Whispers
~~~
A thousand words said a picture’s worth
But these do not speak to me at all
Wonderous world of the moment seen
Unrevealed by the thin and small
~~~
The captured light once living
Does not breathe here any more
Just snapshots of what lay behind
Of the person I was before
~~~
Old friends seen in young faces
Young love seen in old pains
The photos hold but traces
Of what little still remains
~~~
They are not fully silent
They whisper their timid prayers
Of a life with more possibilities
A life that held many less cares
~~~
Old images do not seem their worth
I will leave behind a thousand words
In case the photographs of my life
Are the whispers that go unheard
~~~
commonsensiblyspeaking 
so thought-provoking. yes, some things are better left behind and others held forever
Thank you, Beth! I appreciate all your support!
You know that I’m just the opposite, that anything that is tangible and evokes a happy memory is difficult for me to let go of. You and I are different as well, because my happiest days are in those years of photos with friends, and you had some black clouds hanging over you during that same period in your own life. You’d tell me that getting rid of a tangible item doesn’t get rid of the memory as you encourage me to simplify my possessions. I’d argue the same in opposite respect for you – that getting rid of the item doesn’t change the memory.
Point well made. Two sides of the same coin, I guess. Thanks, sis! Love you!
Brad, this resonated with me, specifically as I had just written letters to my sons. They’ve been away in the Air Force for many years. Everywhere I go, everything I see, holds their memories. And my life has twisted since they left; and had twists when they were young. I’m not the same person. Yet, the feelings that are evoked match my heart and spirit today. My over 2,000 words to each are just whispers of what my soul can never express enough. I see it in my eyes, even 30 years ago. Thank you for being an inspiration to thoughts. ❣️
How proud you must be of your sons, Karla! I am thankful we have good men like them who choose to serve our country. This was as touching a comment as I have ever received. Thank you! I am glad it inspired thoughts of family and love! 💖
Thank you so much. Brad, for your kind words. It’s humbling. I will thank them both on your behalf. Family and love us what it’s all about ~keep inspiring us my friend! ❣️
You sure make it difficult to skim. You are always slowing me down and making me reflect. My Mom spent much effort sorting photos and slides over the years. But when she was downsizing, she asked me to remove and distribute all the slides when she wasn’t home. She never looked at them over the years.
Maybe I should do a series on singular haiku. That would at least speed up the reading part. Thanks for sharing the story about your mom. With digital phtos these days, the keeping and sharing has become much easier. When it comes to photographs, the ones most important to us are not found in our photo album, they adorn our walls!
Yes, I have discovered (as my Mother did) that the really important photographs are on my walls or shelves.
How things change, how we change and how we can recollect by looking at old photographs. Very touching poem my friend.
Thanks, Francisco!
My pleasure!
This pulled at my heart strings and was so beautifully written. I look at photographs as preserved memories. Words are wonderful and I can never get enough of them, but photographs…
I’m not sure what it is about them, especially old ones. I love looking at them, even people I don’t really know. They tell a story without words. You can see it on their faces, pain or joy.
Our own photographs can be painful reminders, but sometimes I find healing in those moments. Photographs are also a mode of time travel. Certain photographs transport me back to the moment the snapshot was taken, and whether the moment was painful or joyous, I almost always find a hidden gem.
Yeah, I’m a lover of photograohs…
Photographs are wonderous things. It is your eye behind the camera that certainly adds to your love of the medium. Someday we can sit around and tell the stories in the photos we hold. Thanks for everything, Kristian!
I look forward to that day! Always, Brad! ❤
I concur with all the beautiful comments. This is a particular difficult one for me. Photographs share some hard times on my face and mind. Now they bring back a lot of sadness but also shows me how much I have healed and how much I loved these people now. Beautiful writing Brad. Love ❤️ Jonikins
Memories have always been that way. There is always some good and some bad in all of them. Stay focused on the good.
That is what we all need to do. I feel so blessed in so many ways Brad. I am grateful for your friendship too. ❤️🤗