The box of jewels
is dressed with
green velvet inside.
The box is home to
the leaves and shells
that you gave me.
They chatter all day,
when the house
is silent
I listen.
The leaves remember the
taste of rain.
They whisper of spring
and children in the park.
They whisper of vines
crawling,
bathing in the sunlight.
The shells tell tales
about mermaids with
wavy hair
floating on seaweed
frolicking in the waves.
The pail was full
when we walked along
the sand
sharing summer days
on the island.
Your hair smelled
like the salty sea.
I took a deep breath
taking it in
like oxygen
to carry me through.
I chased the days
as they slipped away
like water rolling through my hands.
The leaves and shells chatter
and I remember
magical yesterdays.
Oh, this was so lyrical and beautiful and magical, ayala.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem of reminiscing, Ayala. Those leaves and shells, I am sure, bring back wonderful times. TREASURES to breathe in and savor whenever you want to....or need to.
ReplyDeleteha. i love the magic you gave those shells....and the leaves...the little totems of the days you spent together and the adventures...we have much the same of our boys.....
ReplyDeleteAyala, I like how you brought the things into the poem as characters of your memory. Very effective.>KB
ReplyDeleteThe way you brought live to leaves especially was fascinating.. I could even smell them... really love it.
ReplyDeleteThe little things found can sure bring joy around
ReplyDeleteI love how you had these treasures talking, communicating. That's what they do, don't they? Delicious.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the glimpse into your precious box and the little conversations the leaves and shells have. How nice that for you they evoke 'magical yesterdays'.
ReplyDeleteVery nice...those summer memories with our kids, oh yes, I draw on those to carry me too...
ReplyDeleteSo poignant remembering long gone days, especially those spent with our children who now are grown. This poem really speaks to me!
ReplyDeleteWe wrote of the same shells, smiles ~ I love the part of their chattering and your listening & remembering the magical yesterdays ~
ReplyDeleteLovely in that you remember the treasures but also the human components as well. Enjoyed this poem, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMagical, indeed. This is sweet--a word I don't usually use but that's what it is!
ReplyDeleteNostalgic and alive with magical memories of yesterday's child, a joy to read!
ReplyDeleteAh the memories of childhood contained in these little bits and pieces.
ReplyDeleteit does fly like a breath - time and change with loving memories
ReplyDeleteThe chatter of the shells ... Nice repetitive image, you really brought this to life! Poignant and loving.
ReplyDeleteI like that each yesterday can be a treasure...savoring life a day at a time..nice.
ReplyDeleteyour poem is a sweet capture of memories lovingly held
ReplyDeleteA wonderful treasure of leaves.
ReplyDeleteno treasure more precious than memories
ReplyDeleteThis poem made me smile, oh, so much :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I love that photo.
I was looking through some old photos of my son yesterday and wrote him a little poem, I will give it to him when he comes to dinner this weekend.
What a sweet write. Love this.
ReplyDelete"They chatter all day,
ReplyDeletewhen the house
is silent"
I love those lines.
it is quite special...these memories held inside each tiny (or not so tiny) keepsake. very precious write.
ReplyDeleteIt is remarkable what we can put value in, project personality into; nice use of imagination & memory to take the prompt head on; nice job.
ReplyDeleteI love the whimsical tone of this poem. And your last line conjures an enduring image.
ReplyDeleteI love how each of the treasures has a story to tell. Beautifully written!
ReplyDeleteLoved how you brought about the visuals in your words ... very scenic :-)
ReplyDeleteYou said that so much more beautifully than I...but we are feeling the same thing! Lovely!
ReplyDelete