Poem of the Day: “Rolly, Polly Things” by Carol Hamilton, Poet of the Month

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present “Rolly, Polly Things” by Carol Hamilton, Poet of the Month.  Ms. Hamilton will also be serving as the guest judge for the Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest, which will run from September 1 to October 15, 2015.  A detailed biography of Ms. Hamilton may be found here:  http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2015/08/songs-of-eretz-poetry-review-poet-of.html.  The contest guidelines may be previewed here:  http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/p/songs-of-eretz.html.

Rolly, Polly Things

Carol Hamilton

We had long hours to kill,

to play outside.  We amused ourselves

sliding beads of mercury about

in our sweat-and-grit-creased palms.

Against the smell of lilacs and cut grass

let loose by fathers with push mowers,

we slipped sow bugs hand to hand,

their frail shells a shine

of ridged silver, wispy feet

showing when they relaxed a bit.

We rolled down hillsides to get itchy all over,

and formed patriotic balls of thin foil

for the war effort if we could find

sticks of Wrigley's spearmint gum

with its shiny wrappers.

Round rocks were no good for hopscotch

but were perfect for hammering open

to discover the shine of schist inside.

Our hours rolled by, the shared

boredom patted together

to slip back and forth

from hand to hand.

Poet’s Notes:  Growing up during World War II, when we were sent outside in the morning and called in as it became dark or for meals, we amused ourselves in many ways, and many of our doings involved rounded and rounding things.

Editor’s Note:  Most scientists believe that time travel is impossible.  Obviously none of them have read this poem.  Reading it, I felt as though I was there, seventy-five years in the past.  “Rolly, Polly Things” was originally published in Blue Hole.