Memory

Memory is my fading friend
of millennial days transpired—
faithful scribe and guardian
who measured mercy and intent
and gauged love’s joyful glint—
yet never turned from rutted path
when sorrow’s specter, tinged
in mottled shades of gray and black,
sought only to inveigh.

Dissembled memories puzzle,
viewed dimly from afar—
where motes of recollection dust
swirl in thoughtless disarray.
I stepped within to query,
asked what’s to be done,
but rueful silence was
the sole reply of ones
not only deaf but mute.

Then appeared a trove of treasured books,
pages crisp and white, without a crease—
gatherings firm, oblivious of age.
I lightly touched the gilded words,
their selfsame title: Wisdom: Gift of Time;
the Author’s name was mine. 
I nodded, smiled and then withdrew
aware at once of where I was,
secure in all I knew.

1st Place, Portrait of a Poet, Gautami, Phookan
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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Lindley Avatar
June 5, 2014 at 7:10 PM
Just keep finding gems you leave laying all about!! BBBBBravo!!!!!!
Peterson Avatar
June 5, 2014 at 8:29 PM
Robert, I gladly trade my spasms of lucidity for praise. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Dietrich Avatar
December 25, 2013 at 11:28 PM
wow, so awesome!!! the free verse type poems in this contest are blowing me away!! Congrats to you. love the ending part the most.
Peterson Avatar
December 25, 2013 at 11:54 PM
What a nice Christmas present for you to show up on my page today. The last two lines are meaningful to me too. I realize that I can forget the rest but wisdom remains. And it's often missing in younger people, no matter how good their memory is. Happy New Year, Andrea.
Mehta Avatar
December 24, 2013 at 12:15 AM
Enjoyed your beautiful write on a portrait of a poet and congratulations on the win, Mark
Peterson Avatar
December 25, 2013 at 6:18 AM
Dear Dr. Ram, I'm overwhelmed by the response and placement of my poems. I'm so glad you have enjoyed my work. I'm lagging in my community support, however, but will catch up soon.
May Avatar
December 23, 2013 at 6:01 PM
congrats on a great win Mark...this is a treasure in itself...
Peterson Avatar
December 25, 2013 at 6:12 AM
Joseph, thanks so much. I owe a mountain of gratitude to you and the other members of soup who read and support my poetry. Without you Soupers, I'm afraid my words would just be floating round my head, going nowhere. The very Merriest of Christmas to you and yours and Happy New Year.
Phookan Avatar
December 23, 2013 at 1:01 PM
Congrats Mark on your fabulous win! This is great stuff! Loved your work, thank you so much for your participation...Best wishes, gautami
Peterson Avatar
December 23, 2013 at 1:34 PM
Gautami, I can't express my thanks for the honor you've given my poem. Thanks for sponsoring the contest and for recognizing my work. All the best to you in the new year.
Deschler Avatar
November 25, 2013 at 8:10 PM
I am grateful that I have things like photo albums which remind me of the past. I often wonder what moments may have been forgotten, if I didn't have these photos! A very thought provoking poem, Mark! Terrific work!...Thank you so much for the encouraging comments. It really means a lot!
Peterson Avatar
November 26, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Kelly, many thanks for these kind words of praise. You can bet that I will 'remember' them. See you soon.
Loving Iii Avatar
November 21, 2013 at 12:36 PM
quite poetic. i mean as in that you know how to use the art. good work.
Peterson Avatar
November 21, 2013 at 12:57 PM
John, I can imagine no higher praise than this. Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it. I look forward to reading your work.
Trifiatis Avatar
November 21, 2013 at 8:55 AM
Without memory we wouldn't be able even to affirm our own existence! A joyless life would be born and died at the same instance and more importantly knowledge impossible would be and wisdom unknown! Wonderful poem indeed my friend, Mark! Have enjoyed it a lot! I will keep it in my memory! Thank you!
Peterson Avatar
November 21, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Demetrio, thanks for thought provoking words. Although my memory of specific things may be vague, poetry remains, vastly improved over earlier years because of what's written in the orderly books of my poem. Wisdom and the sense of things that don't dim, remaining to be used. Thankfully.
Adams Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 8:41 PM
sometimes my best poetry seems to come from memories...glad you found inspiration through your own and penned us this wonderful poem to read... great write! :)
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 9:19 PM
Thank you Sandra. I have great memories of things gone by. I can't always bring the details of this morning or yesterday to mind, however.
May Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 7:49 PM
great write .....without it we are lost...sometimes retrieving the treasures may take a little longer....
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 7:49 PM
Thanks for this. I was just looking for something that isn't lost, as we age and forget and reasoned it was the wisdom gained from life's experience--rare to find among the young.
Cavanaugh Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 12:14 PM
What an excellent poems. This will be going in my favorites. I struggle everyday to recover memories, new and old.
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Jon, thank you very much for this honor. Though we struggle to remember, the truth and wisdom of things we've learned over time is with us, part of us, and cannot be dislodged. What comfort this conveys.
A   Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Hello my friend Mark. I'm okay with my fading friend. I can't imagine how life would be if one never lost a memory or a thought. Perhaps in tears all the time. I'm okay with a puzzled life. You are right, the end is when we will recollect the love and secrets of the gold inside.... Sending smiles, well done.. ... LINDA
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 12:27 PM
I'm grateful for your thoughtful reply. My intent was to show that although we may decline in many ways, the compensation is that we learn more of what's true and gain the wisdom of age. These things are firm and stand arrayed in perfection, never to be taken away. Thus there is comfort in old age.
That Archaic Poet Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 11:41 AM
I can only echo Monterey: brilliant, but I have come to expect no less from you. The only hiccup I really felt was in line 8; I think you need one more syllable, for instance, what about "in such shades of gray and black". That's the only wrinkle that can be easily ironed out; no problem at all for you. Despite that, I think this just another fabulous piece from you, my friend :)
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Thank you sir, very much. I added the word 'mottled,' and hopefully that smooths it out. I also changed the title of the books, but I'm struggling with that. See you in the blog.
Sirak Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 7:22 AM
Brilliant poem! Very creative, life is lived word by word.
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 10:40 AM
Monterey, it's such an honor to have you briefly as a guest on my page. Deep appreciation for your comments.
Carroll Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 6:43 AM
Hi Mark, Awesome write here..Thanks for visiting my verse.. Ken
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Ken, I appreciate your visit and treasure the comment. I'll be back to visit very soon.
Onclaud Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 12:51 AM
so lyrically done as the pages of your thoughts run through like a book wanting to be read despite fading memory.. and it;'s all about you and your experiences... lovely, nostalgic, mark.. glad i read you today!..:) huggs
Peterson Avatar
November 20, 2013 at 1:20 AM
Nette, thanks so much for coming by again to sample my rhyme and to leave your treasured comments. Like everyone, I wish I could choose what to remember and what to forget.
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