Prompted by Poet's Place Cafe

Arlington Park - Discussion Measuring the Line

Arlington Park

I'd go there in my teens, a space to think,
examine privately my doubts, make plans.
My secret place, alone I'd sit on top
the giant boulder near the hidden trail.
I knew the rock by heart, each pocket, pinch,
each handhold, foothold, where to stretch, to spread
The hard, rough surface scraped my knees and palms,
its concrete challenge taught me, trust myself.
I had no fear, it wasn't all that tall.
Today, it's gentrified with plastic playground,
groomed flowers, picnic tables, tennis courts,
"clean" bathrooms, and fresh mowed lawn, civilized.
No hint of hiking trails or rocks to climb,
they dwell within me now, my place of dreams.
                              ~~Judi Van Gorder

Notes: ▼

14 Lines
Blank Verse Sonnet  
Blank Verse  
Practice in iambic pentameter
For: "DISCUSSION: Measuring the line"  
Original poem Arlington Park

I'd go there in my teens, a space to think,
examine privately my doubts and dreams.
My secret place, alone I'd sit on top
the giant boulder near the hidden trail.
I knew the rock by heart, each pocket, pinch,
each handhold, foothold, where to stretch, to spread
I had no fear, it wasn't all that tall.
Now civilized with kid's plastic playground,
groomed flowers, picnic tables, tennis courts,
"clean" bathrooms, and lawn. No hint of hiking trails,
or rocks to climb. No place to think or dream.
                             ~~Judi Van Gorder


Personal note: In my teens the park was a bit of wilderness on the edge of a growing suburb. It was pretty much just dirt trails into the hills of El Cerrito. It had some redwoods, scrub brush and an outcropping of huge boulders. My favorite rock was only about 12 ft high, the height of a 1 story house and it wasn't terribly steep. I'd go there alone, sometimes with a friend, climb the rock and just sit and talk or think. No way could I climb it now. All the kids in my neighborhood climbed those boulders. It was just something we did, It seems in the 40s and 50s, no one worried about the dangers of kids having fun. I googled the park before writing the poem. It is still there but now it looks like any other city park. .