The lingering taste of Murray mints.
Soft cream.
Iced tongue.
A sugar-spun day
by the seaside.
(once-a-summer, if you’re good)
Briny air making crystals on a
Sparkling windowpane.
Diamond-patterned curtains
{swish}
The original
Sixty-print-green.
My tiny child’s fingers,
Trace between her knuckles, each as old as time
Folding white wool over finger and thumb
Thimble gleaming like a minnow
Catching sunrays.
She smiles at me, all grey curls and laughter lines.
And turns away
To drop another stitch
To sew another hem
On the cardigan
That she made for my fifth birthday.
Candyfloss white. Soft.
Like distant clouds.
Tiny arms, tiny cuffs, tiny sleeves.
A button for every year.
A stitch for every memory.
The last thing
I would ever have
From her.
Author notes
Ha! A teen writing nostalgia! Ahh well.
There is a story behind this; this is in memory of my grandmother, who died when I was five. It sounds morbid but I only ever have good recollections of her and most are summarised in this poem. The cardigan she made is the most important piece of clothing I've ever owned.
A contest entry
- Her Skirt, His Tie by zillion.
300 points, ended August 17, 2007, 5 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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"A button for every year. A stitch for every memory."
Good line hun! Reminds me of a Seamus Heaney poem 'Mid-Term Break' (dunno if you've read it) at the end.
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'candyfloss'. What an awesome term. Haven't heard it before, but I like it. Very hip and 'new age'. It's attractive.
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Thanks!
Glad you liked the poem! I meant candyfloss the sweet...its spun sugar on a stick, normally white or pink, and you buy it at the seaside...it might just be an english thing, not sure ^_^
Thanks for the comment!
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This is a wonderful poem. I love your
expressive writing - so full of imagery
and delightful quirks. Truly, this poem
captured my imagination and my heart.
Love, Lane
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Thanks!
Ah, as always, you leave such lovely comments! Thank you so much
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