First thing, first summer morning,
Mom pulled the Impala into the
Main Street, Timberland Library,
Downsloping diagonal parking.
The thick shake-shingle front, long since
Painted bright,
But for 1970s us, a damp doorway
Into vast, uncharted worlds.
A long block up to the District Courthouse
Opposite, down and to the right, past my
Father’s school district office
Then left, Fleet park.
Across Pioneer Avenue the post office
Where our 249 box puzzle fit
With our 249 phone prefix
And I had a key.
Another doorway, opening onto
Any possibility:
Grandparents cards plus checks
Military school boy letters
My home was
Five miles from any of this.
A trip to town,
Another world.
Put Out to Pasture 
In my mind I could simultaneously see the court house square and the library in Baldwin mi. Even though they were several blocks apart.
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That’s great! I love that my poem triggered your memory 😊
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One of the elements I liked best about your poem (there are many) is the one without a GPS — your use of how we gave directions in the 1970s! “…past my
Father’s school district office
Then left, Fleet park.
Across Pioneer Avenue the post office
Where our 249 box puzzle fit…”
Congrats!
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Oh yes, right? I still give directions that way and people think I’m crazy! Great point, thank you!
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What a trigger it is! A delight to read 🙂
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Thank you!!
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I love how this took us to the wider world – that immense universe of books and also how it evoked some of my memories from a similar era.
I also remember your work from last year’s NaPo. Good to see you’re doing it again this year.
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Hi Nina, I remember you too! Thanks for your comment–I still feel that way about the universe of books. I only write poetry in April…I’m finishing my novel 🙂
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Love how you used the Narnia reference to emphasize the idea of being transported to another world!
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Thank you!! That’s what libraries felt like!
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I love how you described the library as “a damp doorway into vast, uncharted worlds.”
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Thanks, Jamie!
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Vivid and present! I enjoyed your vivid imagery! Congratulations on featuring for Day 2!
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Thanks so much!
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Oooohhh — this so brings back memories of my favorite childhood haunt — the town library.Lovely!
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I think a few if us liked our libraries. I still do love it! ❤️
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I really enjoyed the address to puzzle connection. Makes me wonder if the piece count was right or if there were missing pieces 😉 Love the mystery in the specifics of this poem.
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Thank you so much 😊
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