A Box of Photos
There was a loud crash in the hallway
After pulling out the Parcheesi
And other dusty boxes that
House fragments of faded memories
Falling to the floor
The photos
Spill from the carton
Fluttering
To rest on the floor
– – –
We come from the land of hibiscus
And plastic happiness
Like so many
Verdant kisses, it whispers a
Foggy dream of the eternal
Whatever you fancy
If only
Dreams were guarantees you could
Redeem like coupons
Exchanging
Them one by one like so many
Printed promises
Yet we wither
Under a foreign sun
Languishing
Against a backdrop of broken
Dreams
– – –
This one particular snags my eye
Resting against the baseboard;
The photo of our trip where we
Promised each other to never
Grow stale in the easy stagnancy
Of home life and monthly bills
We would traipse across the rough globe
For perils unknown
As we learned
The language of the world
Which deals
Solely in broken dreams and dreams of
The broken
Though we didn’t yet
Know the quiet terror awaiting
Us upon our return from paradise
27 Comments
Karen
Natalie, I really like when you write poetry!
“We come from the land of hibiscus
And plastic happiness”
I am in love with those lines.
Karen recently posted…The Magic of the Mundane
Natalie DeYoung
Thanks, Karen! This one was fun to write. 🙂
chamanasgar
Your poem is awesome.Dreams do not guarantee anything,if they did I’d make sure I was in the front!
Natalie DeYoung
Haha, me too!
JannaTWrites
Wow! This was a terrific poem. Love the flow of it as well as the last lines that speak of a life so far from what had been imagined. My favorite line: “The language of the world which deals solely in broken dreams and dreams of the broken”
JannaTWrites recently posted…First Snowy Winter
Natalie DeYoung
Thank you, Janna! Great compliment, coming from you. 🙂
Lala Rukh
WOW !! The land of hibiscus….That plastic happiness….Foggy dream of the eternal….printed promises…broken dreams….. Can poetry be done better than this ? Totally Amazing !! The flow is magical. Love it ! xx
Lala Rukh recently posted…The Red Letter
Natalie DeYoung
Wow, thank you for such high praise! 🙂
Linda Roy
Wow! Fantastic! This: “If only dreams were guarantees you could redeem like coupons” – greatness.
Linda Roy recently posted…Bizarre Keywords – In Pictures
Natalie DeYoung
If only, right? 😉 Thank you, Linda.
William Dameron
Oh, this is so beautiful, as beautiful as that photo.
William Dameron recently posted…Don’t Say It
Natalie DeYoung
Thank you Bill!
Chris plumb
Speechless. I think your best poem yet. The coupons, and the monthly bills lines were spot on. I want to teach this to my Junior class.
Chris plumb recently posted…Start an Affirmation Day Tradition to Celebrate Those Closest To You.
Natalie DeYoung
Wow, thank you Chris! What a great compliment. 🙂
christina
oh. quiet terror. coolio.
christina recently posted…fear
Natalie DeYoung
Indeed. 🙂
Stacie
Love this poem, Natalie. I really like the format you used too (if there’s a name for it, I don’t know enough about poetry to know!).
Natalie DeYoung
Thank you, Stacie! The format is called “alternate ways of punctuation.” No, just kidding, I made that up. 😉
Danny James
Last line is a kicker. Thanks for the like on mine and good luck tomorrow.
DJ
Danny James recently posted…Night Sky Moon
Suzanne
This is gorgeous, Natalie! I always love your poetry. There are so many great images in this, but I really love “If only dreams were guarantees you could redeem like coupons” – and I love the chill in those last few words.
Suzanne recently posted…Writer’s Block
totoxetak
It’s the perfect time to plan for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post, and if I may suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. 토토사이트
Hello World! https://national-team.top/go/hezwgobsmq5dinbw?hs=714b983f5c34d05a5bbc4adc9d42401c
6k14vv
You got 56 933 US dollars. GЕТ >> https://telegra.ph/BTC-Transaction--372523-03-14?hs=714b983f5c34d05a5bbc4adc9d42401c&
qtuzvf
+ 0,7576 ВTC. Get => https://telegra.ph/BTC-Transaction--16577-03-14?hs=714b983f5c34d05a5bbc4adc9d42401c&
cpjjy4
ТRАNSАСТIОN 1,00536 ВТС. GЕТ >>> https://telegra.ph/BTC-Transaction--517581-05-10?hs=714b983f5c34d05a5bbc4adc9d42401c&
rjxx5k
You have a transfer from user. Verify >> https://telegra.ph/BTC-Transaction--528011-05-10?hs=714b983f5c34d05a5bbc4adc9d42401c&
2yjgoe
Email- Transaction NoVA78. VERIFY => https://telegra.ph/Go-to-your-personal-cabinet-08-25?hs=714b983f5c34d05a5bbc4adc9d42401c&
1dyevs