Memories

What do I remember when past moments I recall

What treasures have I stored away in memory's dusty hall

Who features most (and who's forgotten) and why should this be so?

Which names are written in my heart from those I used to know?

For many folk have crossed my path, and some have stayed a while

A few have made me angry, whilst many made me smile

And some have left their mark in ways that I can not explain

A few I knew just briefly and never met again

But several have walked with me through days both good and bad

And laughed with me until we cried, and wept with me when sad.

So the things that I remember are an odd assorted mix

of memories and stories and silly childhood tricks

Of sneezing powder put in desks, and shared, forbidden sweets

of paper dolls and arctic roll and Grandma's house and treats

Of coleslaw frozen by mistake and strawberries by design

Of warnings from the parents, though we lived and felt just fine!

Of splinters from the garden fence and caterpillar pets

And Grandad's barley sugars, and little fishing nets

Holidays in Weston, “the cave” and Anchor Head

And peeping through the window when we should have been in bed

The chips, the scarey Ghost Train, and early evening walks

with Grandad, whilst the grown ups stayed at home and sat and talked

The sudden sharp sting of a wasp and Kirst's loud shouts and cries

On a hot beach in the summer it came as a surprise

And bright pink candyfloss blown into my hair

All sticky and messy, yet I didn't care.

Then later come the memories when I was scared and ill

Such long days spent in hospital, my mind recalls them still

Some lovely kids, some tricks, some games

An endless procession of learning new names

Some nurses so kind and others so foul

Procedures and blood tests to make me howl

And doctors – like god's! Though we didn't agree

They didn't get too many smiles from me!

And yet, from those times there are memories bright

And times of great tenderness through long dark nights

Of reading to children who needed to hear

That someone was with them, that someone was near

And friendships I made which mattered so much

Though sadly these days we're no longer in touch

And just one young doctor who somehow impressed

For he turned and said “sorry” when I was distressed.

The early romances, the boy down the street

The giggling, sly glances when we happened to meet

The Sunday school outings, and club Wednesday nights

The arguments, fallings out, childhood fights.

Then high school and homework till sometimes quite late

Exams which had everyone in such a state

And lunchtimes spent talking, and cherished walks home

A most special friendship, no longer alone.

Then job hunting, interviews, how time goes by

I got married, moved house in the blink of an eye

Through illness and struggles, through laughter and fun

Somehow years have passed and time has moved on

Yet sometimes I ponder on memories treasured

And wonder just how a good life can be measured

In the balance of life there is good and there's bad

But I mainly remember the good times I've had

And I think that is just how it should be for all

That the best and the finest of life should be stored

So that we can retrieve precious memories at will

Relive them as if we we are living them still

Recapture our younger selves, reclaim our dreams

We're still the same people as daft as it seems

Take hold with enthusiasm each day anew

And make some new memories with all that we do.

Karen Holmes

January 17 2011