Sunday's Whirligig
until apartment stairs flank flamingo kitchen
basil garden maps sorrows burn cruise
the flamingos
on the letter box have faded and are no longer pink
your lovely old house has now been divided into apartments
the kitchen garden with its mint and basil has gone
the memory of you
is burned into the map
of most of my life
we went to the same school
naughty girls always getting detention
for sliding down the stair banister
we were tweedle dee and tweedle dum
your dad called us the giggling gerties
we were inseparable best friends
we shared sleepovers holidays
took our first boat cruise together
after high school
had a lot of fun
dancing all night until sun up
i introduced you to your husband
we both married in the same year
our children played together
then you moved away
we lost touch
tired of the one way trip
i stopped initiating contact
decided to wait for you to call instead
you never did
Surprise !
you contacted me
the stranger you forgot long ago
out of the blue last week
it has been more than twenty years
best you should know...
This post doesn't not show on Whirligig site (says it does not exist on a blank page of yours). I had better luck with contacting and visiting old school mates but sadly they have started to die off which is a bit depressing.
ReplyDeleteFor you last line "but I look a bit different now!"
ReplyDeleteYou could be right:)
DeleteThe reader can complete the last lines of the poem. It will be interesting to see if any match mine:)
ReplyDeleteI hope the ending is positive - it would be a shame to move from flamingos to a loss. But what wonderful memories
ReplyDeleteHoping there is a happy ending and that you reconnect after the years apart. Lots to catch up on, I'm sure! And the seed for another poem?
ReplyDeleteI am almost certain that the ending will be positive! Such a heart-stirring write ❤️
ReplyDeleteI have done the same with one way street relationships, waiting for them to contact me. One did recently, so i really relate to this poem. To me, the last line suggested health concerns, or some major change that occurred during the silent years.
ReplyDeleteI have too many one-way-street relationships, more than I can count, so your poem really speaks to me.
ReplyDeleteI like it ending as is...like the speaker is pointing out to old friend that 20 years have passed while old friend wasn't looking. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat ending...it's a definite precipice. Loved the image of someone burning into the map of your life.
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed when old old friends contact me after years of being apart. I am, like, you did without me all this time, keep on going.
ReplyDeleteHa - I've been on that road before, it would be nice if someone would contact me and say hey, I've been thinking of you.
ReplyDelete