Poetry Challenge - Big Tent Poetry #1

I had a rough time with this challenge from "Big Tent" Poetry initially (link to them below for more information!). The use of all the unrelated words above, while telling a story...it initially seemed too artificial. Suddenly, a family scene from the 80's came back to me, and the words just flowed.....I hope you like it.

Parting With Her, Parting With Memories

The dock was littered with debris
A temporary resting place for the cabin’s
Furnishings; we children and grandchildren
Swarm to see the cabin for the last time.

So many memories of good times here
We embellish the good times and forget
The difficulty of parting with her things and
The inevitable arguments over ownership rights.

There is evidence that the space was much loved
Louisa’s child clings to her skirt while she weeps
Over the loss of the blue vase, shattered
A temporary reaction to the real loss of our grandmother.

The half-eaten remains of our breakfast
Cover the trestle table on the porch
Who will have the backbone to sweep them away,
Concluding our last meal here?

It is just property. We had no other answer
but to sell. Someone else’s family will enjoy it.
And yet, I chant silently as I walk away
“We’ll be back next summer, gram!”


http://bigtentpoetry.org/