Tuesday, August 10, 2010

One Shot Wednesday – Mom Boxes



Mom Boxes

It's been
five years, one hundred
forty two days and
four and one half hours
(give or take)
since you left.

I have boxes that
store my memories -
good and bad.
I sometimes mix them up -
thinking I'm opening
the 30th birthday box
and there you are -
five years, one hundred
forty two days and
four and one half hours
ago (give or take).

Frantic,
I open boxes
willy nilly
only to find you
there in all of them.

Here is my wedding day,
and here is that trip
to look at colleges,
and the time I busted my chin,
and the time you came to Africa,
and there you are just beyond
the window where I can't
see you anymore.

I am a woman grown
and it's been
five years one hundred
forty two days and
four and one half hours
(give or take),
and obviously
(obviously),
we aren't done yet,
are we?

This poem is part of One Stop Poetry's One Shot Wednesday poetry gathering, where all poets are welcome to share. Make the rounds!

30 comments:

  1. Ohh..i have my boxes too,my memories hide there with the people who made them..i open them to bring them all back..but they don't.still i love my boxes..and i keep my memories in my heart..this one brought tears to my eyes.but it is really very touchy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, another tribute to mom - monkeyman did one too....Moms are so special - very nice write....blessings to you and your family....bkm

    ReplyDelete
  3. this is just beautiful bug...no you are not done...and hope every time you find her it is a pleasant surpise...smiles. thanks for linking up and sharing your special remembrances...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Movingly beautiful, Dana. There is no such thing as closure (I *hate* that word). One never truly recovers from a loss as tragic as this, the pain is still there and as every day passes, we miss our loved ones even more. Your poem was endearingly poignant and wonderfully heartfelt.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "and there you are just beyond
    the window where I can't
    see you anymore."
    Beautiful. Felt those lines big time. Thanks for sharing this one, bug

    ReplyDelete
  6. We have boxes just like that -- mine, hers, our two boys' -- boxes of memories waiting to live again. Nice one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What would we do without such boxes?

    ReplyDelete
  8. While cleaning out the attic last week, my husband came across a bowl in a box of other things. He pulled it out and asked, "Can this go to Goodwill?" I did a bit of a double take and said, "No, that's my mother's bowl." A person just can't part with everything.

    ReplyDelete
  9. that was a very moving piece..by sharing it with this verse you have enhanced those memories..many thanks Pete

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love these pics. You are so totally adorable - such an open face (then and now). Gotta go check out Dr. M's blog. Very cool that you seduced him into joining our galaxy. Oh yeah!

    ReplyDelete
  11. so sweet how you open up the mom boxes and share your memories...enjoyed it a lot - and thought of my own boxes, that wait to be opened..

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the repetition of time
    an echo
    past and present
    time traveling of sorts
    been there..you captured it brilliantly
    may I keep this one for my journal?
    I so loved it

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just beautiful. You will never be done. And I see that as a blessing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. We all need boxes, we all need lofts even if they are not physical.
    A great piece

    ReplyDelete
  15. Being a mom is the best even having the boxes is an honor to store precious things there.
    One day there will be little ones to open the boxes up with.

    Thanks for sharing this with us at One Shot

    Love from the Moon

    ReplyDelete
  16. What you're really opening when you open those boxes is the memories in your heart. It's nice to know they're there, even if they don't always make us feel glad.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dana you have writen a wonderful poem. Such great visuals. I can feel you unpacking those boxes.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Powerful poem- imagistic about images; the moments of our lives and our best way to date to travel backwards in time. What a sweet homage to your mother. Very poetic.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. A beautiful poem, and yes, powerful. In my experience there is no being done --- there are transitions, there is gradual acceptance, and eventually there is a softness in the place where it used to hurt... Thank you for this.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You both look so happy. Great poem of memories of your Mom. My Mom passes about 6 1/2 years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  21. That photo is awesome! And this poem touched my heart. Thank you for sharing your Mom Boxes.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love it Bug. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love your Mom tribute, too. They permiate our existence.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Yep, I've got them too, both literal and figural. Sometimes I think I'm opening a happy box and end up blubbering like a baby. My mom's been gone 13 years now, and those boxes still can catch me by surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This brought tears to my eyes. So beautiful and touching. Many thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your wonderful poem touched me deeply. A beautiful write.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Lovely , nostalgic walking down memory lane..
    suja

    ReplyDelete
  28. Very nicely crafted. I love the repitions in it and little snapshots, like lifting the lid off each box for a quick peep. And the ending, implying more to come. Excellente!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear what you have to say!

2024 Project 365 – Week Twelve

I woke up not feeling well and skipped church (for the second week in a row - oops), but that doesn’t keep me from being deep in the throes ...