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Early Memory ( after Sharon Olds )
Imprint—a bridge, and someone—
an Aunt, squeezing my hand;
wobbly-walk, trees after rain
infused light of branch and leaves—
sound but not sight, water
moving underward, echo—
muffled voices—human and animal
heat solidified on skin, humidity
beading necklaces, lace and dirt—
after-rain muddiness drying in sun;
imprint, footfall of a paw, fossilized
now long gone, having moved on
leaving its mark on the world —
history in hours, significance;
“I’ve been here,” it announced
without uttering a word—
I understood that one day
mine would be left too.
~
#SharonOlds
an Aunt, squeezing my hand;
wobbly-walk, trees after rain
infused light of branch and leaves—
sound but not sight, water
moving underward, echo—
muffled voices—human and animal
heat solidified on skin, humidity
beading necklaces, lace and dirt—
after-rain muddiness drying in sun;
imprint, footfall of a paw, fossilized
now long gone, having moved on
leaving its mark on the world —
history in hours, significance;
“I’ve been here,” it announced
without uttering a word—
I understood that one day
mine would be left too.
~
#SharonOlds
Published 24th Jun 2019
Author's Note
Non-entry 'Fear of Oneself' Sharon Olds' Tribute
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/10827/
Based on her poem 'Earliest Memory' https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=37346
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/10827/
Based on her poem 'Earliest Memory' https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=37346
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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Anonymous
24th Jun 2019 12:07pm
I love this. It is always intriguing what early memories survive the test of time. Yours is infused with so much nature; a sign of things to come; the bridge bonding spiritual and physical environment together as one path while the stream of your consciousness flows.
24th Jun 2019 12:46pm
I admire this creative imagery and eloquent word choice here to express your muse. Kudos.
Pls pleez do review/ comment my newest poem too, I like to know of human thoughts from all sections of the globe, coz such interaction is good for all, they say
Pls pleez do review/ comment my newest poem too, I like to know of human thoughts from all sections of the globe, coz such interaction is good for all, they say
24th Jun 2019 1:10pm
capturing nature as is ...& in the deeply reflective state..a state which itself is reflective of the change that is the only constant...yet the traces of indelible memories left in all the temporal slides running randomly fast as haze & vanish & more beyond...beautiful poetry Ahavati ..loved this x
24th Jun 2019 6:51pm
Love those 'staccato' images building on the first word "imprint" and then coming full circle at the poem's end alluding to the imprint a whole life leaves behind.
25th Jun 2019 4:13am
Beautiful memories dear Ahavati. Each of us leave an imprint in someone's mind.
Sage.
A word comes to mind - indelible - not the mark that was made IN the poem, but BY the poem itself. Other words jockey to dominate. And, no...
“Indelible”. Yes.
A word comes to mind - indelible - not the mark that was made IN the poem, but BY the poem itself. Other words jockey to dominate. And, no...
“Indelible”. Yes.
26th Jun 2019 5:18am
I was just reading a couple more reviews of Sharon Olds, it mentioned her parent child poems and how she would highlight the fact that early memories are carried through into adulthood and color our experience for a lifetime, this poem is a good example of that, a vivid picture of childhood that endures and inspires..
And each time a mark is made and left behind, the universe is forever changed. xo
