Mistletoe and Mothballs

Gold cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Thu, 26 Dec 2013
  • 16601 reads
26 comments
 
Resurrected that old sweater 
from the depths of your drawer...
the one with sprigs of mistletoe on...
the one the moths had a penchant for.
 
It reeked of you – of us; of when
I’d snuggle my head on your chest...
when I could no more have imagined
life without you, than cutting off
my right leg.
 
How nice, and not half so lonely
it would have been, to have somehow
‘bottled’ the person you were then...
before  the world...fate if you like, 
dictated who you ought to be.
 
And tonight, watching ripples
chasing errant slivers of the moon 
on a pond of hammered silver,
and the whisper of a glint of starlit gilt
on the quivering birch trees
 
where, a zillion Christmases ago,
we saw the ruddy slosh of holly – 
berries stencilled red on a blue-print
of the skies, as we wandered, side-by-side, 
 
cocking a snoot at brown-frowning
furrowed hills, deep in conversation
with mounding clouds – plotting
the mother of all storms;
 
remembering, how windswept you were, 
yet, how impeccable you looked
in your unkemptness...and thinking
how I miss you.
Certificate PG
Poem
Love

Comments

Submitted by maisie on

Every so often a false note.  I love the first 6 lines, then I'm not sure for a bit, and so it goes on.

It has the capacity to be a great poem.  Really great!

maisie angel Guess what?  I'm still alive!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, maisie.  Pleased you enjoyed.  I guess it's all to do with what drumbeat one hears...if you see what I meansmiley

Hope you're having a great Christmas

Tina

 

Submitted by maisie on

 

yes, I've had a good christmas, quietly messy, and totally original.  How was yours?
I am trying to get better with my commenting, sorry if I upset you over this.  It's just that if this is
a life event that resonates and echoes to a beat within that's brilliant for poetry, both in language and expression, only I feel you have to take it slightly up to bring it into focus for us poor outsiders... :)

maisie angel Guess what?  I'm still alive!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I love that, masie, 'quietly messly', and I guess that loosely describes mine, too.

You have a wonderful, natural way with words, and don't ever try to change that.  It makes you who you are, and is the hallmark of your writing.

'Tomorrow is another day' ...and we, none of us, know what is out there waiting for us when we draw back the curtains on another dawn.  That's life, as they saysmiley

Tina

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

You do seem to have many happy 'bottled' memories, Tina, ready to arise, and mixed with an eye for the detail of a present beautiful evening. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Rhiannon.  I guess I dosmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Love this, Tina. Bottled 'laughter' is my childhood obsession. Used to fill bottles with laughter from age 7, still have them, don't dare take the lids off. You've applied a dear metaphor to a much loved person. Except it isn't a metaphor, it's more of a wish. Language twinkles, time moves to and fro. Excellent piece.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

And don't ever take those lids off, Vera, whatever you dosmiley

So very many thanks for your indepth apprecation of this piece, and I love the idea of language 'twinkling', as you put it. Such beautiful imagery.

Tina

 

Submitted by Syphon on

Love It Tina. Great imagery and description. Beautiful piece. I hope you had a lovely Christmas. All the best S 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Syphon.  Good of you to read and to take the time and trouble to comment, so very positively.  

The seasons greetings to you, too, and all the best for the New Yearsmiley

 

Tina

 

Submitted by Syphon on

 

Submitted by Bee on

All I can add is that for me, this is perfect and beautiful in its happy sad sad happiness. And I really get it.

Loved reading,

 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Such a lovely thing to say, Bee, and I thank you, so very much.

Tina

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Strong and lovely, Tina. Loved the opening lines. A keeper this.

Rich

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

...as is your lovely comment, Rich.  Thank yousmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A stirring poem of memories Tina.  The capturing of a missed loved one on the sweater found after so long.  The sights and smells are captured so well in this poem.

I also loved the lines:-

cocking a snoot at  brown-frowning

furrowed hills,  deep in conversation

with mounding clouds - plotting

the mother of all storms;

Yes some great images in this one.

 

Enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, Jenny.  Do so hope you had a good Christmas.  I'm still wading though leftover Christmas pud...almost literally.

Had a tummy bug just before the big day, but managed to get just about OK to eat a small portion of Christmas dinner, and am just about now getting my appetite back.

So pleased you enjoyed this one...Christmas, always a time of recollection for me.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Tina,

good to hear from you again.  I'm so sorry to hear you had a tummy bug and just before the big day,  that's  horrible.  I know what you mean about the Christmas Pud.  We are also eating turkey until Sunday,  there's so much of it left,  so I'm going to make a curry. 

I look forward to reading more of your work in the New Year and I'm glad you're on the mend.

Happy New Year to you.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Congrats on the pick of the day, Tina. Well deserved here.

Rich xx

 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

How kind of you, Rich.  Thank you. Means muchsmiley  Tina

 

Submitted by Rasko1nikov on

fabulous as always, Silver. caught me off-guard half-sunk in my own reminiscent mood!

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks, Rasko...And I hope your reminiscences were pleasant ones.

A fruitful New Year to you.

Silversmiley

 

Submitted by scratch on

winkNice one Tina.  I loved this when I first read it.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

scratch, much obliged to you.

I trust your Christmas was a peaceful one.

Tinasmiley

 

Submitted by prettyrose on

smileyHi Tina, Sorry youve been ill. But as always brilliant writing and congratulations, like Rich said you deserve it!!!! Really enjoyed this.

 

 

 

take care

Trish x

smiley Keep Smiling

Keep Writing xxx

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hey - thanks for that, Trish. I'm definitely over the worst now. 

Your words are special to me.  Thank you for them.

All best wishes for 2014.

Tina x