Home » Poems » Terry Miller » The Clearing

The Clearing

An old blue uniform that hadn't fit in fifty years, beneath which: Letters I don't recall sending, a daub in oils, slashed, repaired, and saved. A note, detention, smoking, tucked inside a dictionary, first prize in spelling. The invitation to the wedding; unanswered, unattended. The will.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Brian Sambourne

Date: 7/21/2023 6:29:00 PM

Wow! Such a powerful poem that has a melancholy deep + touching. This posting should be the poem of the day. Congratulations on another stellar write. Cheers, Brian

Terry Miller
Date: 7/24/2023 2:30:00 AM

Thank you so much Brian

Gary Radice

Date: 3/19/2023 4:50:00 AM

A brilliant poem Terry. A sense of sadness, melancholy and silence hit me when reading your beautifully constructed free verse. Cheers - Gary

Terry Miller
Date: 6/7/2023 4:11:00 AM

Thank you, Gary, and apologies for the delayed response to your kind comments; it has been a turbulent few weeks.

Deb M

Date: 3/3/2023 8:50:00 AM

A lovely nostalgic poem Terry…..relatable….a trip down memory lane can be both sad and comforting! Debx

Terry Miller
Date: 6/7/2023 4:12:00 AM

Thank you, Deb; apologies for my delayed response have been moving home, which is stressful, and time-consuming.

Aysha Nuwas

Date: 2/21/2023 12:02:00 AM

I can not even express, somehow this touched me, the melancholy of it all.

Terry Miller
Date: 2/22/2023 12:54:00 AM

Thank you so much; it was a distillation of going through my father's things after he passed so many things of mine he kept I had no idea!

Speaks Volumes

Date: 2/19/2023 6:01:00 PM

I wouldn't be able to throw one of those things away. far too many memories in that lot Terry. Well maybe not the wedding that you didn't attend. So nicely written Terry. Its very hard to have a clearing of old mementos. You did well.

Terry Miller
Date: 2/22/2023 12:55:00 AM

Thank you so much, Wendy; not my belongings it was a distillation of going through my father's things after he passed so many things of mine he kept I had no idea!

Daniel Turner

Date: 2/19/2023 4:31:00 PM

Nothing like spring cleaning huh, Terry. I find this very funny. Good luck.

Terry Miller
Date: 2/22/2023 12:55:00 AM

Thank you for your visit.

Paul Bell

Date: 2/19/2023 10:22:00 AM

Life sure moves on without telling us, at times. Probably why you should never look at your time watch.

Terry Miller
Date: 2/22/2023 12:56:00 AM

It does; thank you for your visit.