Sometimes, the great bones of my life feel so heavy, and I wonder, where on earth does it come from, all this weight? There is a song lyric: ‘what’s that secret sorrow that your carryin?’ But it’s no great secret: bereavement, separation, loss. I feel bereaved by every memory which hijacks my senses unexpectedly from time to time. For these memories of fleeting moments in our lives are all so precious. Each one is a jewel, sometimes too bright and beautiful to look at. I wrap them up in tissue paper, stow them away safe inside a memory box. And when I can handle it, I take those jewels out and hold them to the light. I travel through those memories of past joys with a light heart, and for one blissful moment, my bones feel lighter than air, just like a bird’s.
Written for dVerse
Tonight, Linda is hosting prosery, and she has challenged us to write a prose piece of no more than 144 words incorporating this line from Mary Oliver’s poem, ‘Spring Azures:’
‘Sometimes the great bones of my life feel so heavy’
I recommend reading the full poem, as it is something quite wonderful.
I took my title from Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, another quote:
‘I have them, these attacks of the past like faintness, a wave sweeping over my head. Sometimes it can hardly be borne.’
I wanted to explore how memories can be both hard to bear, and also very necessary and beautiful. The song lyric is from the following song by Carole King and The City:
This is so very beautifully writ. I have a dear friend who lost her husband of 49 years just one year ago. She has been going through his study….a bit every day. So many times she tells me she comes across something that sears memories into her mind and she simply must stop for the day. Sometimes memories must be wrapped carefully and stowed away so we can deal with the day….other times, they are a joy to escape into as we hold that photo or whatever memento it is. I enjoyed this write very much.
Thank you, Lillian – that is exactly the kind of sentiment I wanted to explore: the pain and beauty of memories.
Going through the box of old photos, you describe the feeling perfectly: “Each one is a jewel, sometimes too bright and beautiful to look at.” and “for one blissful moment, my bones feel lighter than air,”
Thank you Lisa, we’ve just moved house so I guess it was in the forefront of my mind.
You’re welcome. Whatever is able to lighten the spirit, even if just for a moment.
Oh my aching heart this is poignant. The image of memories stowed away safely tugs strongly and resonates. 💝💝 Very passionate writing!
Thank you, Sanaa – just working through some emotions ❤️
Oh, Ingrid, your piece pierced my heart. I to have a box of memories that hijack my senses. I love the joyful ending, when bones ‘feel lighter than air, just like a bird’s’.
I admit I had a peek yesterday when I was unpacking boxes…
I think sometimes if you shun the memories too much they become an ache and burden… but if you look them straight in the eyes the same memories will lighten you and lessen the aches..
This could well be true!
I too, have a box like that. This is so lovely Ingrid. I love that it end on such a positive note.
Thank you Lisa: I think memories are something to treasure, even if they sometimes hurt.
This is sadly beautiful. I love this: “Each one is a jewel, sometimes too bright and beautiful to look at. I wrap them up in tissue paper, stow them away safe inside a memory box. And when I can handle it, I take those jewels out and hold them to the light.”
Thank you Merril 😊
lovely … we have to know our past to ensure a brighter future 🙂
True 🙏
Very touching,moving, and emotionally close to my heart… and these words are exquisite as I reach for my ’tissue box’…
“Each one is a jewel, sometimes too bright and beautiful to look at. I wrap them up in tissue paper, stow them away safe inside a memory box. And when I can handle it, I take those jewels out and hold them to the light.”
💫 thank you, Ivor 🙏
You go from burdened to released by confronting your sorrows. It’s something we probably all ought to do, even though it’s hard.
Yes and yes!
🙂
“Each one is a jewel, sometimes too bright and beautiful to look at. ”
Indeed, sometimes just too bright
Lovely write
Happy Monday, thanks for dropping bh to read mine
Much💖love
Thank you and you’re welcome 💫
Lovely Ingrid. I too have a box of my mother’s letters to me when I was a teenager living away from home in France. Each time I read them I cry so hard. I felt my mother’s pain of my being away and I remember my homesickness. It is how we grow and move forward but still so difficult.
They must be so poignant to read now from a different perspective.
Wonderful amalgamation, Ingrid; Handmaid’s Tale, Oliver’s poem & The City. Memories, burdensome or weightless. Beautifully delineated here. Salute.
Thank you Ron 🙏
Drawing in the lyric, the quote, is such a light touch here; allowing the reader (the viewer) a sense of shuffling through a memory box – I like how you’ve done this, Ingrid
Thanks Nick, I’m pleased you enjoyed!
As time passes, pain subsides. Navy boot camp for me in 1966 was painful, but the few photos I have from it reminds me of rock songs and CA sunshine.
It’s good to remember the good stuff!
I really enjoyed reading your poem. So meaningful, insightful and most of all, relatable. Beautifully crafted!
I’m glad you could relate 🙏
These are wonderful words, both yours, and the wonderful poem of Mary Oliver’s. Inspiring words and ideas, leading to … who knows what.
Thank you, Carolyn: they always lead somewhere!
Beautiful first and last lines, wonderful… love Atwood too.
Thank you Lia 😊
Your touching piece stirred several emotions and memories in me. You reminded me how much lighter I felt after writing fifty personal stories. I could not have known, prior to embarking on my personal writing project, that my profound emotional release would be transformed into a physical lightness. I also love the metaphor of memories as jewels stored in a memory box and I think it shows your wisdom as a person and writer. Sometimes it is best to give a particular experience, or wound, the time and space needed before we begin writing and releasing.
Perhaps I ought to try this. Writing can be great therapy! Thank you for your kind words, Michele 🙏
Too depressed to read and comment this evening, just saying hello – be back when I am repackaged.
Sorry to hear that, Rob – take all the time you need!
Photos do take you there and lay those bones on your back! I love how you describe the memories as packaged jewels. Love the song as well. Great music from the past!
Thanks Dwight, it was my pleasure to include it!
The intense emotion here is palpable. You take sorrow and turn it into joy. Wonderful. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe: there’s always something beautiful at the heart of every sadness.
Such a lovely woven poem Ingrid. ” Each one is a jewel, sometimes too bright and beautiful to look at. I wrap them up in tissue paper, stow them away safe inside a memory box.” There is such a sacredness here and of the times you open them up when you are strong enough to see in the light. Love the song and Mary Oliver’s poem as well. Nice job!!❤️
Thanks Cindy, I’m pleased it spoke to you 😊
It was beautiful yes! ❤️
Beautiful writing, Ingrid.
Thank you 🙏
You are welcome.
This line sent a shiver through me.
Thank you, David – I hope in a good way!
in a very good way 🙂
This is a reminder that even painful memories can have a connection to better times.
Beautiful post, Ingrid! <3 Love your poem. You strike the perfect balance of living in the moment and cherishing beautiful memories. Carole King was a favorite of my late husband, and the song was well-chosen to go with your lovely poem.
Hope you are getting settled in your sunny new location! <3
Thank you, Cheryl-we are getting settled but I did have to go through those memory boxes! ❤️
So beautiful. and real.
I’m not sure my comment went through… if not…
So beautiful And real.
Thank you, I got both!
I find it interesting that so many of us found memories to be the great bones of life. You write so wonderfully about them.
… and I say ‘fly high, fly high’ ……..
Beautifully done, Ingrid. I feel you – from the first word to the last.
Thank you, Dale 🙏
I love how you tied in the Mary Oliver quote with the song lyric. They were made for each other! Wonderful story full of word pictures.
Thank you 🙏
I, too, have a memory box, Ingrid, but mine contains memories that I can’t cope with at a particular moment. From time to time, I open that box and find something that I’m able to deal with, and then remove it from that box. This is a very touching bit of writing.
Sometimes I find it very hard. I think it must be for anyone who has experienced loss of a loved one. But very beautiful and precious at the same time.