My first time

Something to remind you of your life, maybe invoke old memories

The first time my barely formed heart beat

The first time my lungs inhaled the air so sweet

The first time my eyes opened wide to see

The first time, looked on by the mother who gave birth to me

The first time I drank from a milk engorged breast

The first time I closed my eyes for a rest

The first time I felt warmth and pain

The first time I felt cold and rain

 

All these memories are not there

Obscured by a thick black curtain without a tear

To let at least the tiniest fleck of light

Enter and remind me if everything was alright

 

The first time I walked

The first time I talked

The first time I cried

The first time I lied

 

Are also lost behind the curtain

Memories of these are also uncertain

 

The first touch of white virgin snow

The first touch of a hot coal aglow

The first day at school

The first splash in a paddling pool

 

These memories lay behind a curtain of lace

Not clear but diffused light leaves a trace

 

The first time I rode a bike

The first time I went on a hike

The first time I lost a fight

The first time I had a fright

 

These memories lay behind a curtain of gossamer thread

Like the traces of the spiders web on a dewy morning, they are left in my head

 

The first time I drank too much beer

The first time I found it easy to be insincere

The first time I was cruel to another

The first time I could not be bothered

 

Are memories behind a curtain drawn wide

I wish I could close them and the memories hide

 

The first time my lips were conjoined in a kiss

The first time I wanted to experience sexual bliss

The first time, apprehensive, excited and unsure

The first time I entered another body and opened a new door

These memories are printed boldly on the curtain

These memories are one’s that are certain

 

The first time I worked and met people of power

The first time I was reprimanded that left a taste so sour

The first time I was promoted

The first time I became devoted

 

The curtains are nowhere near, the memories are clear

 

The first time I noticed a grey hair

The first time I noticed you were not there

The first time my body was denied

The first time that I died

 

The curtain became a closed door

There are memories no more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Make of what you will, a simple idea but intended to invoke memories in the reader

Reviews

[Extant]

I enjoyed how the poem went through life, it wasn't just a stagnate memory or half-assed attempt, everything was disclosed. It did invoke memories within, well done. However, the rhythm tripped me up in a few places.

[Raven Tempest]

beautiful...nostalgic... good read

[taylor ski]

I liked the progression of time throughout the poem as well as the metaphor of a curtain for the veil that prevents us in cases from looking through the window into our mind and memories. Nicely done.

[hogan]

Thanks for taking the time to comment, the idea came from a short conversation about early memories.