The Backpack

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 10 Sep 2014
  • 3633 reads
14 comments
 
And so you’re off to Uni in a week or so...
your gap year...plus one, at an end; wings
clipped – for now, yet the sound of goodbyes 
from those orphanage kids in Honduras, unwinding 
from your ears, still, I bet.
 
How’s that old backpack bearing up – the one
she wanted you to have?  Worn out, I should think, 
but the best gift from her to you – the wanderlust 
she passed on, that special aunt of yours.
 
I wonder, though, if you delved far enough 
to find, amongst your socks and smalls, 
the Niagra Falls?
 
How about Vietnam and the Long Son Pagoda – 
complete with dragons breathing fire; the Sapa Valley
with its crooked seams of rice fields? 
 
If you dug deep enough, you’d have found
the woman washing a pig by the side of a road,
in one of its pockets.
 
Then, of course, there was Nepal...Buddhist monks
in saffron robes on a small, blue boat;
hope you ferreted them out
 
and Sunday nights with their markets...
a myriad of lamps shining out from beneath
paper parasols, and yards of rainbow silks
 
where wide-eyed lads ran rings around a girl – 
hair the colour of straw, who wanted you, as you did,
to take her places she never saw.
 
 
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual
Biography
Love

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Some wonderful sights you've conjured up in this poem,  with some great memories to hold on to.

The future looks bright,  and she's learnt so much from her travels.

Very much enjoyed reading Tina.

Jenny.  smiley

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

She certainly has learned much from her year in Honduras, and has come back a changed person.  Far more mature, and caring, plus appreciating the things she took for granted before.  Also the importance of family, in the true meaning of the word.

Her uni place is at UCL (University College London) and she will be reading Modern Languages.  After that, who knowssmiley  The sky is literally the limit as far as she is concerned.

Many thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts, Jenny.

Tina

 

Submitted by paxxick on

The backpack as the receptacle of life's experiences.

Coming back to your poetry after a long time away, it is impressive that you find one more approach to express your loss. It would be wonderful if she could read all you have written about her. 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you for your insight, and empathy, paxxick it means a lot...and yes, wouldn't it be wonderful.

All my best to you.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I wish her all the luck in the world and hope her time at UCL is a happy one.  All the best to her for the future.

Jenny.  yes

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I shall pass on your good wishes, Jenny.  It is more than kind of yousmiley  At the moment she needs a bit of cheering up, anyway.  Yesterday she pranged her dad's new car, and I've yet to ring her to find out if she's still in the dog-houseindecision

Tina

 

Submitted by Dynamaso on

Lovely and evocative, Tina. I've longed to go to some of the places you mention - me and my own trusty backpack. 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, Marksmiley  Maybe you'll still get to see those faraway places, some of these days...if (like me) only in your dreams.

Many thanks for your lovely comment, and more power to that backpack of yours.

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Just caught up with this poem, it's wonderful.  

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Philip - thank you so muchsmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Shannan on

Thanks for posting Tina, congrats on yet another achievement. Stay fabulous :-) $

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

And thank you for reading, Shannan, and for your wordssmiley  Much appreciated.

Tina

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

You've passed on much more than a backpack, Tina.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I certainly hope so, PT.  Quite some remarkable lady, that aunt of hers. 

Thank you so much for reading, and sharing your thoughts.

Tina