that is hard to remember; or maybe it is just hard for all of us to admit.
thanks for letting us be a fly on the wall and yes i'm tearing up Freedamomma! so touching. honor the elders, honor the young people, honor the teachers. print this off, seal it up, open it in or ten years - it will continue to be inspirational!
I like that, it's nice. It's really tender, and touching. 
the moment that you mentioned when you were a child and saw a woman with dreadlocks, and saw yourself in the future.
the mommas understand because for a while I was thinking it was weird of me to notice the moment, but I really cherish stuff like that. My mom has been gone basicly all of my adult life, (she died when I was 21) and I rarely get to see myself or identify with older women.
It sounds like an amazing moment for you and her as well.
It's good to see you here.
Boomer is so 2005.
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what I have the whole moment labeled as in my mind..."the passing of the torch" , and now this comment from you will make me remember that, when I go back to use this piece in the future. Thanks!