Memory

The home I lived in from the time I was 

born until I graduated from college

Me with my first dog Corky and a kitten we

had for a day. I was allergic to the kitten.  

Memory

So now we are in the week after the week that was. "Open Link" is a hard act to follow after such great participation and wonderful poetry shared.  Some of us still might need a bit of soothing, and maybe some of the poems we write/share this week may have that effect.  That is what I hope anyway.

And now --- back to poetry!

I read Ada Limon's poem Cyrus and the Snakes and was really moved by it.   In it, she shares some memories of childhood which involved her brother.  One of them about her brother holding a snake.  Another about the time they stole an egg from a backyard chicken coop and how it affected both Ada and her brother. But really you have to read it!! It is too long for me to share here.

Then there is the beautiful poem by W.S. Merwin, Black Cherries., which is short enough that I can share a copy!

Black Cherries

Late in May as the light lengthens

toward summer the young goldfinches

flutter down through the day for the first time

to find themselves among fallen petals

cradling their day's colors in the day's shadows

of the garden beside the old house

after a cold spring with no rain

not a sound comes from the empty village

as I stand eating the black cherries

from the loaded branches above me

saying to myself Remember this.

So what I would like you to write this week is a poem about a memory.  

Perhaps a memory of childhood (or any other period in your life), inspired 

by the poem that Ada Limon wrote, a memory of a significant person, place,

or happening. Or take inspiraton from Merwin's poem and write about 

something more current that you WANT to remember.

I will close with a video by Disturbed of the song "Hold on to Memories." I 

really like it. Such a meaningful song!

After you have written your poem, please link it below.  Visit the links of other poets in the spirit of community.  The prompt will close Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.   Looking forward to reading your words!