Memories In a Photograph

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Photograph

Brenda Arledge, a friend to all, has provided a 33rd prompt, “photograph”. I was just blank after I read that prompt, but I did have surgery on my cervical spine a week ago Wednesday. I am recovering quite well.

Over the last couple of days I started thinking about photographs and how I value the ones from the past when we were younger and my sons were children. I appreciate all Brenda has done to help many of us to explore more avenues to express ourselves.

Heartbreak

She held the photograph in her hand

Her wedding took place so long ago

Tears flowed free as she had no plan

Everyone could see she lost her glow

How much more could she withstand

He was gone but she sure didn’t know

She was enduring the pain firsthand

Decisions now would have to be slow

He was gone she did not understand

He protected her, she had no foe

Why would God take such a good man

She hurt so much, she was so low

How was she going to be able to stand

Her emotions were so horribly low

If she fell how low would she land

She really wished she too was below

The photograph dropped on the nightstand

Her emotions continued to range to and fro

Her tears flowed constantly into her hands

Her daughter hugged her and said hello

She had to live but she hadn’t planned

A life alone she did not want to undergo

She knew she needed to take a firm stand

She recognized she would need to grow

Acrostic Poem - Photograph

Photographs capture our memories

How very joyous they can be

Our lives on film we do love

Together we capture our lives

Our joyous memories of the past

Getting our joy printed on film

Always is fun and a good memory

Photographs help us to remember

Having our past captured forever

Loss Of a Loved One

The loss of your partner (husband or lover) is heartbreaking. As my husband and I age with all our medical problems I thought of life without him, and it would break my heart. He loves me unconditionally and takes care of me. I take care of him as well. I want to spend each day I have left with him. That was my feeling when I wrote the first poem.

Pictures And Memories

© 2021 Pamela Oglesby

Comments

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 15, 2021:

Hi Zeenat,

I am glad you enjoyed the poem. I appreciate your comments.

Zeenat on October 15, 2021:

I enjoyed reading your poems. Thank you!

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 12, 2021:

Hi Devika,

I guess most of us love our photos. I am glad you like the poems. Thank you so much foir your comments.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on October 12, 2021:

Pamela99 you have written beautiful poems and stories. I keep old photos and do new ones to keep those special memories.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 12, 2021:

Hi MG,

I appreciate your comments about the poems and photos.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 12, 2021:

Hi Brenda,

You summed up the meanings of both poems. Thank you for your comments.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 12, 2021:

Hi Flourish,

I feel just as you about losing my husband. Thank you for your comments.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 12, 2021:

Sharing notes would be interesting. Good lick with your gardening, Maria.

MG Singh from UAE on October 11, 2021:

These are nice poems and the accompanying photos lovely.

BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on October 11, 2021:

Pamela

Your poem, "Heartbreak" shows us a woman looking at a photograph of her wedding day, but she lost her husband to death.

She is sad & alone, not wanting to hold on without him.

When her daughter says hello, she knows she must hold on.

In your "Acrostic Poem - Photograph" tells us how much fun it us to capture our memories on film and we can look back on our past.

It's hard to imagine our lives without our loved ones. It will be sad, but the photographs will help.

I'll post a link in the word prompt article.

FlourishAnyway from USA on October 11, 2021:

What a sad poem but those thoughts sometimes fill my mind too as I age. I feel lucky to have a good partner but hate the thought of parting.

MariaMontgomery from Coastal Alabama, USA on October 11, 2021:

Thanks. So far, it's not bad. I bought 2 trays of snapdragons and pansies today, plus veggie plants, a mum, & a Meyer lemon tree. Now I have to go out and dig holes for all those guys. Hope you week is good, too. We'll have to share notes on genealogy research sometime.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Maria,

I have some of those old photographs too where there were no smiles, as I also do genealogy research. Some of them were grim.

I appreciate your comments. I hope you are having a good week!

MariaMontgomery from Coastal Alabama, USA on October 11, 2021:

A lovely poem, and just the right amount of "hauntedness" for this time of year, too. I have some portraits of my maternal grandparents and my paternal great-grandparents. I always wondered why people back then didn't smile in photos. Through my genealogy research, I learned that the old cameras, the ones where the photographer put the cloth over his/her head, took too long to take the picture. People couldn't hold a smile that long without it looking frozen or fake, so they were told just to try to look natural. Some of those "resting faces" look pretty grim, don't they? Thanks for a walk down ancestry lane.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Vidya,

I am glad you liked the poems and consider the a good response to Brenda's prompt. I agree it is very difficult to lose one you love dearly, which motivated me to write the poem.

I am recovering and appreciate your good wishes. Thank you so much for your comments. Keep smiling, Vidya, and stay blessed.

VIDYA D SAGAR on October 11, 2021:

A great response to Brenda's word prompt, Pamela. It's unbearable to lose someone you love dearly. Your poem depicts these emotions very well. I liked the acrostic poem very much. Have a speedy recovery from the surgery dear Pamela. Take care and thanks for sharing.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Fran,

I am so sorry you lost your husband and your photos. I can only imagine missing all the little things you shared. I do relish each day.

I am glad you liked the poems. I appreciate your comments, as always. Take care!

fran rooks from Toledo, Ohio on October 11, 2021:

Pamela, very touching poem. You are right when your husband, soulmate is gone, seems nothing fills the void. I lost all our years of photos in a 100 years flood n Toledo the very year he died. I miss the little things like our morning coffee, a special name he called me. You take care and relish each day. Thanks for your poems.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Nithya,

I am so glad the poems touched you. Photographs capture such very good times and memories.

I appreciate your comments. I hope you are having a great week!

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Shauna,

My husband and I talked about that one time. I hope we have many more years together. I am glad you found the poem to be beautiful and that you enjoy my poetry.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. I hope you have a great week.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Liza,

I want my husband and I to have more good years together, but we both have medical problems. I am glad you found my poem touching.

I very much appreciate your comments.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Bill,

I always appreciate your perspective on what I write, my friend. I did write the poem from my heart.

Thank you so much for commenting. Have a great week!

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Janis,

I'm glad you found the poem moving as I did write it from the heart. I am also glad you enjoyed both poems.

I appreciate your well wishes also. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. Have a good week!

Nithya Venkat from Dubai on October 11, 2021:

Beautiful poems, touched my heart. It would be tough to lose a partner and life would become lonely and sad. Photographs help to relive all those wonderful moments in life.

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on October 11, 2021:

Pamela, I'm glad to hear you're recovering nicely from your surgery.

Your poem is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Losing a loved one is gut-wrenching. Perhaps you and your hubby can will yourselves to go at the same time, just like in The Notebook. It's been known to happen!

I sure enjoy your poetry, Pamela.

Liza from USA on October 11, 2021:

Hi Pamela, earlier I was reading Chitrangada's poem, and I thought it was beautiful. I love it! Your poem is definitely touching and sincere from your heart. I got nothing but, wishing you and your husband a wonderful, happy, joyous, and charming life together.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on October 11, 2021:

Lost love, crushing heartache, enduring sadness, so very well-written. Lovely responses to the prompt, my friend. You are growing as a writer/poet, and it is wonderful to witness.

Janis Leslie Evans from Washington, DC on October 11, 2021:

Pamela, I found your word prompt offering profoundly moving. To write about your greatest fear in the first poem had to be quite emotional. Your acrostic piece also captured the assignment very well. I really appreciate what you've shared. I wish you and your husband continued strength in love and health.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Rosina,

I am glad you reallyy liked these poems and think they are a good response to Brenda's prompt.

Thank you so much for your very sweet comments. Keep smiling and stay blessed.

Rosina S Khan on October 11, 2021:

This is a wonderful response to Brenda's prompt. The first poem is indeed touching and that is how we feel about our loved ones. Excellent expression. The acrostic poem was a joy to read. Beautiful images too. I loved everything about your article. Thank you for your lovely contribution, Pamela.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Chitrangada,

I am so glad you enjoyed the poems and found them to be heartfelt, plus a good response to Brenda's prompt.

I appreciate your sweet comments, as always.

Stay blessed and have a wonderful week!

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Rozlin,

My husband is still with me but he is not well. I probably didn't explain that very well.

I didn't know your husband was hospitalized for 14 days. I now that was tough. I did poor my feeling in the poem. I am glad you understood., and liked it.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, my friend. Keep smiling!

Many blessings for you too!

Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on October 11, 2021:

Hello Pamela!

This is so beautiful and heartfelt. I loved reading your response to the word prompt. It’s unimaginable and so difficult to live without the loved ones. You express your thoughts beautifully. I wish both of you many more years of togetherness. Stay healthy and blessed.

Thank you for sharing this. Have a wonderful week ahead.

Rozlin from UAE on October 11, 2021:

A very heartfelt poem, Pamela. Sorry to know about your husband, that he is not their with you. I can understand your feeling as I can relate mine. When my husband was hospitalized for 14 days due to covid, every minute was hard for me to go. Really, I can't imagine my life without him. You have really poured your heart in your first poem. I liked it. Take care, dear.

Many blessings and love to you dear friend.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Liz,

It is definitely tough to lose anyone you love. I am glad the poems had some special meaning for you.

I appreciate your comments. I hope you have a great week.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Misbah,

I am glad you thought the poems were a good response to Brenda's prompt, and that you thought the poems were beautiful.

I wish you happiness and success as well.

Love and many blessings for you, Misbah.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi Umesh,

I am glad you liked the poems and thought they were good. Thank you so much for your comments. I pray you stay blessed also.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 11, 2021:

Hi John,

I am glad you found the first poem touching as this is something I have thought about recently. I appreciate your comments, as always. Have a great week!

Liz Westwood from UK on October 11, 2021:

Only yesterday I was going through photographs of a very much loved family member who sadly passed away recently. Your excellent poem struck a chord. The acrostic was very cleverly worked too.

Misbah Sheikh from The World of Rebels. on October 10, 2021:

So sweet and beautiful poems in response to Brenda's prompt. I thoroughly enjoyed both of your poems. Thank you so much for sharing. I wish you all the happiness and success. God bless you and your family. Amen!

Blessings and Love as always!

Umesh Chandra Bhatt from Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India on October 10, 2021:

Pamela, you have brought those feelings of loneliness and isolation, felt by a person when the partner is not there, very nicely in this poem. Each and every line of your poem is stressing and representing that fact. Good work. Stay blessed.

John Hansen from Gondwana Land on October 10, 2021:

Pamela, the first poem is so sad and touching. I can’t imagine life for either my wife or I if the other passed. The other acrostic poem is very good as well.

Pamela Oglesby (author) from Sunny Florida on October 10, 2021:

Hi Peggy,

I saw my mother go through that loss also. I have thought about how I feel about my husband, and I do not want him to pass before me. We are so close that it is hard to imagine life without him.

I am glad you can relate to my poems, and I very much appreciate your comments, as always.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on October 10, 2021:

I can fully understand how you feel about the potential loss of your soulmate after so many years. I am glad that you still have each other. I saw my mother go through her grief when my dad died. Your first poem captures these feelings well. I enjoyed your second poem about photographs bringing back joyous memories.