Pinned

She selected her coat with care,
blue it was, her favourite colour,
just like the sky.

She wore the butterfly brooch,

the one from the charity shop,
gaudy enamel it was,
cheap, but cheerful,

had it pinned,

carefully,
on the lapel it was,
of her sky blue coat.

The coat was charity too,

reminded her of her grandfather,
something about the smell,
a catalyst for long forgotten memory.

He had smoked a pipe,

fragrant tobacco,
bought in town
every Saturday morning,
when she was a little girl
and he took her shopping,
bought her the brooch
out of his pension
for her tenth birthday,

It was the grandfather

who had held her little hand
in his big gnarly one,
gently
as they walked.

The old man

with faded blue eyes,
that looked just like
the colour of the
sky on the bus ride home,  
who one day
flew away
and never came back.

Reviews

[Christy the Poetic Hear..]

It sure is an original piece of beauty!!
I'm glad you chose blue which is one of my favorite colors.
Nice writing!!!!
😊😊

[barleygirl]

What a compelling tangle of observations & emotions! I love the way "blue" is a theme thru-out your piece, wisely using the color to denote mood & connect life chapters. I love the way you describe details with care & this shows us how much some simple object means to the one who has little. You do a great character study thru mainly observations, which I love to read when done well (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

I enjoyed the detail in the language in this poem, right down to the poignant ending. Memories of a Grandfather, and loss from the point of view of a child. Nicely done Bob.

Chris

[Kelly Scheppers]

The further I scrolled down, the more I became anxious to find what awaited me there. I swallowed hard and took a breath, then another...

Poetry like this is what makes this world a better place. How fortunate for all of us here!

[Pete]

such an emotive write laced with love. tugs at heartstrings. simply memorable, touching and wonderful. leaves an impression that is not soon forgotten. outstanding ... :)

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Wonderful imagery. A few words building a picture in the minds eye. Loved it.

[lakinbob]

Thank you all (three) of you kindly. Doesn't really bother me whether or not folk leave a review. I just like to write, something I didn't do for a while.

LB

[Beccy]

Oh my goodness. This doesn't just tug at the heartstrings, it tears them in two.

'It was the grandfather
who had held her little hand
in his big gnarly one,
gently
as they walked.'

So tender, so beautifully written that I genuinely had a tear in my eye. Like emmajoy, I cannot understand why so few of those who have read it have not bothered to comment.

Beccy.

[Wild Rose]

Cherished reminders of a gentle old man
Blue her favourite colour
The enamelled blue brooch; sky blue coat
Grandads blue eyes

He flew away to a pleasant place
Still remains in her heart
Nice read thank you for posting

[emmajoy]

' The coat was charity too, ~ reminded her of her grandfather, ~ something about the smell, ~ a catalyst for long forgotten memory. ' That single stanza stands as a story of its own...

Such a smooth, sweet chain of being.. ending in a sadness that hits the heart! Your words are so gently laid, their meanings really do paint a picture of how it was, how blue eyes and the people, young, elderly, shared love and left behing memories. Goodness know why your visitors have left without a word.. this is a poignant, finely written poem .. truly is.