The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide

Time Stands Still

The Faded Garden Swing

If the flaked paint on the old swing 
could speak, it would tell stories of 
days long ago,
Of children's laughter and their bare, 
muddy feet, 
Of fireflies caught and imprisoned in 
empty jam jars, 
Like the fireflies, my memory flickers, 
trying to recall who lived across the 
street.

The faded swing’s rusty chains  creaked 
loudly under my weight, an old familiar
song, 
And the scent in the air from the aged 
honeysuckle, still going strong, 
An old familiar perfume of yesteryear,
At this moment, suspended between 
the then and now, time stands still.

Once the echoes of children’s giggles, 
now a silent yard, 
Images of scraped knees, loud cries
and a lemonade stall,
In the distance, the sound of an old 
church bell rings,
Here, on this faded garden swing, 
I sit in the past with the weight of 
what was and of what can never be 
again.

Now, shadows linger in silence,
Where children once soared with 
dreams,
Oh, faded swing, a keeper of stories 
of joy and pain,
You hold the essence where memories
 remain,
At last, I am home, in the place where 
time stands still.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Rodrigues Avatar
January 14, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Intentional or unintentional, a lemonade stall shows the sad quiet of memory. Lovely write! Glad I read it today! A fave!
Gifford Avatar
January 22, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Thank you for the read and making it a fav, Kim. You made my day, my friend. Sending blessings your way.
Donnay Avatar
October 22, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Oh my goodness. You just put into words which I describe my husbands hometown, when kids were playing and laughter, sounds of adults talking and sitting outside in their yard, the times of simpler times, when we had no worries, just fun times. Thank you. Great write.
Gifford Avatar
October 26, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Thank you for the visit, my friend. Those were good memories. Have a blessed day.
Theraven Avatar
May 26, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Zyrool, At last it was time. "Where memories remain". At home with good memories. -Richard
Gifford Avatar
June 16, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Hello Richard, thank you for the visit and your kind words. Apologies for the late response but looks like I missed the notification. Wishing you a beautiful day, fellow poet.
Hind Avatar
May 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Very haunting- could feel the creaking of the swing, love this
Gifford Avatar
June 16, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Thank you so much for the read and your lovely words, Paige. So this is late must have missed it. Wishing you a wonderful day, my friend.
Kendrick Avatar
April 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Ahhh!! What a nice work about how sometimes memories can weight us down but then we realize we have to move on. Thanks for sharing. Sara K
Gifford Avatar
April 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Thank you so much for the read. In time we all have to move forward. Sending Blessings your way my dear friend.
Greenhough Avatar
April 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I guess it is difficult to go back. I haven't wanted to visit those places, the place where my old school was torn down, friends buried in cemeteries. I like this poem. I relate.
Gifford Avatar
April 4, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Hello Hilda, thank you for dropping by. Life is full of all sorts. Glad you like it, means a lot. Wishing you a wonderful day and a great weekend my dear friend.
Rose  Avatar
April 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
One of your most beautiful poems, a fav in my book of memorable ones dear poet friend :)
Gifford Avatar
April 4, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Hello Rose, thank you so much for your beautiful words. Much appreciated. Wishing you a fabulous weekend, my poet friend.
Buhagiar Avatar
April 3, 2025 at 2:14 AM
I look back and wonder if I could become younger. Wishful thinking. I would not want to become young again.
Gifford Avatar
April 3, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Hello Victor, thank you for the read, I think most of us do look back, each with our own reason. I look back because those were memories made when my parents were alive, so I visited my past often. Sending Blessings your way my friend. Enjoy your day and have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
Empress Avatar
April 3, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Dear zyrool, What a most descriptive and soulful poem this is woven from your heart, your words here emanate nostalgia and memories of time that stands still with so much of yesteryears, and i love the way youv described little details of everything, giving us a very sincere touch of your thoughts expressed here, sometimes yes scents of certain places and certain aromas do bring back so many memories for me too! I love everything about this touching poem! A fave it is! Sending you light always
Gifford Avatar
April 3, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Hello IE, thank for your beautiful words and for making it a fave, means a lot. Sending Blessings your way and wishing you a fabulous day and a great weekend, my friend.
Cunningham Avatar
April 1, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Happy memories Zyrool, you often wonder as you get older, where did time go. Tom
Gifford Avatar
April 1, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Thank you for the read and support, Tom. You’re so right I do wonder about that. Have a wonderful day my friend.
Andresen Avatar
April 1, 2025 at 1:49 AM
- Oh ... a wonderful poem ... a joy to read, Zyrool :) - hugs
Gifford Avatar
April 1, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Thank you so much Anne-Lise, means a lot. Sending Blessings your way and wishing you a fantastic new week ahead, my friend.
De Beaulieu Avatar
March 31, 2025 at 11:46 AM
hello Zyrool, you really have good memories of thise time gone bye. Hugs. /Darlene/
De Beaulieu Avatar
March 31, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Hello Zyrool, i hope all is well with you. you are welcome. Hugs. /Darlene/
Gifford Avatar
March 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Hello Darlene, thank you so much for dropping by and for the read. Wishing you a wonderful new week ahead my friend.
Edmonds  Avatar
March 31, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Zyrool, a wonderful poem of times long gone of a shared home where the family lived among laughter and fun. The old rusty swing, and church bells that still ring, such sweet memories they bring… Poet pal Beryl
Gifford Avatar
March 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Thank you so much for dropping by and for your lovely words, Beryl. Means a lot. Wishing you a wonderful new week ahead, my poet friend.
Bauer Avatar
March 31, 2025 at 8:28 AM
This is very beautiful and very touching, Zyrool! A wonderfully described recollection…
Gifford Avatar
March 31, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Hello Ilene, thank you so much for your kind words and the read. Sending Blessings your way and wishing you a fabulous new week ahead, my friend.
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