“Say ‘lettuce’ and spell ‘cup.’”
We see those photographs of us as children teasing each other and we call them keepsakes. A time we can’t return to, snapshots of the smallest versions of us literally experiencing everything for the first time in our lives.
Does that suggest that, because we are recycling the same emotions again and again, that we are not actually becoming bigger versions of ourselves, but the same tiny kids experiencing mutations of the same things—some stronger, some weaker?
“Stretch your mouth and say ‘pirate ship.’”
I’m taking pictures everyday. The way the wineglass sweats on the nightstand, the sun peeking through peonies, drunk spills at the bar. I used to be enamoured by the thought that a picture could keep a memory alive, and capture the people inhabiting it in a moment where they will never be the same people again. But I’ve come to realize that, upon flipping through old albums, these glossy photographs haunt me with everything I have ever lost, and all the people I used to be.
I remember a childhood April afternoon, when we flooded in from recess and my blond crush stood by his locker across the hallway and mouthed that he loved me.
“Stick out your tongue and say ‘apple.’”
But I have played these games before, and I knew if you thought about the words and warped your mouth in your mind for long enough, you’d never be bullied again.
I turned away from his smile and headed for class, because I understood that even the ones you want to love will always fit into elephant shoes.
❤️
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🌟🏆
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if Bart Simpson never said “spell icup” where would we be now
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tender.
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Your writing is a joy to read.
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I love your writing – interesting and unique.
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your writing is truly inspiring and well thought out. I was wandering if you could check out my page and maybe give me some advice to improve my poetry. I have just started out.
theuncovering.wordpress.com/contact/
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Your writing is beautiful!
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This is so real and raw. Thank you for posting!
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This was a truly lovely and wonderful post about our life’s – Snapshots and Keepsakes! Bravo!
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet and commented:
Come enjoy Elle’s poem about – snapshots and keepsakes!!
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This is lovely.
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Beautifully expressed thoughts. Anand Bose from Kerala
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You capture quality of life moments, Elle. Quite fine.
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outstanding. Throughly enjoy seeing your past through your words. Caused me to pause and think. May joy fill you heart and soul.
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Absolutely agree
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My comment to #9 is long. It was a prompt for my post accessible here: https://euwah.wordpress.com/2017/12/27/in-response-to-13/
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Your memories of childhood are alive now, become my own. You are able to string words together that pop out of my mouth; I want to repeat them, to feel their sound again. Your craft is real. It is a bonus because the truth you speak comes from within and shouts out from the page who you are. Keep writing for yourself, no matter how many ask you, follow you…
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