The Peter Pan Blues

One type of poem we studied in my poetry seminar class is the Blues poem. While the structure of this is only vaguely defined, there are general rules a poem needs to follow in order to fall in this category. These include but are not limited to repetition within the verses, a rhythm that can be set through such things as rhyme schemes and line lengths, and a sad topic. I wrote a poem talking about what it is like to see your hometown change from when you were a kid to when you're older. This was especially poignant for me because of my visits back home from college; even though I would only be gone for a month or two at a time, a lot of things would change. There is also the fact that growing up, in itself, is sad. So I worked that into my poem, repeating, though not directly, the lines that come before and I incorporate personal experiences in it. Places that I mention, such as Duffy park, are real. I called it The Peter Pan Blues, and I still think that's one of the most fitting titles I've had for any of the poems or stories I've written.

used to play at Duffy park

pumping legs on the swing

used to run ‘round Duffy park

flying high on the swing

before the sand was all scooped up

cement covering the whole thing

climbed trees in my backyard

gnarled branches were my throne

climbed all the trees in friends’ backyards

shoes off, branches were my throne

before the trees were defaced

to hang wires for our phones

played tag with all my neighbors

night protecting us from view

ran the block with neighbors

the dark night shading us from view

‘til new lights lit the street

and all the neighbors grew

high school’s lawn of green grass

where we played all our ballgames

huge field of green grass

perfect place to play our games

disappeared beneath a nursing home

so they could fix old-body pains

there is no Never Never Land

no place where time stands still

            it’s a nonexistent island

            cause time cannot stand still

            we may wish the world would never change

            but the truth is, it will.