If I Could Turn Back Time

By skinner_jennifer

Tue, 21 Dec 2021
  • 2889 reads
22 comments
 

For a minute clock stops! No more ticktock,

silence deafening. Then without warning hands

begin working in reverse, strange phenomenon

happening; minds spinning tossed with visions,

illusions babbling in wrong direction.

 

Sighs of yesterday, brief gestures roused

by intoxicating conversations of another

time and place, coming straight from a once

simmering pot; flustered by widdershin stirred,

a glance alive with chaos,

 

taunting images bubbling over; recalling how

freedom once lived in our hearts, walking into

brighter worlds; desiring nothing more than

drifting in hazy moments.

 

Imagine rushing into last autumn's swirling leaves,

created by whispering breeze; reminding me of

many free spirits, distracted by curiousness that

entranced in so much confusion;

 

unaware those last goodbyes, beautiful minds in

search of movement; not neglecting feelings,

just never imagining friendships wouldn't last.

Now there's stillness, opening eyes; checking clock,

time drifts on, a comfort. I think perhaps it's better

those memories were made to last...but are kept in the past.

 

 

Pixabay free image.

Certificate PG
Poem
Poems
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Turlough on

Hello Jenny.

This is a lovely poem which brings to mind the chaos that I'm sure we would experience if we really could turn back time.

I liked your line

unaware those last goodbyes

which, for me would be the reason I would give for turning back time, if asked. So many times I have realised at a point when it was far too late that I should have said or done more than I actually did.

I enjoyed reading this and the title of your poem makes me wonder if you sing and / or look like Cher. I've got that song stuck in my head now.

laugh

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

you were spot on with your thoughts. I remember many friendships being left in limbo, because of moving on, yet never thinking at the time for one minute that we'd never meet again...life is certainly strange.

Oh by the way, wish I could sing, but sadly I'm not cut out to be a singer. If only I did look like Cher, what a wonderful thought, but again I don't come close. I do love her voice and this track, and Gypsies Tramps and Thieves, are two of my favourites of hers.

Thank you for reading and I'm glad you liked this poem.

Merry Christmas and mail Happiness in the New Year.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Right then Jenny, that's my earworm selected for today!

Poppa woulda shot him if he knew what he'd done ... tra la la la laaa laugh

Some of Cher's music was wonderful, especially Gypsies etc. as you would agree.

I saw her perform live once. It was in 1977 when she was the vocalist in the Greg Allman Band. At the time it wasn't really my type of music but she had such a wonderful singing voice, her talky bits between songs were very amusing and she was absolutely gorgeous. Ah, be still my fluttering heart!

Health and happiness to you and all around you.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You take care and I hope you see the sun very soon. cool

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by marandina on

"flustered by widdershin stirred". Yes, some things are best left in the past and maybe it's easier and for the best that time moves forward in a linear manner. Some lovely expressions in here in a very visual poem. Paul :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

you are most definitely right, memories are best left in the past, I can't imagine doing the things I did back then now. Everyone changes and my younger self is completely different to the person I am today. 

Glad you thought I expressed myself okay, and the visuals were there. I had a lot of fun playing around with this poem for the I P, thinking about moving in reverse gave plenty of scope for the imagination.

Always appreciate your support and kind words.

Merrry Christmas and mail all the best for the New Year. smiley

Jenny.

 

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi Jenny,

We certainly can't repeat the past as Scott Fitzgerald says in 'The Great Gatsby', but memories come and go in the flux of time when maybe we all attempt to turn back time !

Enjoyed.

hilary     smiley

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

time does go so fast, and it's only when you look back, that saying comes to mind:- time is what happens when your having fun, which I certainly do when creating poems. 

I'm glad you enjoyed reading. It was a poem that I would never have thought of writing, had it not been for the I P.

Thank you for your thoughts which were much appreciated.

I know I've already said it, but Merry Christmas and mail a Happy New Year.

Jenny. smiley 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Provokes thought! I suppose like dwelling in thoughts, and regrets of the past won't help us be useful in the here and now, but the memories in themselves can prompt us and help us sometimes to be more thoughtful and careful of how we use our time and how we try to help others by words and actions.

And of course there are the happy memories , and reminders of friends and kindnesses.

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Wise words Rhiannon,

I have so much to be thankful for, even in these times of uncertainty, though I do feel sorry for those that can't cope and that are loosing their lively hood, or are ill. I'm just glad I made memories to look back on and didn't waste my younger days.

Grateful to you for stopping by to read and thank you for your comment.

Happy Christmas and mail a Prosperous New Year.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Original thought as always, Jenny. I had a similar idea at first but later changed tack and produced a lighter, humorous poem.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

We need a lot of cheerful humour in these strange times, so I'm glad you went in that direction with your writing.

Sometimes the I P inspires me to think outside the box, which I found so inspiring with writing this poem. Gave me a chance to play with words which I so love doing.

I'm grateful to you for reading and thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Merry Christmas and mail peaceful wishes for the New Year.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

wonderful lines in your poem, particularly liked "a glance alive with chaos," you have mixed up frightening and feeling happy really well, it had a breathlessness, almost like a struggle. "just never imagining friendships wouldn't last." is so wistful.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Isn't the English language wonderful? So many words to describe feelings. I'm glad I could mix up all those emotions in the right way and create not only a celebration, but also the struggles too, which we need to balance out life...a bit like yin and yang.

I can't count how many times I've said: "See you soon to old friends," never imagining we'd never meet again, yet when Christmas comes around I recall those memories with fondness, but I wouldn't want to go back.

Any way enough of my ramblings. Thank you for stopping by to read, and leaving your understanding thoughts.

I know I've said it before, but again have a great Christmas and mail a prosperous New Year, especially with the writing. wink

Jenny. smiley

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Very wise - memories are so strong though. I had a friend who said to me once that the past plays tricks on you, makes you think it's still ahead of you, waiting to happen. I liked all the chaos and then the stillness at the end. And I had to look up widdershin, what a great word! 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

your friend has a point. I've always believed you shouldn't be afraid to live life to the full when you're young, so important to make those precious memories. Yet here we are in the middle of such strange times, that I do feel so sorry for those young people that want to explore, but are unable to because of covid. 

Now I'm a pensioner, it's great not to have to worry too much about the strangeness of these times, I'm quite happy pottering around the house, having time to explore things like painting, writing, reading and of course playing scrabble and listening to music.

Many thanks for your comment and for reading, it's nice to know I introduced you to my witchy word of widdershin. wink

Hope you and yours are okay, and I wish you and your family a cheerful, healthy Christmas and mail New Year too.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Jenny

What an intresting take on memories. I really enjoyed reading it.

Happy Christmas to you.

Jean Day

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

kind of got inspired by the I P, which gave me the idea for this poem. Isn't it great when a couple of words can take you somewhere you wouldn't normally go. I'm happy you liked this one, and thank you so much for letting me know.

You have a great Christmas too and mail a Happy Healthy New Year.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by agnosticnun on

This is lovely, capturing that regret at the moments that can never be captured, only lived and lost. If only we couold turn back time... yes, perhaps better the temptation not be there.

Kristi

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

It's good of you to read my poem, prompting your own thoughts.

Where would we be without our memories. wink

Thank you for sharing and reading.

Hope you have a great Christmas and mail New Year holds all your wishes.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Hades502 on

I really like the wording in this one, Jenny. I don't understand why you didn't get any cherries for it, but I gave up trying to care about that. Very well put together poem. I really liked it. "Those memories are made to last...but kept in the past," was a really cool line. Good one. Yeah, you didn't have a new one, so I checked this one out. Very good.

GGHades502

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

glad the wording worked for you in this poem. I've been busy with other things, so haven't had time to write.

Cherries are nice to get, but that's not the reason I write. The pleasure for me is the excitement of seeing what I've written displayed here on abc tales, and that special feeling that it's being read by someone, which is always appreciated. When I was younger I used to write just for myself, needing to write down thoughts that came into my head, then reading them years later and being astonished at how I changed.

Even now I look back at my early stuff here on abc tales, and notice such a difference, it's like two different people writing. 

Any way, thank you so much for taking the time to read and share your thoughts.

Jenny.