Don’t Call It a Loss
Wednesday morning became a poem.
Trinkets have over-stayed for grandchildren
now no longer playing with trinkets.
Granddaughters are on a trip.
“I have the day free,” I said to myself.
"I’ll do my walking early,
then get to the task".
I brought all the dishes and baskets
to the kitchen to search for
throwaways. I know the memories
will stay, but
mystery game pieces,
tiny cars,
plastic spiders,
pretty rocks,
worn plastic people
had to go.
Rocks remain but
now garden strewn.
Here were small bead bracelets
plastic coins,
two metallic pieces engraved
with ‘love’ and ‘joy’,
plus
pieces of jewelry
all with a goal
to sparkle a collage –
never made.
I found one mystery,
A tiny red foam ball.
I had no idea why it was kept,
Then I saw the slit.
It was a clown nose,
worn by my young daughter
on Halloween.
I’ll demonstrate
on a beloved sloth
who lives here for the girls
to play again.
Stoic she is,
like this day
when I’m patiently perusing
my memories
And giving my goodbyes.
Linda Baie ©
Linda, I like that you turned your giveaway chore into a poem that has deep meaning for me. I try to keep the girls' toys and trinkets in organized bins but when they are here it gets messy. They love their stuffies, babies, and whatnots and often engage in imaginative play that I just love. Will I be sad when they outgrow the childhood friends and objects. I am already so surprised in the difference I see in Sierra since she turned 5 on the 15th. Childhood is a fleeting time of life so I am sure your memory bank is full. After reading the poem, the line: "Trinkets have over-stayed for grandchildren" now carries deeper meaning for me. You have the teenager years to enjoy now. Enjoy the beginning of summer.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely and bittersweet as weeding the toy stacks is. I have been doing the same. So many good memories...a beautiful collage.
ReplyDeleteAwww, a clown nose amid the cleaning out...thank you for sharing this. So many objects are charged with memory...when we downsized it helped me to take pictures of the things I was letting go of. xo
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever owned a clown nose. But what a cool thing to find and it's so funny on that stuffed animal! I'm sure it took hours to go through that drawer and I'm glad you shared it in a poem as you said "goodbye."
ReplyDeleteVery nice poem Linda! I appreciated the clown nose closer. As I sort through the things my kids have, I'm often surprised by the feelings once mundane things have as I get ready to throw them away. And that's why I never throw anything away :)
ReplyDeleteStoic on the outside, maybe, but you're overflowing with love and memories--thanks for sharing them in this poem!
ReplyDeleteLinda, This is exactly what I've been doing lately, too. You put it into words so well! The memories are the important things and they stay not matter what. Thankfully, in my case, they are portable as well. I did take some photos of things my boys made or played with before throwing them out so that I can refresh my memories when needed. I hope it was a good task, and in the end, the sloth will serve as a guardian for play at Grandma's.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to capture the essence of a visit - by cataloguing the ephemera of the aftermath. The sloth looks adorable in the clown nose!
ReplyDeleteEasy to identify with this ritualistic rounding up of the 'remains of the day,' Linda. They are as you note in your poem, forever linked to memories of tasks completed, or otherwise left incomplete. You have captured these grandchildren moments with such clarity.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem that brought forth the memories of my own. The two tiny Adirondack chairs already too small for a six and eight year old.thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a story of love and creativity this poem tells! Good that you did the weeding on a day you had to yourself!!
ReplyDeleteLove this line: "And giving my goodbyes."
ReplyDeleteI admire your fortitude to be able to part with treasures that hold so many sweet memories, Linda! My house is bursting with "trinkets have over-stayed." My main summer goal is to be brave and wave "my goodbyes" to some of them. Thank you for this encouragement!
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