spring cleaning,
of a sort—perhaps–
objects that
beget the
remembrance, past events, some
forgotten, we smile
at the old
report cards, boxes
of them and
school projects–
you kept them through all the moves–
holding our childhoods
long after
we’d outgrown them, but
there it is–
a lunchbox–
a small book I made for you,
in a school art class,
there my first
published book, you stamped
it with your
name, assigned
it to classes, proud father
storing books and dreams,
phases of
our lives sharing space
with antiques.
Ming vases
once held living flowers, but
all things turn to dust–
we vacuum
the closet, and close
the door, laugh
so much junk!
Though I understand wanting
to hoard memories
Today, Day 18 of NaPoWriMo, we’re challenged to write an elegy “one in which the abstraction of sadness is communicated not through abstract words, but physical detail.” This is written in a series of shadorma stanzas. I couldn’t get this poem started until I remembered my sisters and I cleaning out the big storage closet in my dad’s last apartment. He died over twenty years ago in May.
I’m also linking this to Open Link Night at dVerse.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
All those memories you find when cleaning out the attic… it can be endless, but there is something so sweet in seeing it…
Yes, there is. Thank you.
The cleaning out is something I remember with sadness.
Yes. I think it will much sadder with my mom. But this storage closet was also kind of funny because of some of things my dad kept.
When you have sibling company to do it, it’s not so bad.
Yes, that definitely makes a difference.
🙂
That tactile sensation of holding something and the memories it brings is why it’s so hard to part with it, and you tell it well, Merril.
Thank you very much, Ken.
We keep much from our own children’s growing up. Maybe they will want them some day, wondering if these memories are the last things we have to give to them.
Yes, thank you, Frank. You may be right.
The image of the Ming vase holding living flowers that now have turned to dust is so evocative. This is beautiful Merril – spring cleaning tends to bring up so many forgotten things and memories.
I’m afraid mine was a lot darker, and I’m not even sure it fits the prompt but it’s as good as a cluster headache will allow!
https://shukuen.blogspot.com/2019/04/glopowrimo-day-18-elegy-for-innocence.html
Thank you! My dad had an antique business when I was a child, so he had some lovely things. Hope you feel better soon.
Antiques! I can only imagine how beautiful they would have been. Thank you! Yes, I am going to bed now and hopefully I’ll be ok by tomorrow.
Yes, my parents had a big wholesale antique business. Then they sold it after they got divorced, but they each had some nice belongings, too. I hope the sleep helps!
Wow! The emotion in this is powerful; though not a single word of sadness was written I had tears in my eyes by the second stanza. Well done.
Wow–thank you so much!
Nostalgia is a well spring of emotions. I confess as to being a memory hoarder. But my wife and I are “Spring cleaning” a lot these days; telling the children to retrieve their stuff before it goes to Goodwill.
Thank you. Yes–my husband has been going through some of the stuff we “hoarded.” Then there are things I wish I had kept, but didn’t. 🙂 We’ve been storing some things for our girls, but now one is buying a house, so she’ll be able to take some of hers.
Such wonderful bout of nostalgia in this one, Merril! ❤️
Thank you so much!
I used to be a hoarder of memories, til we downsized. I cried as I released the stuff of things past. May our memories keep them all alive… until we turn to dust.
Wow – you got me musing on this one, Merril. xo
Thank you so much, Pam.
Yes, we’re still in a house filled with lots of stuff that needs to be sorted through–though my husband has done some of it. My Dad though did get rid of things, but that storage closet in his apartment was full. 🙂
Oh I can see you there so clearly, finding suddenly such a wealth in what your father treasured and you once thought trash. We always need something to hold on to. 🤗
Yes. Thank you, Damien. My dad was sentimental about us, and it makes me feel happy to know that.
We’ve just been in Dublin, helping clear out my mother-in-law’s house. Such complex, mixed emotions. You capture it so well.
Thank you so much, Sarah.
You are right about mixed emotions. I remember you mentioning the laughter and tears recently.
It could be the words of my children when I’m gone and they are going through my chest of family memorabilia! Indeed, you depict it well.
Thank you so much. Yes, my children might be saying the same thing, too. 🙂
I believe many of us are guilty of hording memories. Lovely poem
Thank you very much! Yes, I am guilty of this, too. 🙂
Closets hold all kinds of memories, don’t they? I need to do a bit of clearing out myself.
Thank you! Yes, so do I! 🙂
Well done. They all so it, don’t they, hold onto our childhoods for decades. Leaving us to sort through those memories. Well told.
Thank you very much. Yes, I confess to wanting to hold on to some of my girls’ things.
Very touching. I enjoy how you started with “spring cleaning”. What followed was surprising, slightly unexpected and I really enjoyed the poem. You have a way with words that holds my interest!
That is a lovely comment. Thank you so much!
We shared a lot of surprises and memories cleaning out my parents’ apartment. This brings it back and I’m smiling and also tearing up. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe. I’m pleased this brought memories for you.
Wow does this strike a chord. I’m taking a year off from travel to do exactly this. If we could only throw the boxes away without having to take a long journey through each one–but of course, we must.
Thank you. Sorry for the delay–I just found this comment in my spam. Good luck with your cleaning. I hope you find it also a valuable journey.
I loved this, Merril! Sometimes it’s so hard to let go of those things that mean so much. Beautiful!
Thank you very much, Jill. Yes, it is.
This is so good… our treasures are full of so many memories.
I liked this…
you kept them through all the moves–
holding our childhoods
long after
we’d outgrown them
Thank you very much, Dwight!
ahhhhhh. this is so relatable. we outgrow things but never memories.
So true. Thank you!
The shadorma stanzas convey the way memories cascade on us and make the poem even more poignant. You’ve definitely communicated sadness in the physical detail, Merril. I have to admit that I am envious of your experience with your sisters as I didn’t get to do this with mine. My heart skipped when I read the lines:
‘holding our childhoods
long after
we’d outgrown them, but
there it is–
a lunchbox–
a small book I made for you,
in a school art class’.
Thank you very much, Kim. Yes, having siblings to help made the experience much better–and now easier with caring for my mom.
My husband recently found that little book when cleaning out our own basement, so I guess it was in the back of my mind.
This is really lovely and fits the task perfectly
Thank you!
The details and tiny treasures evoked the emotion so well. It reminded me of my own closet that I am avoiding….many hoarded memories, but I think what if I died tomorrow, someone would have a few laughs. I have my kids’ teeth in there (Tooth fairy)!
Thank you, Mish. I had a bunch of my kids’ teeth from the tooth fairy–and then one day, I said to myself “this is disgusting,” and threw them out. 🙂
Cheers to that! 🙂
Brilliant use of the closet to offer a warm glimpse of moments in your life. Well written Merril. I enoyed it, but I have always thought I was perhpd a little voyeuristic…
Thank you, Rob! 😉
I should add that I spent years reading people’s diaries, letters, and court papers for my dissertation, so I’m right there with you. 😉
In a world where we are often so busy and unaware of time so often, I always believed that these little mementos we find in the attic or in the basement should be cherished.
Thank you very much. Those little mementos can hold so much meaning.
Ugh. Maybe I waited till now to read this (No, I’m not behind in my inbox nor am I procrastinating going through my closets in preparation of my move… No, I’m not.)
This was lovely, though!
Thank you so much for reading–whenever!
Ha ha 😊