mementos

one who lost at love, now she loves him...can it work?

a babe in woods, they laughed at me

seeking to snuff my appeal

even though glimpses of memory revealed

my doubts reflecting back to me.

she quickly disallowed my grief

in pseudo-royal fashion

for all who ridiculed my passion,

my reasons for my beliefs.

 

a mess of photos on the floor, scattered like

toothpicks, the rain man’s milieu,

recalling how he loved her light,

her knack for loving purely mattered for

what he needed, two loves not shattered

but not exactly feeling right.

 

her voice would guide him, trembling as it was,

a twisted turn around the shifting bend

racing to a love that he feared…

now sitting on thorns, he grasped for the morn

the photos find him now, sitting in scorn

and sifting through old souvenirs.

 

mementos rest in boxes now,

ringing loudly through the years and

prompting wishful tears.

 

dan and dee © 2015

Music: "More Than Words," by Extreme

 

Author's Note

Reviews

[Robert]

Dan you have a mass of poems, I look for a title that intrigues me (hard to choose). Then I found this one and you write about time, moments, past, etc. just as I have done. I really enjoyed this piece Dan, very well done. Each poem I read from you I enjoy, you write so naturally, I sit and wonder if it comes easy to you?

[dan]

Robert, Does it come easy to me? Very rarely. There have been a few writes that flowed from beginning to end seamlessly, but usually it's an arduous process. When I say that writing is a labor of love the emphasis is on the word labor. But also on the love. take care...dan

[modtoddinc]

I enjoyed the poem, but I felt the music detached me from the flow of your words. Perhaps it's because this song has run its course in my life... anyway nice job. I enjoy your writing very much Dan.

[dan]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I've asked a few other of my readers if the music was intrusive and they all said no, but now if I get another person echoing your opinion I will have to do some thinking about it. You know you can scroll down to where the YouTube vid is and turn it off if you so choose. Thank you...dan

[ANTO]

I totally agree with Kelly, 'rain man's milieu..' is such a powerful sentiment, I was immediately grabbed by it and it is the fulcrum of this heartfelt sincere poem. We look to the past to help us in the now and the future but sometimes we just have to throw caution to the wind and see where the wind blows us.
Great honest searching writing.
:)

[dan]

Situations in my personal life have tinged my writing with wistfulness lately, thinking about my mark that I will leave, my legacy for my son and grandchildren, my metaphorical 'box of mementos.' Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, always nice to hear from you sir! take care...dan

[RiverRei]

I love this. I can definitely relate to it. Nostalgia can make me feel like this a lot, too. I wish I had more of my pictures of when I was younger, but my mother took most of them and I don't talk to her anymore. I'm sorry you've had to feel like this, you don't deserve it. It did inspire a magnificent poem, though. Great work, friend. Thank you for sharing this with me :) I'm here if you need anything. Take care, Dan!

[dan]

River, Thank you but this is not about me. I invent these composite characters in a lot of my pieces so I'm really just speaking of Joe Average trying to make his way through this tough time in his life. One thing that's true: I believe most people, female or male, have a little box with keepsakes unidentifiable to others but holding special value to them only. We all tend to have this need to hold on to some of the past in an effort to feel relevant in the present. But I love your interpretation! I've said it since I started writing: If 10 people read this and come up with 10 different interpretations, then my writing did its job. Thanks so much for your continued support. take care...dan

[Kelly Scheppers]

I gravitated to the "rain man's milieu", which was a brilliant analogy of what we all go through in sorting through memoirs and memories of unrequited love, or lost loves, like yesterday's laundry. And here I thought only us of the feminine persuasion did such torturous things!

Lennon had McCartney, Cherone had Bettencourt, so it's only right that Dan has Dee! High five, my friend!

[dan]

Kelly, Thanks once again for your review, yours always gives me a reason to smile. And no, we guys (at least most of the ones I know closely) save little mementos, bring them out every now and again and smile/shed a tear (depending) just like women, no shame in that! And yes, Dee really did contribute to this write, invaluable opinions on the wording of the first stanza. take care...dan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i still have many photos, many memories from when i was in these whirlwind romances in my naive days....but i kind of miss that feeling of jumping in head first without hesitation, not worrying abou the consequences...but alas...we grow up...

[dan]

Jacob, Love is indeed a fickle yet spellbinding animal. It hurts so much at times, but hurts so good on other occasions. (John Mellancamp reference) And I also think that a lot of folks may lie about it, but most people do have that little box stashed away somewhere...hidden inside our closets and our hearts. Thanks so much for your review! take care...dan

[Matching Socks]

Beautiful poem Dan, sometimes those that leave the biggest mark on us are the same who stay for the shortest time. Almost as though they've come to show us, teach us something.
We're here for a good time, not a long time as the song goes... Make memories.

[dan]

A very interesting insight, Ana, and oh so true. Some of the most profound things I've learned in my life were from chance encounters. Thanks so much for your read/review. take care...dan

[Matching Socks]

You're welcome Dan, happy to offer my two cents. :)

[....................]

I really enjoyed this piece, dan. Right from the get go the reference to the old children's tale 'Babes in the Wood' grabbed my attention. The naivety of entering into a relationship blindly, full of love, only to lose it, somewhat. Like the 'rain man' the speaker sits among photographic mementos, the only things that consume his mind. He's willing to suffer 'sitting on thorns' (those old feelings) wishing for days reflected in the photos. In the end these mementos still speak to him and cause him quiet grief, even though they are tucked away in boxes. There is a sense of abandonment in these lines and I guess that is why the opening words, 'a babe in the woods' is so apt. I have all the love letters from all past lovers tucked neatly away in old shoe boxes... for some reason I can't let them go. Thanks for sharing, dan.

[dan]

FT, In my case that would be a very tiny box. 8^) You know I used to think that I gave really heady reviews till the Professor (that would be you) came along and showed me how insightful a review could be. Almost always I feel as if you had been sitting here beside my computer desk while I typed, explaining my thinking in a narration. You almost always hit it out of the park. Thanks again, as usual. take care...dan

[....................]

I wear size 13s, not that it matters!! I Your reviews are nothing to scoff at and mine are but mere reflections of my connection to a poem and for some reason your poetry always speaks to be very loudly and clearly. Perhaps it's a cosmic connection... perhaps I am sitting at your desk... maybe, just maybe, you write so well it drips off the page :) Cheers my friend. - FT

[dan]

Shhh....okay I just checked and you are not sitting beside my desk (had you been there rest assured I would have hospitably offered you a beverage and a cookie) Sorry no cake; my wife for--wait--my wife doesn't make cakes and I'm no baker (but I am a butcher and a candlestick maker). See, you got me started; now you have piss-poor attempts at comedy dripping off the page! Have a good night, Mr. FT. take care...dan

[Isabel25]

Photos scattered like toothpicks!...You have a real knack with the imageries Dan. That's what I love best about you. The protagonist seems like a man who learnt to love himself through the love of his lover. Too bad when such people lose their lovers- it's like they'd lose two people at once- their other half as well as themselves.

[dan]

Annie, I really love your interpretation of the meaning of my piece. The way I feel about having my poetry peer reviewed is that if 10 people review it and come up with 10 different interpretations, then I consider that writing a flattering success. Your interpretation, and everyone else's, is totally on point! Thanks so much for your review. take care...dna

[Isabel25]

I am glad you liked my interpretation :)