We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

7.4.20

I Remember When You Gave Me This Bracelet


I Remember When You Gave Me This Bracelet

Funny, I can’t recall
presents others gave.
I suppose they must have —
for birthdays, Christmas, 
the usual occasions.

I do remember 
presents from you —
for no special reason, except 
you loved me and wanted 
to give me gifts, 
romantic tokens:
husband and also lover, 
though we were aged.

It was about this time of year.
We drove up the hill
to a park overlooking 
the tropical ocean.
In an art-and-craft gallery
beside the restaurant,
you found this bracelet;
said it must be mine. 

Mainly purple; glowing
with threads and coils 
of other, swirly colours —
like rainbows, 
or something magical 
(weed or shell or scale)
from out of the sea.

I’ve never seen 
another like it.
As I move, it gleams,
catching the light.

For Day 7 of April 2020 at 'imaginary garden with real toads', 
we're asked to write a poem about a bracelet.
















11 comments:

  1. This is a gift rich in memories and special meaning.

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  2. This is a lovely bracelet. You were blessed with this beautiful relationship you had with your husband.

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  3. A stunning bracelet, Rosemary!💘 I like the quiet reflection in this poem and the vivid intricate details especially; "Mainly purple; glowing with threads and coils of other, swirly colours —like rainbows." There are some memories which we hold dear and never forget.

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  4. Beautiful description of a meaningful gift. Sometimes the gift's surroundings make the receiving all the more special....that drive up the hill....and I love these words "You found this bracelet; said it must be mine." That is the essence of the love of this one gift. I'm smiling....lovely.

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  5. So true, Rosemary. That is the way Mrs. Jim got her engagement ring, in a restaurant, now out of business but after 47 years our union still survives. I like the picture find, was it yours and the object of your poem? I am hoping, it is very pretty.
    ..

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    Replies
    1. Oh yes, that is my photo of the bracelet on my wrist, snapped just to go with this poem.

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  6. What a beautiful gift and beautiful expression of the one who gave it to you.

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  7. Gifts from someone you love are always precious.

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  8. I haven’t worn jewellery since I returned from my daughter's almost a month ago. Reading your poem has given me the idea to look at the few items I have, none of them worth anything, but all rich with memories, especially when they are all that’s left of a loved one. I love how you describe the bracelet, Rosemary, ‘glowing with threads and coils… or something magical (weed or shell or scale) from out of the sea’. It's like glass from the island of Murano in Italy.

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    Replies
    1. So it is! But not glass. Some kind of resin, I think.

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