Recently, I’ve been asked why I write books for the middle-grade readership, those roughly between the ages of 9-12. My reply is that this age group, spanning the bridge between childhood and young adulthood, represents the betwixt and between phases of life that we all inhabit throughout our lives. We so often find ourselves in the in-between–ages, relationships, jobs, etc. Life is made up of transitions in which we balance the what was with the what may become.
Another recent question was if I liked to write in other forms. I do! I like to write poems. I love how the brevity of poetry forces an economy of words in which a few strong words must take the place of many others to get one’s point across. Writing poetry makes me a stronger prose writer. It reminds me to find the best words and sweep away the superfluous ones.
With those two thoughts in mind, I’ve created a new poem.
The Betwixt and Between Inn
by Kathryn Louise Wood
The innkeeper greeted her with a wry smile,
“Welcome back to our inn, it’s been quite a while.”
She nodded and smiled, her hair glistening white,
“It’s time I returned. The time’s about right.”
He swept a low bow, then opened the door.
“This time we’ve reserved you the whole second floor.”
He offered his hand, which she gratefully took.
“We’ll pass your old rooms, so feel free to look.”
He opened a door. “Oh, do peek inside.
You’ve spent time in each. You’ve a right to have pride.”
She peered in the first and smiled at the sight—
stuffed toys on the left, prom dress on the right.
The second room sent her heart into flight–
wedding dress on the left, baby crib on the right.
The third room was lined with papers of white—
business forms on the left, watercolor on right.
She gazed at the fourth and gripped her hands tight—
double bed on the left, single bed on the right.
The innkeeper moved her away from the door.
“Your new room awaits, the entire upper floor.”
She climbed up the stairs and took a deep breath,
said, “Saved the best until last, the only one left.”
“The only one, here,” the man said with a wink.
“What? There’re more rooms for me? Beyond the Earth’s brink?”
He opened the door and taking her hand,
said, “A whole new world of unexplored land.”
She blinked in the glow of luminous light—
at her bed on the left, twinkling stars on the right.
Thanks for stopping by. Y’all come back, now!
Kate