First of three poems under the same title - similar in theme although perhaps not similar enough to be posted as a triptych.
They lie in teetering piles,
overwhelming the grass
with a weight of vicious memories.
Volunteers sort tatty and odd
from trendy and respectable.
Size nine black-striped sneakers, parted
by death from their brown leather partners,
are slung into blue bags:
one bound for leisure
and the other for evening wear
at opposite ends of the expanse
of green thatched shop window.
Their soles have been scraped clean
of clotted river mud, soon to be replaced
by the dust of another life.
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HI Elli
Written by jean.day (2283 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
It is a good poem - although I would hazard a guess that you have never worked in a charity shop. In the shop where I worked, unless the shoes were absolutely perfect, they were chucked - just like that. Those do go to another buyer - for something like 10 p a lb.
And very true that they are often separated from their partners. But of course the perfect ones, in their pairs do go on sale.
I like the last paragraph particularly well. |
Hi Jean
Written by ellipinnock (1753 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
Funnily enough I did work in my local charity shop for a while so I stretched reality a little for the sake of the metaphor I'm afraid 
Cheers,
Elli |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
I found this very moving, Elli. At first I imagined that the clothes in question must have come from people who were killed in an accident; now I realize that they are merely being sorted outside. (Amazing to have a day dry enough to do that here!) But I do like the idea of the clothes being divided into two different piles, going in different directions, destined for a completely different future. There is something very poignant and touching about this poem.
One thing's for sure: I'll mainly leave one pile of stuff -- tatty and odd. Not even Glasgow Mission for the Homeless would want anything to do with my ratty sweaters and shoes. |
Written by francoise (129 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
hmm, I liked the idea here and I will be interested to see how it develops in the rest of the triptych. I keep coming back to it hoping to see what everyone else thinks before i comment. It feels abit vague at the moment for me, more of an introduction to the theme. A potentially powerful piece with alot more room to explore.
Fran
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Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3362 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
Sometimes when I read a poem I wonder what provoked it, what did the poet want to communicate and why did he/she want to say it that way and that has happened here.
You create such vivid and significant images which intrigue me and leave me wondering what I am missing. The images do stay with you I'm just not sure what to make of them, I admit it must be me
cheers
J |
Concentration camps
Written by Marybarry (237 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
Hi Ellipinnock,
A cold shudder ran down my spine,
Reading the first four lines I thought of all the German concentration camps,
when piles of shoes waited to be recycled!!
On reading further I was still very captivated by your story.
Try one about the shoes of the Jews.
These piles of shoes are on show in some of the former camps.marybarry |
Written by Fledermaus (3304 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
| Clearer than part two! I liked this one. A clever image of a simple thing. |
Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 2nd February 2007 |
Thought the last three lines very good. They keep drawing me back.
There's something here that I feel I'm not quite connecting with - or maybe I'm looking too hard. Perhaps the next will give me a clue?
(Still keep scrolling up for those three lines.)
Phil.
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