A Vestige of My Youth

A Vestige of My Youth

 

 

It was winter

the year my unemployment checks

were running out.

I was barely getting by paying rent

existing on cold pizza and ramen noodles,

with a diamond deck of solitaire

to kill the monotony of time.

 

It was the eighties,

the era of hair metal bands and MTV.

I worked in a record store

when LP’s were just beginning to phase out. 

A place that my friends referred to as

“the dream job.”

 

 I was single then

dating men with the frequency

of Monday night football,

writing free verse crossed legged on a hardwood floor

with a smith corona, a halogen lamp

and Jessie.

 

Fast forward twenty years

and here I am

wishing I could go back

to the rush of those nine to five days,

flipping through numerous categories of LP’s

in chronological  order,

cramming the copious names of artists

and classifications of music

into the cerebral of my brain.

 

A vestige of my youth

so well spent. 

 

Reviews

[An owl on the moon]

So grateful that you can voice your thoughts like a song... and help us all be found dancing in those days... lingering in the sweet memories that only mean a little more in each passing day. Sitting here... next to my record player... so glad those days aren't ancient history. Wondrous thoughts! 🎵🎶🎼

[Kelly Scheppers]

Although stereo components and vinyl have made a comeback, I believe record stores have become a thing of the past. It's truly a world all it's own, and I'm so proud to have been a part of it! Thank you, Craig!

[Neville]

.. Take me back why don'tcha .. Jeez .. how I wish I woz your Jessie .. but at least I am now the first N :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

Perhaps I should have mentioned, Jessie was my cat, who lived for nineteen years. I thought that deserved an honorable mention in my poem. Thanks for being my first, Nev! Let's keep it our secret, ok! ; )

[Neville]

good old Jessie .. a remarcatable achievement .. and believe me, the pleasure was all mine .. but okay .. that's probably for the best :)