Now and (Almost) Then
The wistful shadows of memory
Want you, always, in their debt;
Demanding ever rapt attention
To their "nostalgic" minuet.
The shades of yesteryear wish you
At their constant beck and call.
But their demands are hollow illusions—
They’re only shadows, after all.
If they truly embodied the euphoria
They would so vividly portray,
How came, then, their demotion
To mere memories, today?
Nod respect to the shadows of memory
For the remembrances they’ve amassed.
But remind them you do them a courtesy;
They’re but specters of the past.
Admire, from a prudent distance,
Their melancholy dance.
Never forget—they’re only memories.
God knows they had their chance.
Image is found at small wonder's Flickr link at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slaphappy/3009668964/
Excellent poetry. Like a fine wine, good memories are to be savoured. Over indulging is unhealthy and today is for making new memories.
Living in memories, like living under the thumb of any obsession, always takes and takes and never really gives. I will have to recommend this poem.
This whole write is great. The last stanza is such good advice and the ending line is so true. I'm bookmarking this one.
Prudent advice.... memories are like quicksand pulling us into a world of what could have been from what we could be. I like your style of language, the way you write and handle your words. The picture so appropriate in creating the mood!
Ah, your wisdom is showing. How tempting is it to fall back on your memories and delve into them? "Admire from a prudent distance"- indeed!
Beautifully done! Love it.
a fantastic truth and write .
You have so inveteratedly depicted the true guise of memories...yet, what we do without them...Thet are in fact(imo) what keep certain people alive afteexperiencing an event in their lives that otherwise might disinspire them from moving forward , or worse...not wanting to continue on with their own lives....The language you employ as well as the surrealistic tone you set from the onset of the piece is stunning, Maestro C.! ~FjR~
superb poem with wisdom thought, such so impressive
Excellent write.
So true! I like how you adress to the "memories" . Lovely written. Bookmarked!
A wonderful poem filled with beautifully written lines containing real wisdom. I am hugely impressed - bookmarked! :) kath xxx
Sometimes it's hard to leave the past behind, but we must live for the day, excellent write Chaos
A master piece of ones pen! Bravo!!! Bravo!!!!
This SO good Chaos.Giving us all a messsage about the past.Sometimes it is hard to leave it where it is..in shadows.We poets keep recalling ! Maggie
Delightful clever call to live now, not then, so beautifully and excellently expressed. Hahaha, and to think memories motivate how many of my lines? Hey, they make good poems, though they be but mere shadows, vanished forever in substance.
Good tight rhyme scheme here I can't fault about the 20-20 vision of hindsight - mitch :-)
EXTRAORDINARY! Memories push us when we're tired of life?
"Specters of the past" great line Chaos, and great rhyme and flow to this really fine piece.
the title, content and your tone takes care of memories and put them in their place. I once read thoughts or memries in this context are to be picked like groceries with care. What ever one focuses on threatens to take over our lives a stunning poem Chaos each line is worth a quote you are always competing only with yourself.