I’ve been carrying your shade around
and I think I need to apologise.
I’ve been keeping you closer these days,
tucked between my umbrella
and the notepads,
near the bottom of my handbag
like a half empty pack of tissues.
From time to time I dig you out,
just to turn over our last conversation,
re-read the second hand messages,
remind myself that you’re gone.
I still don’t feel like you’re gone.
I wonder when I will?
I’m a little late to the party for Tuesday Poetics, yesterday turned into something of a manic day with an emergency shoe shopping trip after work, but more about that at the weekend.
The prompt this Tuesday was the word ‘shade’. You can take it anyway you like but the word shade had to appear in the prompt.
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
When one has nothing more to say to the shade, perhaps then it is over. Nice poem.
Thank you Frank. It’s actually about the friend I lost last year. I’ve written a couple about him over the last twelve months. It’s close to the anniversary so I suppose he’s on my mind a lot at the moment.
No one is truly gone so long as we hold them in our memory. Nice tribute to your friend.
Thank you Beverly. While you’re here. I’ve just put up a post about shoes, well sort of. I could do with some honest feedback. Would you mind? If you haven’t got time that’s absolutely fine.
“I’ve been carrying your shade around….”
What a wonderful and insightful statement. When people depart, they leave a shadow of themselves within us and surrounding us….I do believe that. Your words here….the idea that we “tuck” the person’s shade into our handbags, behind the umbrella…perhaps even in the kitchen cabinet that holds the spices? I think it need not be just the photographs of a loved one that remind us….but oh so many things…carrying around their shade. I love this! So very glad you posted.
Thank you Lillian. I love that image of the kitchen cabinet between the spices. We can find memories lurking in all sorts of strange places.
Carrying your shade around….Oh, how well I know that feeling. Evocative poem with powerful imagery that epitmizes grief and loss.
Thank you. It was a really good prompt so I have to give dversepoets some of the credit, shade is such a versatile word.
What a beautiful tribute. Much love to you.
Thank you Alison.