A country you carry in your pocket,
stays there as forgotten as pocket lint
but filters your perceptions, marks you plain when
you walk through the world, it's not only you,
your country is in your pocket, carried lightly
or heavy in its heft, gravid as you meet others
with other countries in their pockets.
Posted too late for Mama Zen's Flash Fiction 55 over in the Garden so here it is for Kerry's Open Link instead. Inspired by Brian at the dVerse Poets Pub who shared the first line in one of his posts. It got me thinking of my experiences living in Italy and traveling around Europe.
Lovely poem, Mary. I think I carry a bit of all the countries I've ever visited in my pocket. :-)
ReplyDeleteTravel changes us, doesn't it?
DeleteGlobe trotting!!
ReplyDeleteI've done a good bit of that!
DeleteCool way to view the differences that traveling can have on a person. I like this a lot.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Justin, it's the fun of travel.
Deleteit is interesting how we carry our land with us wherever we go... there's beauty in this... i also like how they yearn to meet and gravitate towards other countries... it's good to learn from each other...
ReplyDeleteIt's the best thing about travel.
Deletei think where we come from can def affect the filters with which we view life....i like the lines as well that it is not just us....
ReplyDeleteWe are ambassadors whether we want to be or not.
DeleteGreat poem/description. Everywhere I go I take myself and my travels with me. I find I'm becoming more openminded because of what I'm carrying.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the travels you're about to embark on, Linda.
Deleteinteresting... i want to think no "ugly American" here, but maybe not. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be the counter-balance.
DeleteGood to be reminded of the wonderful travels. And all the reminders are within reach in the pockets! How nice!
ReplyDeleteHank
I like how you put that, Hank.
DeleteI carry that lint still, even decades since my last visit ~
ReplyDeleteI think because it actually changes us, opens us up.
DeleteThat is a wondrful metaphor. You're exactly right!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it.
DeleteA lovely way to describe the effects of our travels.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the loves I hope to share with the grands.
DeleteI like this poem for so many reasons. We carry not just our own countries, not just the places we've traveled on maps, but the countries of our inner world and the countries of those around us. Everything we fold into our hearts changes our eyes. Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteYes, I like that, it's all in there.
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