Landmarks and Memories – poem by Bruce Whealton">Landmarks and Memories – poem by Bruce Whealton
Published April 7, 2009 | 
">Bruce WhealtonLandmarks and Memories
The assignment was to write about a landmark and all my mind could do was go back to the images I was viewing of Wilmington, North Carolina. But what landmark stands out in my memory of this place that I once called home? There's the Battleship North Carolina, but there's just something uninviting about looking down the barrels of those guns in the photograph here on this web page. There's any number of historic homes and buildings that make up the historic district... I'm not sure I have a favorite but I did enjoy the Haunted Wilmington tour around Halloween. The beaches around Wilmington – those are landmarks to me - such memories... On nights like tonight, if I was closer, I'd go down to Wrightsville Beach and think – or find inspiration. Sure I could tell you about a number of other landmarks that you should see - if you asked me for a tour, I could easily fill up a nice weekend... But that's not what this poem is presenting... It's not about that - I started thinking about where I grew up – up north, in CT - and landed now, tonight in Wilmington.
My Family Tree – Poem by Bruce Whealton">My Family Tree – Poem by Bruce Whealton
Published April 4, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonMy Family Tree
It was over 10 years ago that I made the trip. I remember traveling up the coast of North Carolina – coming into small towns on quiet dirt roads. Somewhere down this road or somewhere on this trip I thought I'd come to learn something about myself - my heritage... something that would provide some knowledge for me. I came upon a church cemetery built with the help of my grandfather's grandfather. Looking back at this expedition. It seems that this cemetery somehow signifies both my origin and end – a sobering thought if I think about it too much. At the time I was studying social work, and looking at how genograms and genealogy can highlight patterns, relationships and other tendencies. I don't know that I yet understand or have any insight, from this, into who I am or how I became the person I now am... but I do need to know that I am a part of something... connected to a larger family or families, instead of feeling that there is just me - me alone and nothing or no one else. By Bruce Whealton April 4, 2009
In the Boat – Poem by Bruce Whealton">In the Boat – Poem by Bruce Whealton
Published April 4, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonIn The Boat
This time it felt just like a premonition. In the dream, I felt like a ghost - I was there with you transparent to your sight you looked right through me not seeing me. My love for you keeps these dreams alive But I must be strong and sober, yet even amethyst could not prevent the intoxication of these memories. There is something familiar about the place - I recognize in the distance, somewhere, the Cape Fear river empties into the ocean. There by the water we stood yet you did not see me. I watched you enter your sailboat. I tried to call out but I was so scared of loosing you. I watched you drift away, fading out of sight. The poet Anne Sexton wrote of her great rowing toward God. The boat I enter takes me back in time - back to you. By Bruce Whealton – April 2009
Recent Comments