PAD Challenge Day 25: Flashback

PAD Challenge Day 25: Write a memory poem.

Flashback 

May I hopscotch back into the 90s,

where I was a black gardenia growing up 

at 1606 Gardenia because this life,

like Fayetteville's honeysuckles,

was mesmerizing?

My mother was living single.

Though it was a different world,

from where I came from, 

I was still daddy's little girl.

I was extra chubby, bashful and cute.

My 4C hair was tied from the roots 

with Goody's elastic ponytail balls, 

plaited with barrettes to seal my tips.

I was a Terrific, A+ kid with the 

same opened heart and gap smile.

A bookworm plus a book lover of Book It!

My violin, Kenya and Twist 'N Style 

Tiffany dolls were my bestfriends.

Lisa Frank Diaries became a residence

for my short stories, Haikus, 

Limericks and ballads.

I love to ride my purple, pink 

and white bike in neon 

L.A. Gear sneakers then hop 

off and jump rope while counting 

One Mississippi, two Mississippi.

I was never good at Double Dutch 

because I was too clumsy. 

But I could borrow the stars from 

the sky to tell you the times of the day.

Summers were sweet as 

her watermelons and peaches.

Momma's cookouts were fire 

and our inflatable pool 

was never deflated.

Jamming to Foxy 99 FM,

I could show you how to 

electric slide, 

do the running man, 

cabbage patch, 

Roger Rabbit;

One butterfly to left,

One butterfly to the right,

and Macarena all night.

I loved to chase butterflies,

Chew Zebra Stripe gum-

blow bubbles real huge like

my juvenile dreams while 

daydreaming until the street 

lights and the moon signaled 

me to go home.

D'ElegantOne