Jan Allison Poet Haibun

Notes About The Poem

Closing the Door On the Past

It’s been many years since I’d climbed the wooden steps to my parent’s attic. The hinges of the trap door creak and a cloud of dust rises as I push the door open. I fumble for the light switch; it takes several minutes for the dust to settle and for my eyes to become accustomed to the gloom from the single bulb.

I survey the small space, which is packed to the hilt with hidden treasures. I sit cross-legged in a cramped corner and delve one of the many boxes.

relics of childhood
packed in old cardboard boxes
I find my old bear

My mother had carefully packed away many of my old toys and keepsakes from my schooldays and high days and holidays. Oh how I laughed when I read some of the comments on my school reports and workbooks, it made for very amusing reading! I get quite emotional when I sort through photograph albums and see the faces of those who are no longer with us.

cherished memories
as I leaf through the pages
I wipe away tears

After several hours reminiscing I’ve selected a couple of items, which were once so dear to me; and then I finally close the door on the past.

Picture 3
Photostory Contest 
Sponsored by Eve Roper

11-15-17

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Jannie Breedt January 5, 2018 at 7:47 AM Hi Jan Also from me congrats

John Hamilton December 11, 2017 at 10:34 PM Very wistful and melancholic write Jan, and I see it merits congrats on a fine win, well done!

Viv Wigley December 3, 2017 at 2:23 AM Congrats on your wistful, slightly melancholy trip into the past, Jan, lovely. Well done. Viv x Jan Allison December 3, 2017 at 8:34 AM Thanks Mr Viv:-) hugs jan xx

Rhoda Tripp December 2, 2017 at 6:39 PM Congratulations on your first place! Great write! Jan Allison December 2, 2017 at 6:40 PM Thanks Rhoda:-) hugs Jan xx

Joseph May December 2, 2017 at 5:36 PM Dropping back with my Congrats Jan Allison December 2, 2017 at 5:49 PM Thanks Joseph:-) hugs Jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong December 2, 2017 at 5:03 PM I knew I would see this at the top of the winning list Jan. I'm so happy for you! Congratulations! : ) Jan Allison December 2, 2017 at 5:21 PM Thanks so much Connie, we found so many relics when we cleared my parents house so I used that as my inspiration for the poem:-) hugs jan xx

Eve Roper December 2, 2017 at 3:57 PM Jan, thank you for entering my contest your imagery of your past is wonderful and flow of words is beautiful. Congratulations on your win! Hugs Eve ~`* Jan Allison December 2, 2017 at 4:13 PM Thanks so much Eve:-) i am so glad to be on your winner's list:-) hugs jan xx

Dale Gregory Cozart December 2, 2017 at 2:22 PM Congrats on your win, Jan! Jan Allison December 2, 2017 at 4:13 PM Thanks so much cutie :-) hugs jan xx

Sneha Rv November 19, 2017 at 1:18 AM Your poem needs no picture.. such nice imagery and the last phrase is perfect! This will do very well in the contest :)) Eve Roper December 2, 2017 at 3:59 PM You didn't deserve the N/A :( , but every sponsored taste is different. Jan Allison November 19, 2017 at 12:08 PM Thanks Sneha:-) I use the contests to encourage me to write and try different forms - a contest win is a bonus but not guaranteed - I recently got POTD and an n/a in a contest:-) hugs Jan xx

Pashang Salehi November 18, 2017 at 10:32 AM This is very lovely, hard to let it go... Jan Allison November 18, 2017 at 4:01 PM It's semi biographical (with some poetic licence) as it was extremely hard to clear the attic in my parent's house:-( hugs jan xx

Joanna Daniel November 18, 2017 at 6:22 AM A 'memorable' haibun, Jan:) great title too:) Jan Allison November 18, 2017 at 4:01 PM Thanks Jo:-) hugs jan xx

Pat Adams November 16, 2017 at 6:18 PM Wow Jan. I am totally impressed with this poem. I'm not much on prose and never heard of a haibun, so I looked it up. I get it but the example wasn't half as good as yours. The Haiku's could easily stand alone, bringing up images and memory of my own! A 7 in my book and certainly a FAV! Great write!!.....80)...xx....Pat Jan Allison November 16, 2017 at 6:26 PM Thanks Pat, I guess they are more senryu rather than haiku but i do enjoy writing this form and have written several, they do tend to be more serious poems which makes a change for me:-) hugs jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong November 16, 2017 at 6:47 AM I am so glad you found your poetic voice Jan. You were born to write poetry! Your haibun is perfect for this contest and I am sure to see this poem at the top of the winner's list! Your haiku in this piece is simply stunning! This is going straight into my Faves! : ) Jan Allison November 16, 2017 at 8:14 AM Thanks for such a lovely comment Connie, i do enjoy writing this form:-) As for contest wins i use the contests as prompts... some you win some you lose:-) hugs jan xx

John Gondolf November 16, 2017 at 5:00 AM I enjoyed your poem Jan. I have many old relics in my attic as well. I should clean it out but i’ll probably leave that chore to my kids as well. John Jan Allison November 16, 2017 at 6:00 AM We still have the top tier of or wedding cake .... you'd need a chisel for the icing but the cake may still be ok (joke) :-) hugs jan xx Jan Allison November 16, 2017 at 5:59 AM We have an attic FULL of bits and pieces and I say to my hubby we should get rid as they will mean nothing to our son but sometimes its hard to let go. :-( hugs jan xx

Line Gauthier November 15, 2017 at 11:42 PM Wonderful poem, Jan. Jan Allison November 16, 2017 at 4:32 AM It's nothing compared to your poem about letting them fly the nest!!! I've sent it to several friends its awesome!:-) hugs jan xx

Matthew Anish November 15, 2017 at 9:39 PM Nice photostory. One of my grandmothers was a great collector a- she saved magazines, coins, stamps, books, and recipes. The other grandmother was a progressive woman. I miss both of them and my late father and brother. Such items can indeed bring tears as you so powerfully show in this work. Good luck in the contest. Peace & Love Matthew Anish Jan Allison November 16, 2017 at 4:30 AM It's very difficult letting go of items that were so precious to someone else. You were so lucky to have had grandmother's it is something I wish i'd had and I recently wrote a poem about it:-( hugs jan xx

Joseph May November 15, 2017 at 7:59 PM The form is well suited for the theme, as you take us with you on a trip down memory lane....Well penned Jan Jan Allison November 16, 2017 at 4:27 AM I'm not sure if it's what Eve is looking for but I do enjoy writing the haibun form so thought I'd give it a go:-) hugs jan xx

Akkina Downing November 15, 2017 at 7:00 PM A melancholy moment Jan. Great memories are the greatest treasures. Good luck in the contest my dear friend! Hugs and smiles :) Jan Allison November 15, 2017 at 7:01 PM Thanks Akkina:-) hugs jan xx

Casarah Nance November 15, 2017 at 5:14 PM Oh the treasures and treats of an attic, memories reborn, well described! Jan Allison November 15, 2017 at 5:15 PM Thanks Cas I have a huge smile seeing you back on soup:-) hugs jan xx

Arthur Vaso November 15, 2017 at 5:12 PM Melancholy moments, beautifully said! Jan Allison November 15, 2017 at 5:14 PM Thanks Arthur I know how difficult I found clearing my parents house and having to get rid of so much stuff... but you can't hang on to something just because of the memories:-( hugs Jan xx

Bjorn Wastvedt November 15, 2017 at 4:39 PM This is the first poem I have read in Haibun style, but think it is very beautiful and thought-provoking. I am not sure if I would be able to close the door to my past that easily. :) Jan Allison November 15, 2017 at 4:46 PM Thanks Bjorn, I've written several poems using this form and love the haiku style poems which break up the main body of the story. Its a semi biographical poem as we cleared my parent's house after my father died and mum was going into a care home and we had to get rid of many things and it was very difficult choosing what to keep and what to let go.:-) hugs jan xx