Withered
Her hand frail against the withered fronds as she rearranged the flowers
For time had sold them short.
Joyful
Her youthful stance and gaze, as glorious bride in the gaily painted photo-frame
Captured in the stillness of time framed by the care-home mantle-piece.
Anguish
Forgetting fettered fragile moments of family-time,
Lost forever in the timelessness of a fretful mind.
Peacefulness
Her pain receding as the hands of time hold her soul
Serene against the backdrop of a moonlit sky.
© Alison Jean Hankinson
This for poetics at d’verse. We were asked to explore something we couldn’t touch. It is coming up for the 10th anniversary of my mum passing away and she never got to be old so she never experienced losing her memories.
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Hues of Hankinson 
The form you chose for this is perfection! That photo holds so much symbolism and weight, too. Love how peacefulness wraps it up – nice touch. 🙂
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Thank you. XXX
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The various ways you grow old… so chilling… the form of saying what it is and then how it looks is great.
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Well-described anguish: “Forgetting fettered fragile moments of family-time”
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A brilliant portrayal of time’s passing. Evocative imagery throughout moves along with you!
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I like the structure you gave this poem and it was touchingly bitter sweet for me. ❤
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Much love to you. XX
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Love the progression of this – very creative.
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Ohhhh what a ride. This felt like a calm boat sailing. Beautiful!
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As we get older there will be more and more things we don’t see, that will just fritter away into forgetfulness. I found this image chilling, but you pulled it back from the brink at the end.
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These anniversaries are so difficult, Alison, and I’m with you all the way on this. You’ve captured the ageing process, the slow fade and then disappearance of a loved one, and not only made it your own but also made it familiar to others. The alliteration in the first and third stanzas is particularly effective – I remember how my mum mumbled and lisped before she lost speech altogether and the anguish in her face when she so desperately wanted to communicate with me. The final stanza made me cry.
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Sending you love as always. Xxxxx thank you for your words. Xxxx
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🌞💙🌷 xxx
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So many different aspect of life and the different aspect of the flowers, done wonderfully !
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Lovely heartfelt piece, each image works so well. Time passes and time heals too.
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A really lovely poem!
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thank you. XXXX
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What else can I say except that this is exquisite!
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Thank you Lillian. XXX
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Gorgeous writing and format here, Allison. The end of this filled my eyes.
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Much love to you. XXX
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