Memories of Napa

Some Hebridian poets
can just drop a poem and a hat
like that on a cockleshell beach
but I had to take a road trip
when I was a kid of 34
through eight western states
listening to Bonnie Raitt
all the way to rolling
into a tiny Napa hotel bar
for a crystal of Cab.

Some Clevelanders
came in…two couples,
and we chatted about
snobs and whatnot.

One woman asked me
where I came from.
I said "Calgary." She asked
"Where's that?" I said
"Canada." She said
"My, you speak very good English."

I suppose l could say
that encouraged me
to write poetry, but no… just
a hint of metaphorical prose on the nose.

Down in the Silver Oak cellar
I barrel tasted fruit
dreaming roots into wine.

Everyone should visit Napa, really…
even if your English is not so good…
even if you don't drop a poem in it.

But then you just must head North,
eat seafood chowder for lunch in Newport
and sleep deep in Oregon trees
under a valley of stars.

Fascinating poem, critter. As I'm not so familiar with details of the different states of the USA, I can't recognize or relate to places like Napa!
Never mind, I've travelled along with your poem and found it all very interesting.

I like the reference at the beginning to Hebridean poets, some of which were indeed excellent. I've been to Scotland but definitely didn't visit those hundreds of small isles...wish I'd had the time. I understand they're incredibly magnificent, in spite of their smallness.

Very pleasing. I find this your stellar best. Some many lines are classics ie "I barrel tasted fruit
dreaming roots into wine" and "and sleep deep in Oregon trees under a valley of stars". Poems that can elude travel and a sense of the trees are magical.

Hi Joe,

I really like this, it's filled with things to think on. Like Syl, I'm not familiar with the details, but this hasn't stopped the enjoyment of the read.

Some Hebridian poets
can just drop a poem and a hat
like that on a cockleshell beach
but I had to take a road trip
when I was a kid of 34
through eight western states
listening to Bonnie Raitt
all the way to rolling
into a tiny Napa hotel bar
for a crystal of Cab.

I think it should be Hebridean in L1.
Love the cockleshell beach

Some Clevelanders
came in…two couples,
and we chatted about
snobs and whatnot.

One woman asked me
where I came from.
I said "Calgary." She asked
"Where's that?" I said
"Canada." She said
"My, you speak very good English."

I suppose l could say
that encouraged me
to write poetry, but no… just
a hint of metaphorical prose on the nose.

Down in the Silver Oak cellar
I barrel tasted fruit
dreaming roots into wine.

Everyone should visit Napa, really…
even if your English is not so good…
even if you don't drop a poem in it.

But then you just must head North,
eat seafood chowder for lunch in Newport
and sleep deep in Oregon trees
under a valley of stars.

I like some of your internal rhymes
prose on the nose
sleep deep

Nice conversational part in the middle.

I really have nothing to nit on first read - just enjoyed

Eira

Thanks Psyche, glad you liked this. Napa (Valley) is in California and is arguably the best wine producing area in the country. On the Pacific coast of the USA the states (South to North) are California, Oregon, and Washington. Cleveland in the North East of the USA and on the Great Lakes (basically bordering Canada).
I have roots in the Hebrides and have visited, very beautiful. So the poem is a departure from subatomic physics and the Big Bang to 'concrete' memories. I tried to tie-in various things, glad I wrote it which is a good thing to judge one's scribbling.

Thanks Greenwich, I appreciate that.

Glad you enjoyed this. I suspect you are right about Hebridean .... it 'looks right'. I did check on that but didn't find it off the bat so went with the other... but will make that change.

Joe

Hi Joe,

Thanks for situating me in the regions you've mentioned. I have been several times to the USA and did indeed drive down the coast of California, from San Francisco or maybe Los Angeles.
However, I didn't know about the Napa valley, but have heard of California's good wines! I'm sure I purchased some on my travels, that was a long time ago..

Don't think I visited Cleveland, but flew up to Washington to visit relatives in Spokane.

All very beautiful, I like the way you've got down to the nitty-gritty bits of life, making it sound realistic and close to the reader.

Congrats and thanks for sharing,
Syl

Thanks Psyche...I have never met anyone who just visited Cleveland. I drove by it once in a torrential downpour...maybe the heaviest I have ever seen...hardly could see and there was about a foot of water on the highway...didn't last long...but that is my memory of Cleveland