IN MEMOR(IES) OF GRACE
Time passed at warp speed;
spinning days dwindle;
thoughts trace the lace
of invisible mind maps
flooded with memories
that ricochet, rarely settling
in the alcoves of clarity.
A narrow window opens
to reveal the curvaceous smile
of recognition.
2012-08-12
P. Wanken
Inspired by The Sunday Whirl’s Prompt #69: ricochet, invisible, curvaceous, narrow, maps, lace, dwindle, spin, warp, past, flooded, and alcoves. Also posted for Day 39 at “100 Days of Summer” — click here to go to their Facebook page.
Written in memory of my maternal grandmother, Grace, who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease.
PAULA! This is great. Great choice of words.
Well…twelve of the words came from the wordle — so I’m thanking Brenda (at The Sunday Whirl) for them!
Here we go again! Yours starts with “Time passed with warped speed,” and mine starts with “Time ricochets by.” That’s too funny, Paula. Two weeks in a row we are echoing each other. High fives, girl!!
Thanks for the great words week after week, Brenda. Some of my favorite poems comes from the wordles. I look forward to this prompt every week…even though I know there will be one or two words that are trickier to work into the piece.
Anyway — THANK YOU for your efforts to provide such a great prompt week after week.
~Paula
Thank you for your continued commitment to writing, Paula. It makes it so worth it. I love watching all of us evolve through our work.
Such a lot said, in so few words.Powerful imagery. A lovely read.
Thank you, DDT. I appreciate your feedback.
We lost my husband’s mother to Alzheimers. You caught it very well. She immediately came to my mind when I was reading your poem. …alcoves of clarity and the smile of recognition. We saw them so rarely.
Most people with Alzheimer’s I’ve had interaction with have had that same “blank” look — it’s always such a treasure to get that moment of clarity.
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment.
Yes, our minds are a ‘whirl’ of thoughts and memories….and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Nicely done
Thanks for stopping by, 4joy!
those last three lines… wow
Thanks, Laurie. <3
Beautifully written Paula, such a clever use of the Wordle words. I second your earlier thanks to Brenda: the highspot of my poeming week, a true inspiration to write the kind of poems or stories I would never have dreamed of without the Wordles.
Thanks for your encouragement.
And…isn’t it funny? I remember how you would “grumble” about the wordles! They’re kind of addictive, I’d say.
*hugs*
‘alcoves of clarity’ i like a lot, and finding that smile at last is indeed a blessing
Thanks, Mark. I appreciate your visit and feedback.
Your description is spot on Paula. Brief and concise, yet feels like it flows with ease and purpose.
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/once-upon-a-time-past/
Thank you for that, Elizabeth.
You’re always an encouragement!
I like the lace of the mind map. A good use of the wordle word. It feels effortless and full of imagery.
Thanks, Veronica! I appreciate the feedback!
I love that ending! Great use for the words
Thanks, Sara! I didn’t get home very often toward the end of Grandma’s battle with Alzheimer’s…but when there was clarity, it was so sweet!
Paula, so much said in a concise piece of writing. Well done.
Pamela
Thanks, Pamela. That means a lot to me…I appreciate the feedback regarding my use of a few words and still be able to convey meaning without losing anything in the process.
Looooove this word tangle:
“thoughts trace the lace
of invisible mind maps”
Thank you, my friend! Those were great words to work with this week, huh??
One of my three grandmothers’ was a Grace…(step-grandmother) – she too in her later years might have lost sight of who she was, but she was always happy, so the staff said. I was able to visit her the week before she passed. (A few too many moons ago).
I just continued my story verse…
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/08/sw-69-acheron-9-for-both-b.html
Thanks for stopping by, Jules. *hugs* you
I certainly feel as though my spinning days are dwindling!
Another Whirl with Robert Hass
Thanks for stopping by, MMT.
That last line changes everything.
And those smiles changed every visit!
Thanks for stopping by.
`thoughts trace the lace of invisible mind maps’ – how beautifully put for so sad an affliction.
Thanks, Sara. I appreciate the feedback.