16 1/2 - 34/35

I inhaled one last time

and found your fragrance just as pure

as I remembered it

 

Faint but intoxicating,

a spring shower on first blooming lilacs

surrendering to the moisture’s quenching charm

 

This shirt, white with thin blue stripes

my favorite and still is,

has not been washed since that day

 

you walked with me among the flowers

enchanted by the beauty of nature,

the euphoric feeling of the love we shared

 

It has hung in this closet since you left,

still holding the wrinkles caused

by your arms holding me tightly

 

as we embraced beneath that stately oak,

birdsong on the cool breeze

sweeping through your hair

 

Removing it from the wire hanger,

I take one more long lonely breath

before placing it in the donation bag

 

A tear falls from my eye

as I tie the sack shut,

ending this dream I have held for so long

 

Maybe another will get some use,

creating their own wrinkles,

their own scents - memories

 

Because a new spring has sprung,

and I have finally come to the realization -

it is time to buy a new shirt

 

 

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

either through a break up or a passing, this really hits home...sooner or later it is time to buy a new shirt...we want to refuse, but we really need get those memories out of the closet that hangs us up...

[willweb]

You are correct sir. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting on my work.

[Lyn Anderson]

Oh, my gosh, Will, I love this one. I feel like we run on some weird parallel heart tracks -- someone breaking yours the same way mine was broken, and clinging to memories in similar ways. Anyway, just awesome, really.

[willweb]

Thanks so very much KLGoode. You could be right, you never can tell with me. This is an older one and I am glad you found it and enjoyed it.

[Lyn Anderson]

That is the magic of watching the feed and seeing people enter poems in contests.

[willweb]

Hey, it was watching you that sent me to the contest in the first place. :)

[Lyn Anderson]

All Good Things, as Neville might say (Neville Pettit, if you haven't checked his work out, do so)

[ShalimarBonet]

Isn't the healing heart a funny thing?
This made my heart ache a bit, but also made me smile. It's hopeful. Thank you for the beautiful read.

[willweb]

Thank you so very much for your nice comments. I am happy you liked this one.

[Pryde Foltz]

Because a new spring has sprung,
and I have finally come to the realization -
it is time to buy a new shirt

Ha … I had a shirt like that once … eventually it came to stink. Despite that … I really loved this write.

[willweb]

Thank you so much Pryde for your nice comments. Maybe some febreeze would help that shirt. :) I am happy you enjoyed this one.

[Pryde Foltz]

Oh, that shirt hit the dustbin:)

[Matching Socks]

Yeah! Go Will!
New pants too!

I loved this. Had such a nice melancholy feel to it with a ray of optimism.

[willweb]

Thank you so very much Ance. You always find a way to make me smile.