Monday 31 December 2012

Signatures

Image by R. A. D. Stainforth

Candle flickers,
gramophone spins old 45,
                brings you alive,
see you dancing in the shadows. 
Old sweater hugged
smells of you,
fills me up,   arouses
excites atmosphere.

Tobacco-kissed,
dog-end DNA
remains of you among the ashes. 
I see you 
on the lips of long-emptied glasses,
whisky-scented,
cold breath whispering 
I was here.

Anna :o]

With thanks to Tess at The Mag for the inspiration, also entered Poets United Poetry Pantry – thanks Poets United!

Oops!  Nearly forgot!  Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

And also - (grand)baby Theo arrived at 1.37am on the 27th!  He is delightful

24 comments:

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Intriguing!

Have a happy and healthy New Year!

Anonymous said...

I get this. A sight or scent can be jarring as a ghost. Everything empty and used up, but still relevant.

Frances Garrood said...

Lovely. As always. Happy new year, Anna.

Brian Miller said...

I see you
on the lips of long-emptied glasses,
whisky-scented,
cold breath whispering
I was here....dang...nice....seeing them everywhere, and a side thought, i think we all want to know we were here...

Tigerbrite said...

Gut wrenching isn't it, the smell of one gone. So well described in reviving the memories.
Congratulations on your grandson :)

Carrie Van Horn said...

Anna this is a breathtaking poem...I love it!!!! Congrats on Theo....grandchildren are such a wonderful blessing! :-)

Mary said...

Ah yes, so many things bring memories to mind, don't they? Well penned.

Thank you for your support of Poets United Poetry Pantry this year; and I wish you (and that precious new grandson) a very Happy New Year.

Berowne said...

Wonderful to have a new family member to start the year...

Laura said...

memory and longing... beautiful.

May this New Year be one of realized dreams… even those we did not realize we were dreaming!

^.^ said...

Whishing you a very Happy New Year ... Love, cat.

kaykuala said...

That's fantastic, Anna! The baby and all. What an opening for the ensuing year. It augurs well certainly, Happy New Year to baby and you!

Hank

Wayne Pitchko said...

nicely done.....thanks for sharing and congrats

Cro Magnon said...

Happy new year Grandma. I see good times ahead. Very best wishes, Cro xx

Dave King said...

Impressive. From the other side of beautiful.

Helen said...

Perfect description of 'that feeling' one gets when the smell of perfume, an aftershave, a cigarette triggers the visceral response.

Happy New Year

Cad said...

...remains of you among the ashes?

A few grim overtones here, I fear...but a clever poem evoking absence though.

Manzanita said...

That phrase is haunting.... On the lips of long-emptied glasses. It sends goose bumps.

Anna, looking forward to another lovely year with you and your posts and congratulations on the new baby boy. New baby for a New Year.
Love from Manzanita

Jinksy said...

Congrats on the grandson, and best wishes to him and his parents, too! :)

Theresa Milstein said...

Oooo, this is really striking. Wonderful placement and sound of words.

M. A. S. said...

There is a great and genuine concreteness to your imagery. I like how all the things that can be considered vices are remembered as much beloved.

Also, thank you for sharing on my blog. You are always welcome and safe to say whatever you please.

Other Mary said...

Ooooh, what an interesting thought... Happy New Year Anna!

ADDY said...

Happy New Year and Congratulations (Grandma!)

Jenny Woolf said...

Happy new year to you Anna - how could it fail to be with a new grandbaby ! :)

I loved the poem , too.

Tess Kincaid said...

A fabulous write...your very best, Anna...