A Life in Abstraction

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Poets and Storytellers United

"...as your prompt this week, I invite you to think of a piece of music which affects you emotionally  whenever you happen to hear it played – whether it warms your heart or brings back different reactions – and tell us what this particular piece has meant to you in your life."

While the poem is pure fiction, I often think of old friends preserved in faded photos.  What became of them?  Do they wonder about me too?  The inspiring song lyrics are below.  (The term abstraction came from an unused NaPoWriMo prompt to use an art term in a poem.)

©Win Smith 1962, in author's collection

She said she lived her life in abstraction,

drew pleasure in exaggeration,

in the distorted way she viewed us,

squinting her eyes in appraisal.


She thought herself another Miro,

speaking Catalan to her friends.

Once at a party she tossed me out,

I'd told her Joan was a man.


That was so long ago.

A faded photo is all that's left

to remind me of her.

So warped it's hard to make her out. 


©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved 


Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel 


Time it was

And what a time it was

It was a time of innocence

A time of confidences


Long ago, it must be

I have a photograph

Preserve your memories

They're all that's left you


Comments

  1. Rosemary Nissen-WadeJune 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM

    Ah, I didn't know that Particular Simon and Garfunkle piece. Nice words; I'll hunt up the music too, some time soon. That portrait is very arresting and intriguing – and abstract is my favourite style of painting. Above all, I love your poem, so succinctly conveying so much. (I did giggle about the Joan Miro bit!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. HelenJune 14, 2025 at 4:58 PM

    Your poetry is an absolute delight!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HelenJune 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM

      Ok, Ok ... time to take a listen to Hallelujah! Buckley or Cohen. Cheers.

      Delete
  3. IntelliblogJune 16, 2025 at 5:27 AM

    Wonderful poem! I love that S&G song!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JimJune 16, 2025 at 8:00 AM

    I've heard and really liked this of there songs. From it you told your story very well. Thank you. p.s. Even though I listened often to this song, I hadn't known its title. Thank you again.
    ..

    ReplyDelete
  5. Penelope NotesJune 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM

    It's a sentimental journey going through faded photos and memories, our ghosts from the past.

    ReplyDelete

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