For Johanna

lillian

She left today.
Someone else packed her things
shrink-wrapped paintings
boxed up lamps, books.

But they had no idea
how to fit memories
into the moving truck.
So they left them all behind,

for me.

box-1209969_1920

Shared with dVerse, the virtual pub for poets. While dVerse take its summer hiatus, I will continue to share my somewhat poetic thoughts here….and invite you to read, like or dislike, comment or not, as you wish. Sometimes the muse strikes, even in the midst of a beautiful summer day!

49 thoughts on “For Johanna”

    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:25 pm

      Memories can be forgotten with the passing of people….but I think the story behind saved artifacts (photos, a doll, a special piece of jewelry) can also be lost.

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  2. kanzensakura June 27, 2019 / 10:35 am

    Sad. I wonder why she left. Died? Nursing home? Job? All those memories rattling around an empty house. BTW one doesn’t need prompts obviously to write a good poem. I use Poets United, Sunday Muse Blogspot, abd Real Toads in ImaginarybGardens. I prompt over at real Toads. On 7/18 I am going to be prompting. I am rhinking on rebirth.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:25 pm

      Thank you so much Toni….so good to see you here. I must mark it in my calendar to stop by Toads on the 18th!

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  3. Grace June 27, 2019 / 3:16 pm

    Hi Lillian, there is sadness in the passing away but also hope for new beginnings. Some things we dont need and leave behind, becomes a way forward and impetus for those starting their journeys. See you when the pub doors open again in 2 weeks.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:27 pm

      Thank you, Grace. Yes….enjoy your hiatus! 🙂

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:28 pm

      That is true. The “stories” behind the artifacts (photos, old jewelry and mementos) also disappear when the person holding them is gone.

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  5. Therisa Godwaldt June 27, 2019 / 3:20 pm

    It feels like a mother’s lament, for child leaving for school or moving with a lover, for a new home.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:29 pm

      Glad you connected with this….I deliberately left it open for interpretation…thinking it could be picked up and felt by more readers then (except for the title). There is a Johanna though….and it was so hard to say goodbye.

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  6. kanzensakura June 27, 2019 / 3:21 pm

    This is my third time reading this. So poignant. Stuff gets tossed, given away, sold…but the memories as long as there is a person alive, still lingers.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:31 pm

      Oh my, Toni. I’m so glad this resonated with you…thank you so much. And yes, you are so very right that memories, even the stories behind an artifact that is saved, can eventrually fade when the person doing the remembering is gone. Sometimes I even look at something I’ve saved and have to try hard to remember why. It’s interesting how this post resonated with so many people in different ways. For me, there really is a Johanna and she really did move away just this past week. So very very hard to say goodbye.

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  7. msjadeli June 27, 2019 / 3:25 pm

    I like how you leave it open, for the reader to interpret. The poem has explained some of why the things were left, but nothing is said about how the one the things are left to feels about it. Some might consider it a burden. Others might consider it a blessing. Nicely done, Lillian.

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    • Lona Gynt June 28, 2019 / 5:01 pm

      spot on Jade on your thoughts Jade, that was me zactly, it was nice in a way to see all the details fuzzy except the love, centered in on the essential truth of the poem. So tender. Thank you Lillian.

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      • msjadeli June 28, 2019 / 6:16 pm

        You are welcome, Lona.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:32 pm

      I love your comment here. Thank you so much and so glad you made a connection with it.

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      • msjadeli June 30, 2019 / 1:34 pm

        I did, and you are welcome.

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  8. Glenn A. Buttkus June 27, 2019 / 3:27 pm

    Relocation–death or otherwise. I’m puzzled by why someone else did the packing. We all carry a museum of memories around with us. Most of my family hAs passed on, yet in my dreams, day or night, we all still enjoy huge family get-togethers.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:34 pm

      Oh yes, Glenn….I have some wonderful memories of gatherings with aunts and uncles who have now been gone for many years. I have a cousin my age who is terminal with brain cancer…similar to John McCain and Ted Kennedy…and I’ve bee making cards periodically for him with photos from our childhood birthday parties together in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

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  9. sanaarizvi June 27, 2019 / 3:57 pm

    Oh this is so poignant! ❤️ Parting with someone is always a bitter-sweet experience.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:34 pm

      Thank you so much for reading, Laua. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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  11. Jane Dougherty June 27, 2019 / 4:11 pm

    Postcards and mementos with no value but sentimental are so poignant. You read them and make your own memories.

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  12. Misky June 27, 2019 / 4:17 pm

    A fascinating perspective on someone else’s life.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:36 pm

      Yes, I deliberately left it open-ended….although there really is a Johanna…

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:36 pm

      Thank you. Glad you connected with it, Mary. For me, there really is a Johanna and it was so so sad to say goodbye.

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  15. memadtwo June 27, 2019 / 11:14 pm

    Those memories look so forlorn. But with endings are new beginnings, as we all know. (K)

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:37 pm

      That is very true. Although the new beginnings many times are minus someone near and dear to us.

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      • memadtwo June 30, 2019 / 9:10 pm

        Their absence becomes a presence.

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  16. Mish June 27, 2019 / 11:54 pm

    You have captured departure with simplicity and grace. This is truly special…every word.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:38 pm

      Oh my……..your comment made my day here. And yes, there really is a Johanna and it was so very hard to say goodbye.

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  17. Bryan Ens June 28, 2019 / 12:26 am

    Beautiful and sad all rolled into one. Not sure if you are talking about someone moving away or passing away…I think there is something powerful about how this could be read either way.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:38 pm

      Thank you, Bryan. Yes….I deliberately left it open but for me, there really is a Johanna and it was so so very sad to say goodbye.

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  18. Tranature - quiet moments in nature June 28, 2019 / 6:35 am

    So happy they left those memories for you Lillian, a beautiful thought 🙂💖 xxx

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  19. kim881 June 28, 2019 / 2:07 pm

    Yours in the first poem I’ve read on dVerse for a while and it’s left me feeling sad, it’s so moving.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:40 pm

      Oh dear…….did not want to make you sad, Kim. I hope you read on to cheer yourself up as well! Do enjoy your hiatus from dVerse.

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    • lillian June 30, 2019 / 1:40 pm

      Thank you, Sarah. So very glad you enjoyed.

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  23. sarahsouthwest March 19, 2020 / 6:44 am

    I didn’t see this at the time. It’s a lovely piece, so simple, so moving. Such loss.

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