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Saturday 17 March 2012

The shoebox

This is a poem which I wrote for a writing exercise a few years ago. The task was to write a poem about a box. I chose the yellow shoebox which I keep things in to remind me of my mother.

I've found Mother's Day difficult to deal with since she passed away ten years ago. I didn't get to say goodbye and I miss her so much.


It's a way of remembering her

When it happened I gathered

Everything I could find

Associated with her

Photos, letters she'd sent to me

A letter I wrote to her after she'd gone

Sometimes if I want to think about her

I take off the lid and remove the contents

Sifting through



My favourite photograph is the one in France

With me, her and my sister

Smiling as we stand on a bridge

The letters make me laugh sometimes

Telling me what she's been doing

And telling me what I should be doing



My favourite piece of correspondence from her

Is a 21st Birthday card I recently found

I'd been searching for it since she'd gone

It said what I needed to hear

I am very proud to have a lovely daughter like you.

29 comments:

  1. What a lovely tribute to your Mum, Anita. Thinking of you & lots of love to you x

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  2. Says it all.
    You must have been young when your mum passed away. I can't imagine it.
    Words can be great healers.
    Laura xx

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    1. Thanks for your lovely comment Laura. I was 28, so not that young but do feel sad she didn't see me get married or meet my children. And it would be nice to ring her for a chat sometimes. Just putting this on my blog has made me feel better-writing is great therapy!X

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  3. I agree with Jan this is a lovely tribute to your Mum. Isn't it amazing how writing can be used as therapy - I am happy to hear it has made you feel better.

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  4. A beautiful memorial to your mother, Anita, and she would be very proud of you still.

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  5. Thanks Rosemary and Cathy for your lovely comments.

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  6. What a poignant poem, Anita. I'm sorry for your loss and I'm sure she'd be very proud of you today.

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  7. How very sad it is to lose a mother. This is a lovely tribute to her, Anita. Wherever she is, she'll be moved by it, I'm sure. xx

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  8. As others have said, what a lovely tribute. I agree, wherever she is, she'll be smiling down on you and very, very proud of her daughter. I thought about you this morning - along with others who will be missing their mums today. Hugs.

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  9. Thanks Rebecca, another lovely comment. I am lucky to have such great virtual friends!

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  10. I share your sadness Anita, since I lost my mum 3 years ago. It's lovely that you've written this poem for her. It's one of the great things about being a writer -- you can remember her in so many ways.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment Monica. It is great to write about her and I may do some more now some time has passed.

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  11. This made me cry Anita,what a lovely poem. I too have a box of memories I lost my mum eigth years ago and still miss her.

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    1. Oh Anne, thanks for your lovely comment. Sorry you miss your mum too.X

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  12. Very touching poem Anita and a comfort for you on days like Mother's Day when you miss your mum even more. I've got a similar box of bits 'n' bobs I kept when my dad died but I find it hard to look inside even after five years. I hope that yesterday wasn't too difficult for you and your happy memories helped. x

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    1. Thanks Helen. I find I have to be in a certain 'zone' to look inside that box as it stirs up a great deal of emotion. I was surprised at how little I had to put in it. Holidays and good times are what I remember most. I take loads of photos these days as they're great for jogging the memory.

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  13. That's lovely, Anita. I lost my mum 6 years ago on March 17th - too close to Mother's Day. A few days after she died I had to go and get a Mother's Day card for my mother-in-law. We get through somehow, don't we. Don't know how, but we do. Hugs to you.

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    1. Hi Linda, thanks for your comment and sorry to hear about your mum. You were good to go and get that card for your m-in-law!X

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  14. Anita, I just tagged you on my blog!

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    1. Hi Linda,
      Thanks so much. Hope you don't mind if I pass. I've had 2 awards recently and think I've talked about myself far too much already!

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  15. Hi Anita,

    What a moving poem and I am so sorry for your loss.

    This may be inappropriate, but just to let you know, I have tagged you over on my blog as part of the lucky 7 meme challenge. It's a challenge for writers with manuscripts. Hope you can take part.

    http://unpublishedworksofme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/lucky-7-challenge.html

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    1. Hi Melissa, thanks for your comment and for the tagging. Will have a look.

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  16. Anita - I think this is not only a moving poem but a useful idea. My mother passed away two years ago this May and the memories of her I brought home - jewelry, pictures, letters, and keepsakes are still scattered around my house. I think I will find me a nice shoebox and gather them in!

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  17. Thanks for the comment Carol. Sorry to hear about your mother-glad this post has helped in some way.x

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  18. A very moving and lovely poem, Anita. I've read it several times now - it's beautiful. Much love x

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