“Spend it on yourself, love,"
that was what she wanted, she said.
Glance up at those green eyes of hers –
glinting. “Treat yourself – buy
a new Rolls, if you like. Realistically
though, a second-hand Skoda. Anything
that makes you happy. Can’t take
it with you, you know.” Hear
the catch in her voice – see
that wry, half-smile.
"Spend it like there’ll be
no tomorrow.” Sound advice.
True enough. For each of us, one day,
that day won’t come and I admit
I am tempted. Except, for once,
it would be nice not having to dread
my printer running out of ink...
the thud of the gas bill dropping
on the mat. The service charge
for the flat; a final reminder.
“Don’t be so boring. Go for it
kid!” Her eyes still tantalise
looking down from my piano;
the photo I took, driving back
from our final term at Uni. Watford Gap –
the queue for 'The Ladies’ - horrendous.
She posed for the camera, crossing her legs,
still smiling that smile. The day
she’d agreed to marry me. The day
before her cancer was diagnosed.
On reflection, I might just bag
that desert island – the one we’d go to
in our minds sometimes. The one
where goodbyes are never spoken;
the one with sea as green as her eyes. “And
don’t even think about doing anything daft...”
her last, precious words.
Comments
MistakenMagic | January 31, 2010 - 12:12
'the photo I took – that day, driving back
from our final term at Uni. Watford Gap –
and the queue for ‘The Ladies’ was horrendous.
She posed for the camera – crossing her legs,
still smiling that smile.'
- love these lines, Tina! They just make both the narrator and his wife sound so, so human. As always I enjoy all your little details - especially the idea of green eyes ;) Well done on this one!
Magic xxx
Beeme | January 31, 2010 - 13:00
A great take on the IP, Tina. I really enjoyed this, it seemed very heartfelt. You use beautiful images, I especially love the images you use in the last stanza and the second stanza.
These lines were my favourite:
On reflection, I might just bag
that desert island – the place we’d go to
in our minds sometimes.
Although the whole poem is just beautiful.
Beeme xx
Silver Spun Sand | January 31, 2010 - 14:39
Glad you enjoyed this one, Magic. Nothing like the old IP to get that grey matter working...hopefully;-)
Tina xxx
Silver Spun Sand | January 31, 2010 - 14:40
Thank you so much, Beeme. You picked my favourite lines too;-)
Tina xx
wandelaar | January 31, 2010 - 14:41
I agree, these are ordinary words that just seem to lift us up above the ordinary! Lovely,
greetings
Silver Spun Sand | January 31, 2010 - 15:19
And greetings to you too, wandelaar.
It was kind of you to leave such a nice comment and I really do appreciate it. Thank you;-) Glad you enjoyed.
Tina
Firebird | January 31, 2010 - 15:36
Beautiful Tina :) Love the structure to the whole poem. As with all your poetry.. emotive and graphic... :)x
Silver Spun Sand | January 31, 2010 - 16:32
How kind of you, Firebird. Thank you for reading and for your thoughtful comment.
Tina;-)x
shoe | January 31, 2010 - 17:20
A very poignant read Tina, I too really like the island lines, excellent take on the I.P,
Silver Spun Sand | January 31, 2010 - 18:08
Thank you Shirley. Kind of you to read and let me know your thoughts;-)
Tina x
Beeme | February 1, 2010 - 16:46
Well done on the cherry Tina, greatly deserved in my opinion. :-)
Beeme xx
Silver Spun Sand | February 1, 2010 - 17:01
Beeme - how sweet of you to drop by again;-) Thank you. Have a good week;-)
Tina xx
luigi_pagano | February 2, 2010 - 09:20
It has all been said, Tina, I can only concur: marvellous.
Luigi xxx
Silver Spun Sand | February 2, 2010 - 10:29
Luigi - my sincere thanks to you. But you are wrong, you know. Nobody says it quite the way you do;-)
Tina xxx