Balloon

I watched
you were the balloon that flew away
I cried
as you drifted to parts unknown
all those years ago
certain my heart would never be whole again
surely the sun would never shine again
and crickets would no longer
beat their drums at nightfall
but one morning
as a bouquet of long stemmed sunbeams
found a home on my desk
I realized
you were not the balloon flying away
you were only
a badly written sentence
in just one chapter of my life

Reviews

[B J Hughes]

The introduction is so captivating! One, grounded, held prisoner of this earth watching another, a free spirit, floating away out of their grasp. What a setting to couch the reflections of heart and mind! And then the "turn-around" at the end with those long-stemmed sunbeams, the realization that a page can indeed be turned to new chapters. Some discussion has been made about the erasure of that 'bad sentence", and it is a valid notion. But can memories ever be erased? Better to leave the sentence as-is as a reminder of lessons learned in that chapter in our lives. Better to create new and beautiful memories that will bury the old beneath them. :o)

[Lydia Shutter]

No, I don't think memories can be erased...not totally. They become part of who we are and how we deal with life. thank you so much, BJ. Lydi**

[Ruth]

Oh goodness...Lydi this gave me such amazement...the description is superb and so tangible, wonderful!

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you very much! Love this new photo of you! Lydi**

[Ruth]

Ah, thank you Lydi, and always my pleasure :)

[Trace]

Looking at life as though it were a book, with different sentences, paragraphs and chapters, is a great metaphor.
realizing we all have different chapters and that our own story is being written each day is a wonderful way of dealing with the sorrows and hardships, and also knowing that as we write, we can enhance the story line with the joys and happiness that we have found.

I love this piece.

Trace

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks so much, Trace. I appreciate you. Lydi**

[David Scott]

I have to laugh at this one Lydi... Why? Well, the insult is so deep to the mind of a sensitive person like a poet. Yet, I can't help but think the idiot would not even understand he was just full of hot air. Empty really, as wasted lines in a poetic expression. Fantastic poem.

[Lydia Shutter]

Glad you understood completely, David. You are right, the person I was writing about would not have a clue. That makes me smile. I appreciate your review. Lydi**

[paddy d daly]

The child within us will always come
Out and lead us on to adult days.
You have done that here...p

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks so much, Paddy. Lydi**

[redzone]

the whole world seems to collapse in on itself when that "balloon" drifts/flies away... do these "badly written sentences" ever really just go away? or do they at times haunt us and even make us wish for a different outcome in our stories ("life"). And this even if badly written... we live, we learn and some of us even keep that one balloon, long deflated perhaps, but inserted and kept between the pages of our lives. cause it always and continues to make us smile...

I enjoyed reading your "reflective" poem, one of those "nice" poems you write that grabs my attention..

redzone

[Lydia Shutter]

Your review is better than the poem, Curt! Yes, that balloon is inserted between the pages of our lives....like a dried corsage. They do haunt....but at times they make us wonder "what if". Thank you so much for the in depth review....so "nice". Lydi**

[Patricia Wedel]

Long stemmed sunbeams on your desk...
reassurance you are blessed. There are
times we cherish and times that float away
like a balloon on a rainy day. truly, Pat

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you so much, Pat. I appreciate your reviews. Lydi**

[A hare off]

I believe we all have a few of these sentences written in our life's story and though some we can erase, others make us stronger and better writers for the future. I loved the ballon analogy as it is something we can watch slowly float away until it disappears completely. "a bouquet of long stemmed sunbeams" This line was fantastic. Great poem Lydi.

[Lydia Shutter]

I so appreciate your kind review. Thank you. Lydi**

[Terpsichore]

'you were only
a badly written sentence
in just one chapter of my life.'

Often hard to turn the page, but it's what has to be done sometimes.

These are very well written lines.

T

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks so much, Terp. Lydi**

[Sami Khalil]

He carried those inflatable words like those cold air or hot air balloons. When they fly away, we are left wondering or just release a sigh of relief. An excellent poem, Lydia...:)......

[Lydia Shutter]

Sami, I always appreciate your warm reviews. Thanks so much. Lydi**

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome. ...:))))