Photo courtesy of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
This week is a twofer. I had an idea for a poem come to mind first, then the dialogue followed. This shadow box reminded me of one my mother had. I saw it as a dust collector, but after she died, I really wanted to ask her about why she’d collected each little thing. What seemed trivial while she lived was suddenly a mystery once she was gone. Ephemera, flotsam and jetsam, the trail left by our lives is easily erased.
Happy birthday to Rochelle – and thank you for your willingness to make this happen each week. Friday is also my daughter’s birthday. Happy #22 to you, dear Laurel!
Word Count: 93
Shadow Boxing
I.
We are young but for a moment
childhood flashing by on hummingbird wings.
Treasures lined up in our mind,
safely stored in shadowy spaces.
Memories rich with meaning –
tucked away, glowing steadily,
beacons against the gathering dusk of our days.
II.
– Mommy, why do you have a clown in your treasure box?
– Well, it reminds me of a fun day I had when I was about your age.
– Do you like clowns?
– I did then, Honey. Clowns always made me laugh.
– Like daddy does now?
– Exactly – just like that.
– That’s what I thought.
Please check out the links to all the other Flash Friday Fictioneers, which can be found here.
© Erin Leary
erinlearywrites 
your poem about treasures is beautiful and apropos for a daughter taking wing
Thank you – I appreciate your reading!
Lovely poem 🙂
Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it!
Dear Erin,
Both were beautiful. I could sense the love woven into the fabric of each. These are the moments that I say, “Thank you for writing this.”
Aloha,
Doug
And thank you for your kind comments. Now I need to get busy and read! I am late this week….
Dear Erin,
Both pieces are treasures. If you hadn’t told me there were two I’d have thought it was two chapters of the same story. Poignant and heartfelt. Well crafted and an enjoyable read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you for the lovely feedback. It does feel like they are related, but when I was writing it seemed like two separate thoughts. I was trying not to squander any of my 100 allocation….
That was lovely, darling. I, too, see no reason why the two cannot be one piece.
On rereading them, I see they do flow pretty well together. My original frame of mind had them separated.
Both beautiful – two for one is good in my book 🙂
Cheap at twice the price! Thanks for reading.
I love both, but the first one is my favourite, particularly the “hummingbird wings” and “shadowy spaces”. 🙂
From she who, with her co-author, usually offers twofers, and hopes nobody minds. 😉
Thank you, Joanna! I am happy the two for one approach works for you!
I enjoyed your introduction and both offerings. Now that my parents are gone, I find there are several things I wished I’d asked them.
The poem is lovely and makes a great extended metaphor comparing the shadow box objects and the memories we store away during our lives. Ron
Thank you, Ron. I am still chuckling about your exchange with Russell….:-)
I especially love the second entry.
Thanks, Dawn. That one was for my husband. 🙂
I think the poem and dialogue worked so well together … complementing each other… glad you went with both,