I’ve discovered many new NaPoWriMo accounts that have opened up my writing world to so many different kinds of prompts. Today I stuck with the source I’ve been using, but might explore a few others over the course of the month.

The invitation for Day 6 was to write a poem based on “weird wisdom.” I rather think of the wisdom that’s been handed down to be from family members, friends, urban legends and other stories as more wise than weird because it’s usually shared with heart or laughter and a sense of care. My mind immediately went to the myriad of phrases and habits my dad taught me when I was little. They’ve gotten deeper and heavier as I’ve grown older, but the early ones were so pragmatic. And he was so adamant. As someone who’s rarely been sick in his life, I took his words to heart and share them with you now.

xo, adrienne

My dad told me, “Don’t go outside with wet hair.”

“You’ll catch a cold.”

“Don’t go outside if it’s below 45 without a hat, especially if it’s windy. And cover up your neck!”

“You’ll catch a cold,”

“I don’t know how you and your brothers walk around with your ankles all out.”

“Aren’t you cold?”

“If you got a tickle in your throat get you some HALLS (the honey ones, not those other ones that are just candy) and some hot apple cider.”

“I don’t wanna hear you ‘round here barkin’ cause you got a cold,”

The bags of cough drops,

the gallons of cider,

pocket packs of tissues,

the hats and gloves and scarves

every Christmas

Maybe I should tell him,

it’s his love that keeps me

warm

healthy

safe.

But I bundle up just the same