Your Perfume Has Faded

Your Perfume Has Faded

You left your perfume on the pillows,

and your fragrance

is all over my house.

In the wardrobe,

in the drawers,

in my bathroom cabinet.

It used to distress me,

like the photograph

still on my bedside table,

and the music

you put in my head.

But now the memories are fading,

the pain ebbing away

as I regain my strength

and find myself again.

 

31/07/14

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

Scent. That memory. Yes. It is a relief when it fades. And if the memory is very painful, one never wants to smell that scent again.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks 'M'. I don't know an ex of mine popped up recently and I still had feelings for her.

[Lyn Anderson]

That's tricky. There is always one, isn't there? There is one, from a long time ago, I would probably pass out if I saw him. I hope not to see him, ever again.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Your words are poignant as ever, as I find myself wrapped within the loss of my sister, years ago. One of the many things I brought home with me after her funeral, was a bottle of her favorite cologne. I didn't want to be without her scent.

Perhaps you wrote this for a loved one, but the fact that I could apply it to the loss of a sibling, just made it even more beautiful.

You have an extraordinary gift, John!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am so sorry for your loss Kelly. Nothing prepares you for such an event and there is no easy way to heal from it. You are too kind to me.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sometimes it is good to just face the demons and overcome them, rather than trying to hide them at the back of our memory...

jacob

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Sound advice but often the journey is harder than expected, but possible. Thank you Jacob.

[Lydia Shutter]

It's not easy to get over a failed romance. There are so many little reminders and not just in your home. The places you visited, the songs on the radio, and, yes, the perfume or cologne. You have made it all so vivid. You will find yourself again though.....because you can depend on YOU! I liked this a lot. Such an honest emotive write. Lydi***

[John Alexander McFadyen]

As I said to Yash Lydi, we poets store our emotional experiences like a storage heater and turn them on when there is no heat left in the sun. Many thanks.

[Lydia Shutter]

Beautifully said.

[symmetryAsymmetry]

I read "Memories of Emma" first and then this...the contrast is obvious...just shows how we can swing from one end of the spectrum to the other...and it's amazing that you can pen it so beautifully...
Thanks for sharing, thanks for the opportunity :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Yash for your review. I guess poets store up experiences and emotions and they sometimes seep out and sometimes gush like a waterfall. You are most kind.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

It's the lingering of nostalgia that eats away at the heart...
I love the use of senses... fragrance being the habor of your emotions...

In this piece, the beauty lies within the loneliness...truly heartbreaking...
Well penned, John!~xoxo~

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I agree, many thanks Robbie.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

My pleasure, John. :))

[Frieda P]

Enchantingly sad John, when all that remains are small tokens of that which once was.

I'd use 'fragrance' in place of 'smells', but that's just me.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you my Lady. Was trying to confer less fragrant smells, more musty and earthy but fragrance is indeed a prettier word.

[Frieda P]

Women don't like to think they 'smell' John. :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You do my Lady!

[Frieda P]

No wonder it's faded....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Nah I still know you were in my bed!

[Frieda P]

In your Scottish kilt dreams hon....!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

My Lady you have no idea of what is under my kilt but you were still in my bed at sometime I am sure lol!

[Frieda P]

You set yourself up for so many curt retorts to that one John, but I've decided to hold my ruthless tongue today.... ;)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You are being sweet?

[Frieda P]

Reasonable facsimile, quit whilst you're ahead.....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You win my Lady, I bend my knee.

[Frieda P]

I guess so, I see you edited it to 'fragrance'....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am most humbly in your debt and in your service my Lady.