Monday's Poetry Bus Poem

This week's Poetry Bus is being driven by poet Barbara Smith.

Barbara gave us the first line: 'I got down on my knees and smelt the new linoleum,' and bus passengers were asked to take it from there, continuing with the theme of nice long lines.

The thing was, this line kept making me want to write a story - something about a houseproud wife kept under the thumb of her controlling husband, who focuses all her energies on maintaining the spotless cleanliness of her house and is finally tipped over the edge one day when her husband tells her the mashed potatoes are too salty and throws the plate, potatoes and all, against her pristine almond white wall. 

But this is The Poetry Bus and Poems are what's called for!

I eventually came up with this.

Virgin territory

I get down on my knees and smell the new linoleum.

Outside the day shakes off the dawn and settles in.

There is coffee in the pot. The cat sits by the door.

Beyond the kitchen window the mountains stretch and spread.

The table is set: mugs, plates, bread, and bowls of air.

Later today people will come, to eat and drink and talk.

Children will run back and forth across the grass outside.

The floor will breathe, take in the dirt, listen to what’s being said.