"Pumpkin" - a poem about me

Almost 2 months ago, I went to North Carolina to visit a childhood friend of mine with whom I've co-celebrated birthdays for many years now. Since her being in NC, I haven't been to visit her, but she's been up so it was a great opportunity to see her and leave town and do something different once again. This mid to upper 20s birthdays have been weird for me because I haven't felt like celebrating them for OTHER people in the sense that doing something for other people and having to put in the work and coordination into celebrating myself. The year before that I went to Miami because it was easier to book a hotel room and air ticket than invite people and not make sure some were left out  and get tired partying when I didn't necessarily feel like it for my birthday. This year as my birthday approached I knew that I had enjoyed having no responsibility to others when celebrating my birthday and I also needed to get away to some fresh air and have a completely new experience to share with one of my realest and longest lasting friends - down south I headed. We stayed in an amazing house at the top of a mountain with 2 other friends - a Ugandan girl and her Bhutanese friend.

 

(tasting infused balsamic vinegars and olive oils at Olive and Kickin)

(bronze sculpture called Perpetuity at an art gallery)

(Thirsty Monk brewery and sampling & rating beers that our uncles didn't drink)

(fancy desert compliments of the chef at some delish tapas place)

On Saturday my friend and I spent the day in the wonderful town tucked away up winding roads in the mountains called Asheville which if it was a person it would be that really cool and cute white [because there really was little racial diversity short of the biracial couples we spotted] boy who has a subtle swag to him and is cultured because he's travelled the world and learnt a few words in other languages and has a litany of friends from different countries. I don't know if you get what I mean, but Asheville is that guy you either have a HUGE crush on or become amazing friends. There's nothing NOT to like basically. In the late afternoon after sweetened plaintains at a Cuban cafe with a Brazilian server and a Senegalese guitarist and singer outside, an art gallery visit, some samplings at brewery number one (Thirsty Monk) we walked past a guy sitting on a small stool with a little table and a typewriter. I asked how it works and he said you give a word and whatever amount of money and he'll write a poem on demand right then. I said "Pumpkin" and specified not the plant, but an actual person called that. and the poem pictured above is what he wrote (click on the picture to enlarge) in 5 minutes!

I was soooo touched by it and as I read it a huge tear filled my eyelid and covered my eyelid before I blinked and it fell streaming down my face. This guy did not know me from anywhere, but my family and friends call me Pumpkin so much so some/most don't actually know what my "government" (which one) name is. It's a nickname my mom gave me from when I was a baby and I was chubby and there were pumpkins everywhere (fall baby) - plus it being a term of endearment and overall superfood...
It really struck me when my dear friend who I love and adore and respect so much said yes this poem was about me.

(boat tour of man made Lake Lure and its beautiful homes and history)

It is about me. Carved and shaped by the world around. Endearing to her family and to the name is fitting. Graceful and lustful for life.

Thank you Eddie Cabbage and thank you for reading :)

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*@afropolitaine*