These are the black shells that washed up from the ocean
as you were leaving.
See? I have them here on this little shelf turned altar.
Here is your photo with Becky and the dogs.
Here is the angel you drew
when you learned of the cancer.
This is the dryer ball in the shape of a hedgehog.
Remember when I sent that to you?
You said the bouncing sound in the dryer made you laugh
and that made me happy.
Somehow Michael knew to send it back to me afterward.
Anyone would wonder why a dryer ball belongs on an altar.
It is sacred.
And here are your words sweeping across the sky –
the way you signed your letters
with a flourish:
Peace. Love. Patti.
I repeat these words and they transform:
Here. Now. Forever.
Oh my gosh, but this is brilliantly written. Such powerful use of language and emotion in the flow of the piece. I love how you’ve flirted between the lines of detachment, sentimentality and deep loss.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback.
This is so beautifully heart wrenching without being overly sentimental. That’s a tough balance. This is a powerful line: “It is sacred.” It is because of the people and their relationship, not just because of the object itself. It is a symbol.
Thank you. Yes …
A truly beautiful poem. Showing through meaningful symbols the power of the relationship, the feelings. Simple language, strong emotion. Resonant, poignant and powerfully constructed. Thank you so much.
Thank YOU! I really appreciate this.
Wow. Every moment of this poem. This feels so fully formed, I’m in awe.
Thank you so much. This poem was therapy for me. I’m grateful for the prompt that helped me create it.
This is wonderful in so many ways. Your use of specifics here is powerful. I particularly loved
“This is the dryer ball in the shape of a hedgehog.
Remember when I sent that to you?”
Thanks so much, Caitlin. I love the poetry half-marathon!
I love reading this poem. You managed to emphasize her life even more by not mentioning “death.” Thank you.
I hadn’t even thought of that. Thanks!
love this. here. now.forever. So true.