plucking piano keys, i picture
you, sitting on my couch.
purple sweater, chocolate cake.
your laugh, like rumbling joy,
lives in my walls.
today marks the day we said goodbye.
years ago, holding hands until cold.
i play the only song i know:
Jolene, about being chosen.
you loved Dolly.
both hard workers—
rhinestone and cleaning gloves.
she left us today, too,
splitting my grief.
out of tune, i sing,
your beauty is beyond compare.
gathering kindness into notes,
remembering.
developed.
your smile is like a breath of spring.
capture. photos. frame.
grit.
moving across the room,
i gather my camera.
holding it with two hands.
my happiness depends on
what i do next.
*56/100: For the next 100 days, I’ll be writing and posting a poem every day. All photos are mine.
Very nice.
Thank you.
This is so tender and moving. I loved how the piano, Dolly, photographs and little remembered details gently gather around the grief. ‘Your laugh, like rumbling joy, / lives in my walls’ is especially beautiful.
Thank you. It was a day of grief that feels like it’s spilling into today, but that’s what it does.
Very nice Bridgette, the melding together of both reminiscences. Seems Ms Parton was universally loved.
Thank you. Dolly really was. I might write some more about her, but for now, the day shared space with my mother-in-law and I’ll be using this day to mourn both yearly now.
Lovely Bridgette.
Thank you!
Bridgette 💖
Aww…
Thank you. I’ll always remember them both fondly.
Really nicely done, Bridgette! I echo Roy’s comments above. Also like certain phrases, especially your laugh, like rumbling joy. Reminded me of my father.
Thank you! I think your father and my mother-in-law would have had a lot of fun together then. With the loss of Tim Curry…this has been a big week for grief.