The Purple Ribbon

The Purple Ribbon

 

It sat in a closet thirty years,

a memorable solemnly kept

among other trinkets

which life had dealt.

 

Now the box lay open,

as whether hands took a peek

at the life she once lived--

a life which she longed to repeat.

 

Her husband had been gone two years,

and only now had she the strength

to look inside the worn box.

To somehow, the past… reach.

 

Not a man to share his feelings,

she often felt he had a hard shell.

Never had he spoken words of love,

though he loved her… she could tell.

 

Yet, upon looking into the box,

she was startled by what she found.

Folded neatly was the purple ribbon

which had graced her wedding gown.

Tears rained down time-wrinkled cheeks;

she couldn’t believe he’d kept it, for his tough disposition.

As she entwined it around her arm, she was reminded…

his love spoke the loudest through the purple ribbon.

 

Melinda McQueen Rodgers

April 9, 2021

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful story in the poetry dear Melinda. True love never forgets. I enjoyed the complete poem and thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Delightfully narrated. That purple ribbon was surely treasured. Some people hide their feelings, but that doesn't mean to say they don't have them. Well done Melinda.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

It is hard for some men to communicate the tender feelings women need to hear. The subject of this poem seems to have been one cast in this mould. Two years after his death, his widow finds a wedding ribbon among his belongings, an indication of how he really felt. As they say, better late than never.

[Melinda McQueen]

Yes sir! Thnnks for your visit.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Beautiful I love this
So sad to lose ones soul mate in life
Is this true story or fiction ?
Regardless I love it well done !

[Melinda McQueen]

It's fiction. I wanted to convey how though some don't know how to show their feelings doesn't mean they don't feel them. Thanks for reading.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

Yes it’s very. Good