time travelling

a poem

Photo by 𝓴𝓘𝓡𝓚 𝕝𝔸𝕀 on Unsplash

I went back in time last night

I didn't mean to - I never do
It’s always so random 
and unexpected

My body didn't come along -
it happened so fast

It was left setting at the table
a bowl of double vanilla ice cream
melting before it

The trip took no time at all

Certainly not in relation 
to how far back in time I went

I was just back in my sisters’ yellow room

Their twin beds under the window
at our old house on Carlton Way

I saw the big walk in closet in which
my brother and I used to pin our sisters

Spraying Avon perfume
in asphyxiating amounts -
(Both our Grandmothers sold Avon) -
through the door we held closed

Save the crack we left open for the spray

We suffered the noxious fumes as well
until our sisters relented to whatever 
we were demanding
at the time

So we made sure it was worth it

It was Bill Withers singing 'Lean on Me'
I had to thank for the trip this time

I popped back as soon as that song started
and there by the door, the door to the closet
where we sprayed that perfume
sat the old 45 record player we used to play that song
Over
	and Over
			and Over
			
So there I was for nearly 4 minutes 19 seconds
Listening to that song when I was 12
Instead of my iPod when I was 50+