I found my youth shoved in a box today,
rotting in the attic, stuffed behind old clothes
and plastic decorations.
It was covered in dust and memories
and loss.
Bittersweet moments hung from the rafters,
a lifetime near forgotten
til I stumbled on those relics from the past–
guitar strings perfectly in tune
lifting harmonies of angels.
My eyes burn with pleasure and longing as
I sway to a soundtrack that completes some
part of me left behind as 'life' forced its way in.
The treasure trove of younger years pulls at my mind,
a tickle, a tease of who I used to be.
What happened to that girl?
How could she have forgotten the things
we used to live and breathe for,
that set our soul on fire?
It feels like she's been petrified.
Molded into a cheap knick-knack
wrapped in yellowed paper,
nostalgic but antiquated.
I want her to be relevant again.
I need her to be relevant again.
If only that box wasn't so heavy...
____________________________________________
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The Longest Minute
A minute. Sixty seconds to say goodbye. That’s all the time that I had left with him as the needle slid into his leg. I stared into his drooping eyes, looked at the blood-tainted saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth. They said that this was the best thing that we could do for him, a last kind act for a best friend…but if that were the case, then why did my heart feel so heavy?
By Stephanie Hoogstad6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (21)
Oh, this one hit so close to home today. Like just what the doctor ordered. Thank you for using the down to bring the up and give the day a boost.
I read this on Facebook but was not able to make a comment. I don’t sign in on Facebook for vocal. Excellent poetry 💗
Woah, such symbolism and meaning here. Thank you for sharing
Nostalgic but antiquated. I loved that line so much! I too wish the box wasn't so heavy. Loved your poem so much!
Beautifully written!
Uh those boxes take us back! I too feel like that often. I’m obsessed with nostalgia.. it kind of prevents me from living in the NOW at times. I loved your poem. I wrote something similar recently, but haven’t posted it as yet. It’s not very Poetic though. I liked your images and just the feeling of this one a lot! ☺️👏
Aw, this hits home so hard 🥹❤️ The time is here and then it's not - how quickly everything passes. I've also been going through a lot of my old stuff recently. Nostalgia is real. Once again, you you've penned magic here, my friend 🥹 Lovely, sentimental poem!
wonderful
Man, this is so deep and so true. That last line says it all. I just love this!
I love be the analogy in this and feel your words deeply. Fantastic, Heather 💕🙂
Last summer I began going through boxes left over from high school college & a little beyond, hoping to decide what I wanted to save & what could be thrown. I felt this one, Heather. I'm still trying to recover from all the memories, foolishness, mistakes & losses dredged up last summer. I felt this one.
One that I had missed but a beautiful poem, and I have just noticed Kafka's name (an influence on my writing) so need to check that out as well
Beautifully written! The poem's sentiment definitely resonated with me! The world is still our oyster! Great job!
Heather, this is my favorite poem from you. Memories are here to remind us of what we have accomplished.
Beautiful melancholic poem Heather. The last line kicks - “ If only that box wasn't so heavy...“ 🥰
This stirred the cobwebs of my own memories. This was a very connective poem!
Oh. My. God. I don't think I've related to anything more than this in my (what feels like) centuries on earth. You've outdone yourself yet again, Empress. Had me hooked from the first line. Absolutely fantastic piece. Bravo, my friend. 👏
More treasures in attics than on Pirate ships, ni roe H2 😊😊
I loved the line and description, "It feels like she's been petrified. Molded into a cheap knick-knack" Ahh, memories of the past will always trigger emotions. Hope most of them were good ones.
wonderful piece, thank you for sharing
Awesome!!! Loved it!!!💕❤️❤️