Beautiful poem, LeaAnn! Seems we have more in common than I thought. I was born and raised in San Jose, lived in Texas for 8 years, and now I'm back in the East Bay, not far from Oakland.
I was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in Dallas Texas. I’ve been in the East Bay for 33 years this month. We are El Cerrito adjacent, in this weird unincorporated area.
In this poem one sees the good and the bad of California. The poem reads as a person were giving you a picture of the place. The writing is simple and all is clear in the diction.
What a lovely thing to read, sitting here on a Sunday afternoon in the beautifully bright Oakland sun, with a soft breeze that tells me it is still summertime.
As someone who was born in Texas, raised in California, lived in the City for a decade, and who now travels back and forth from the Valley to the Bay for work every other weekend, this really rang my bell! and inspired a little poem, too.
We’re practically neighbors. I’m in El Cerrito.
Smiled all the way through this, because ... yeah. No lies detected.
Love our state. Love your poems. 💛🌿
Beautiful poem, LeaAnn! Seems we have more in common than I thought. I was born and raised in San Jose, lived in Texas for 8 years, and now I'm back in the East Bay, not far from Oakland.
I was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in Dallas Texas. I’ve been in the East Bay for 33 years this month. We are El Cerrito adjacent, in this weird unincorporated area.
My wife is from the Houston area. We met at UT Austin when I was in grad school. Now we are in Castro Valley. Also a non-city!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a Substack poet gathering sometime?
Yes!
I live here too, LeeAnn, and agree there is no other place which feels more like home.
You found your home, LeeAnn, or maybe it was home that found you. Either way, your poem is a beautiful tribute to it. 💛
In this poem one sees the good and the bad of California. The poem reads as a person were giving you a picture of the place. The writing is simple and all is clear in the diction.
Thanks for this, Lisa. I have never been to California (and wonder if I ever will) but you have given me a taste. I appreciate it.
this transported me! wonderful <3
What a lovely thing to read, sitting here on a Sunday afternoon in the beautifully bright Oakland sun, with a soft breeze that tells me it is still summertime.
Wasn’t it a lovely day, today? I sat out for a bit too. ❤️
Thank you Lee Ann, that was beautiful ❤️!
My California started in Yosemite, the Marin Headlands, San Francisco in the 80s, and Mt Tamalpais.
After that, nowhere else was home 🏡 but Northern California
Can’t get away from this place. And who would want to! We miss you here in the East Bay, Tony.
Why no clam chowder?!
I left the sourdough bread out too, didn’t I?!
a double faux pas!
Very enjoyable LeeAnn. By the way, I subscribed to Lisa Jensen, talented lady, thanks.
Isn’t she? I think so too.
I love all of this 💛.
As someone who was born in Texas, raised in California, lived in the City for a decade, and who now travels back and forth from the Valley to the Bay for work every other weekend, this really rang my bell! and inspired a little poem, too.
Gangbangers
And church goers,
Empty back roads
And traffic jams,
Quiet downtowns
And dusty hoedowns,
Grape vines
And red wine,
Patriots
And almond nuts,
Big trucks
And Priuses,
Crappy coffee
Too many Starbucks,
City transplants
And cannabis plants,
Farmers markets
And alcoholics anonymous,
Summer’s scorch
And the Delta’s breeze,
Crop dusters
And pissed off honey bees,
These are just a few things
Found in San Joaquin County.
This is fabulous! I love that my poem inspired a poem!