For the writing challenge at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads. Not sure I did it right but had fun trying. Visit to read many and write your own.
THE HALTER
Cleaning bug bit me
Digging in closets
Finding things forgotten
Or didn't know were missing
Detecting a favorite smell
My horses long gone
Emptiness filling me
Holding the red halter
Holding it
Remembering dreams
Coming true and ending
Tears falling on the halter
Tucking it into the closet
I wasn't ready to give
Away all my memories
You can't turn back time
27 comments:
No, not ready, and may never be, to give up all the memories the red halter brings. Most of us have those, mine and Mrs. Jim's are mainly items we have from our parents.
The race car is one I have from Karen growing up. It was a winner.
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I'm not sure I returned your last comment. If not I am sorry. I did appreciate it a lot but time disappeared. I think there are about nine unanswered comments.
Shame!!
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It's great to hang on to a few pieces of the past. Would you ever hang it somewhere to catch your eye in a day? :)
so sorry, I know how much you loved your horses... you can always put it on your horse dog bonnie when she gets full grown... great poem, i could feel your pain
Things are full of what we put in them...maybe that's why we hate to throw them away. So true that memories come when you least expect it.
I so know this feeling. Never get rid of the halter. It is a precious remnant of a happy time. I have my dog's collar and leash. No other dog will wear it. No other dog could.
i have a drawer stash of cat collars, if that helps. (also, my memory was of a horse as well, huh!)
Very moving. I just gave away my saddle. I know I won't ever have another horse, My Dad had that saddle hand made for me when I graduated from eighth grade. I knew it would be better if someone was using it. But when I put it in the ladies trunk, I wanted to cry because it felt like the end of all things.
I know just how you felt holding that halter. Your poem touched me deeply Gail.
Sometimes there are memories you want to hold onto even if there is pain mixed with them...lovely piece
oh my . . . tender . . .
I think we all have tokens of memory, a red halter to hold onto the vast horse presence that once so filled our lives. Powerful ennui and bittersweet love here.
Oh Gail, I felt the emotion in this. Sometimes we need those things to hold onto to touch to accompany love filled/pain filled memories.
I got what you felt here in this poem - I still have my dog Max's collar - there were many things I gave away, such as blankets and kennel, toys, etc, but I still have his collar - not quite the same but sorta. Have a great day and hi to Marcy, TM and boys :)
Such a poignant write. Holding onto physical is our way of remembering, of laughter, joy or sadness. I felt your pain in this and I pictured you standing there clutching the halter to your heart. Never give it away.
Next to people, it's the animals I miss the most.
I wouldn't say there is a right way to do this challenge. I thought your approach produced a very moving piece.
You never have to be concerned about whether you meet a challenge properly .. you have.
Sweet, sweet memories!
Such bittersweet memories. Sometimes you come across something unexpected and the memories are so acute you are almost transported back there.
Lynne x
I have found lately that if I memorialize something so important in a poem, I feel differently about letting it go. But if it still has a smell like that halter, I may hold it until the day I die.
"I wasn't ready to give
Away all my memories"
-such sadness in those lines.
Great sentiment and truth, Gail...:)JP
Well done Gail.
♥
Some things are never meant to travel on to someone else's closet. The red halter is yours to keep.
Great poem.
I like to answer everyone's comment and visit your site. If you have no reply comment as your return address I can not reach you.
Thank you so much for the kind comments.
I like how you've vividly brought color into memory, Gail - triggers my own mental images of mementos of some bygone time ~
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