A Memory of Reminiscing In the Sewing Room

Sewing machine long idle, gathered dust
inside the room my sister liked the best.
Old fabric pieces lay where they’d been left.
I let my hand upon soft velvet rest.

I lit a candle like she used to do
nights of our youth when she’d gone there to keep
her mind off her young groom who’d gone to war
and not returned. Sometimes I’d hear her weep.

The war years seemed like only yesterday
when mother , then my sister, passed away.
All those years she’d sewn for pay, heart-broken!
She’d chosen  - with our mom - alone to stay.

My fingers lingered on the velvet meant
to have been worn by her so as to spark
romance with her  lost love. Unsewn it lay.
The candle sputtered, spent, and all was dark.

April 28, 2018 for Viv Wigley's  One nine and sixteen poetry contest
(total fiction except I have a sister who loved to sew!)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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12
Gentry Avatar
July 12, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Back again to congratulate you again on your win again! :) A great poem, well done!
Rodrigues Avatar
July 11, 2018 at 10:01 AM
You won! A great second round for this lovely write, my poetry sister!
Waters Avatar
July 10, 2018 at 5:51 PM
as a sewer, I enjoyed this - evocative and I'm sure someone's story.
Fisher Avatar
July 10, 2018 at 3:37 PM
Congratulations! Well deserved. I really liked this poem. All of the emotions by your chosen words.
Doll Avatar
July 10, 2018 at 2:12 PM
Congrats on your number 1 win, Andrea
Krampe Avatar
July 10, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Congrats on your win, Andrea. Nice to read this again.
Cozart Avatar
July 10, 2018 at 12:19 PM
Poignant and beautiful. Congrats.
Gauthier Avatar
July 10, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Back with well deserved congrats, Andrea.
Rodrigues Avatar
May 3, 2018 at 10:43 PM
Great tale! Congrats!
Sinha-Roy Avatar
May 3, 2018 at 1:40 AM
Congratulations, Andrea on your win.
George   Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 9:05 PM
What a story you have woven here, Andrea. Many congrats on your win. Lainie
Sietesantos Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 8:43 PM
Beautiful piece, dear Andrea, so reminiscent of the period pieces set during the war years that I enjoy reading! Big congraatulations on your win! Hugs. Pandita
Johnson Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 3:19 PM
Congratulations Andrea. A great story and a winner. Love, Joyce
Devonshire Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 2:09 PM
Congratulations on your win, Andrea! Well done. Hugs, Carolyn
Allison Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Bravo Andrea no one can hold a candle to your amazing writing my friend, love the way you included the candle at the beginning and end of the piece:-)Many congratulations on your win in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx
Poteet Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 11:35 AM
Great write, Andrea, I applaud your inclusion of the candle early and its return at the conclusion. Super piece and kudos on your placement.
Gentry Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 10:28 AM
Back to say congratulations on your win. Well done!
Walker Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 8:31 AM
I'm in tears, well done.
Gauthier Avatar
May 2, 2018 at 6:58 AM
Congrats on your win, Andrea, with his lovely piece.
Gentry Avatar
April 29, 2018 at 11:37 PM
A winner. A great story and you write them so well. :)
Krampe Avatar
April 29, 2018 at 7:57 AM
Great take on the contest prompt, Andrea - and so very sad. I find this contest with the prescribed lines very difficult.
Horsman Avatar
April 29, 2018 at 7:27 AM
This is wonderful Andrea, fiction maybe? yet so true to life and lives of so many..
Pandit Avatar
April 29, 2018 at 7:22 AM
You made fiction read like a real family story..sign of a great poem..the three given lines blend in seamlessly..best for a win, Andrea.
Vaso Avatar
April 28, 2018 at 9:06 PM
I love these types of poems! I miss you all in soup as I have been around as much!!! So tonight I decided to come around and read my favorites!!! Hugs!!
George   Avatar
April 28, 2018 at 6:57 PM
Sure to top the winner's list, Andrea.
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