Two Places

Louisiana, home of a thousand Family Dollar stores
and cotton farms planted with corn for ethanol
I think of you as I return to Oakland,

report for jury duty with hundreds
of others wating to be screened for weapons,
swiping smart phones as if they could save us.

Louisiana, camouflaged in brown leaves
on a breast pocket of lottery tickets and cigarettes.
Another weekend I drive to my house,

pass a coral reef that covers the hills of San Francisco,
in window panes of white waves,
I’m lost in a place between two places

where fresh produce arrives from WalMart
and everyone can be a po’boy at the gas station.
Louisiana,  my hand shimmers in your bayou,

in the Ouachita River, where grandmothers
speak to each other in mounds
along barges of earth.

A bay and a cypress and the word hosanna.
We open doors in two places,
our hearts meeting in one place.

 

 

About Lenore Weiss

Lenore Weiss is an award-winning writer who lives in the Bay Area. Her collections include "Tap Dancing on the Silverado Trail" (2011) from Finishing Line Press and “Sh’ma Yis’rael” (2007) from Pudding House Publications and believes in the magic that the word brings.
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4 Responses to Two Places

  1. Can I just say what a relief to seek out someone who really is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know how you can bring a difficulty to mild and make it important. More folks have to learn this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre not more widespread since you undoubtedly have the gift.

  2. Lenore Weiss says:

    Bijoux: Write about what interests you in your own voice. It’s taken me years of practice to achieve that one! I still hold to that dictum.

  3. Awesome blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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