Glancing Back

By skinner_jennifer

Wed, 16 Aug 2023
  • 1065 reads
12 comments
 

We stood at lakeside...camera

poised, I thought about time

flowing rapidly; imagined we

were two water lillies floating

on calm water, laughing at

those wonderful; crazy mad

moments from so long ago,

 

recalling when we were once

intrepid explorers, always keen

to contemplate taking chances;

only it never lasted as rousing

transition from our younger

selves turned to declining

years.

 

Now only the weeping willow

comforts our reflections, those

delicate wisps softly dancing

on the breeze, they have

plucked at my heartstrings as

we're glancing back.

 

Photo is my own.

 

 

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Spiritual
Biography
Nature
Love
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

One day there will be no aging! Meanwhile we have memories and how lovely to watch moving water, reflections, shimmering weeping willows — and such things haven't changed as we have. Enjoyed following your thoughts! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon, I'm so lucky to have made so many happy memories, not only with my partner, but also with old friends from the past. I think we sat by the lake for quite a while talking and smiling about some of the things we did. 

I'm glad you enjoyed reading my thoughts and thank you for letting me know.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Lovely reflections Jenny. I expect the willow was reflecting too, on the lake.

I'd love to read about the days when you were intrepid explorers and the wonderful; crazy mad moments from so long ago.

But in the absence of that, I very much enjoyed this.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

the weeping willow was so beautiful, and so were the two lillies floating in the middle of a ring of lilly pads, which was the inspiration for this poem.

One funny episode that me, my partner and my son had, was when we went to the Queens Tap opposite the train station in Swindon town, to see a welsh rock covers band called Celtic Pride. They were absolutely brilliant and we left quite late in high spirits and slightly drunk.

On the way home we discovered a Sainsbury's shopping trolly down in the underpass, which led down to Canal Walk, which was close to where we lived at the time. My partner decided to pick me up and put me in the shopping trolly, he pushed me down through the underpass which was on a slope, and I was sent hurtling down at top speed laughing so much I nearly wet myself.

The problem was when I got down to Canal Walk, I couldn't get out and was still laughing like crazy. It's amazing how when you can't get out of a situation you panic, the body becomes heavier. No way could my partner and son lift me out...I was absolutely stuck, and this was about 11.30 pm. It took them a while to finally turn the trolley on its side with me still in it. I was finally able to crawl out. I'm just glad nobody was around to witness the spectical, and it's the last time I ever allowed myself to be lifted into a shopping trolley. 

I have had some other wild moments which I've written about too, but they go back quite a while. Anyway many thanks for reading my poem and glad you liked. Appreciate you letting me know.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Yay! The real Jenny! 

I remember the Queens Tap in Swindon. And I remember Canal Walk but I don't remember the canal as it was before my time. What a disaster it was to have filled it in.

Your description of your trolley dash made me smile. I think what you did is considered a rite of passage in Swindon these days. I never really fell in love with the place but I've some nice memories of Swindon, especially Old Town. It's rattling on for twenty years since I last went there. Perhaps sometime when I'm over in England I'll do a little road trip of all the places where I used to live. Perhaps I should do it in a supermarket trolley. 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

yes it was sad the underpass was filled in, but at least it's only a one way traffic road above. The tented market is still there but hasn't been used for quite a few years. 

Old Town is quite rightly a wonderful part of Swindon, I would have loved to have lived there, but the price of houses in that area is extortionate...just love those big old Victorian houses. The parks are lovely too.

I'm sure Swindon is like marmite, you either love it or can't stand it. I'd stick to road tripping in cars if I were you Turlough...the trolley can be a pretty painful, scary experience. wink Ha,ha! laugh

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

"Now only the weeping willow

comforts our reflections.."

 

Another beautiful reverie and photo. Always a pleasure to read your reminiscences :) 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Ah! That's very kind of you to read and leave a comment Paul. It's lovely to know you enjoy reading my reminiscences, and I'm glad you liked the photo, it was taken at a wood just down the road from where we live.

Many thanks for reading and your thoughts.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

you have taken lots of lovely photos :0) I am not sure about "declining years" as your life seems rich with creativity and full of love :0) I really like this illustration of your poetic creativity

delicate wisps softly dancing

on the breeze

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

It's always a pleasure to receive your comments Di. I'm always glad I did those mad cap things back when I was young, even though sometimes I put myself in some strange situations. I suppose we all have different ideas of what an adventure is, but for me it was always about taking chances.

One of the experiences I never got a chance to do, was parachute out of a plane to raise money for cancer when I was in my 30s. I'm sure it would have been an incredible experience, but because the weather was bad when I was due to jump, they wouldn't let us do the parachute. They asked me to come back the next weekend, but because it was in South Wales, and I couldn't really afford to get there, sadly I missed out. But I do beleive everything is for a reason, and perhaps I wasn't meant to do the parachute.

But hey ho! That's life.

Anyway I'm glad you liked the photos and the poem. .Thank you for your kind words.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Very good Jenny, but isn't it sad that we reminisce and live in the past so much, here and now is really all we have. I learnt this from my mother “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift – That is why we call it the present.

But really it is wonderful, such a full and happy life without regrets and resentments, so much beauty as an example to young people.

Keep well, all the best! Tom Brown

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Tom,

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. Looking back for me is very important. When you're young making memories is the best feeling in the world. I always try to encourage young people to live there life to the fullest while they're young, because as we age life becomes harder to manage. Mind you they never listen to me.

I did a lot of traveling in my youth, and also never stayed in one place long, which meant I had a very varied life and met many different people. I wasn't afraid of change, it excited me and gave meaning to adventure. Now I'm nearly 70 I have become a sufferer of anxiety and don't have the energy or stamina to move around as much as I used to, so I suppose recalling those more energetic times gives me pleasure to write about.

Hope all is well with you and your brother.

Many thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Take care.

Jenny. smiley