Safe-keepers

An archive containing past featured spotlight works, what we consider, some of the best works on TPS. Feel free to leave comments.
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Cristina1900
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Safe-keepers

Post by Cristina1900 » January 12th, 2015, 1:01 pm

Too tired to sleep on in the morning, I wake up
afraid of my own dreams, when the garbage truck

arrives at my backdoor.Those men collecting everything
with gloves, their tanned and hardened skin.

They’re my stepbrothers because they feel the things
I felt yesterday, they’re the safe-keepers of my memory.

The scent of Christmas trees abandoned still alive.
The orange peels or other lifetime indulgences.

Too many cigarette stubs touched only twice:
once when I remembered something beautiful,

and another time when I tried to forget.
It is that something fighting in the corner of my mind,

yelling this is your life, just live it.
It is the sound of winter wind bending the trees.
Last edited by Cristina1900 on January 14th, 2015, 3:43 am, edited 1 time in total.


See the blind beggar dance, the cripple sing, The sot a hero, lunatic a king; (Alexander Pope: An Essay on Man: Epistle II. )
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jwesley
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by jwesley » January 12th, 2015, 1:08 pm

Deep and hard and agonizing and written so the reader is living the hours . . . very well done! Be looking forward to more from you . . .

jimmy



everhopeful
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by everhopeful » January 12th, 2015, 4:05 pm

Welcome to TPS!
I'm fairly confident that I don't have to say 'welcome to poetry' though, because this looks like the work of someone who has read and written a lot of poetry.
The idea of garbage collectors as stepbrothers and 'safe-keepers of my memory' really appealed to me, that is such a wonderfully creative way of seeing them, and then you expanded upon that by showing the kinds of memory attached to the garbage.
I really enjoyed this, and I hope you enjoy the site!



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bekah22
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by bekah22 » January 12th, 2015, 6:42 pm

I really really enjoyed this. I admit, I rarely peruse the sadness forum because i am all too often sad... but this one caught my eye. Keeping memories safe is a precious job. Hard work, is good work.

Loved this, and welcome!
Beks


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mwunk800
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by mwunk800 » January 13th, 2015, 12:17 am

I liked this poem, though when I hear the sound of winter wind bending trees my thoughts tend to be a bit sadder than, you need to live your life. I live in Michigan were the winters can be a bit depressing. Thanks for sharing the poem.



inflames
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by inflames » February 8th, 2015, 3:02 pm

This has some lovely images. Congrats on your spotlight1 :)


"I don't see novels ending with any real sense of closure."
– Michael Ondaatje


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LorettaYoung
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by LorettaYoung » February 8th, 2015, 4:33 pm

An in depth portrayal of a slice of life that seizes the writers mind; wonderful imagery with a poignant sadness. Congratulations, Loretta



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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by Rainman » February 8th, 2015, 5:06 pm

There is a heavy burden of melancholy, but the writing does not descend into sentimentality, nor does it make appeals for the reader's sympathy. I thought the key word in the poem was "abandon", as if the writer has abandoned life in some sense, like the xmas tree or the cigarette stubs, but there is a voice saying reconsider.
This is good work. As poetry, it is clearly the real deal.



rupertpupkin
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by rupertpupkin » February 9th, 2015, 3:14 am

What a great poem! A wonderfully original write. Well done on your spotlight.


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Cristina1900
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by Cristina1900 » February 9th, 2015, 3:39 am

Thank you all very much, very much appreciated. I love these shiny ribbons, they're nice and funny too. Because you know, real life medals can be grim.


See the blind beggar dance, the cripple sing, The sot a hero, lunatic a king; (Alexander Pope: An Essay on Man: Epistle II. )
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Mizzy
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by Mizzy » February 9th, 2015, 7:04 am

The past is best forgotten,
and dumped like garbage.......

I loved the imagery in your poem...,
It deserves the spotlight !

Mick.


“Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish it.” – Unknown

JASON
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by JASON » February 9th, 2015, 7:12 am

you definitely have something really creative fighting in the corner of your mind...
Good job! congratulations on the spotlight.



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tangerinepie
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by tangerinepie » February 9th, 2015, 9:52 am

There was a wonderful sense of observation in this poem, so many small things that conveyed an interesting story,,Admirable writing style that makes this a memorable spotlight choice..Tangie..


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everhopeful
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by everhopeful » February 9th, 2015, 11:52 am

I really enjoyed reading this one first time around, and it's as impressive on second reading. The core of the poem is a deeply profound idea, and the perception of how we dispose of or cling on to memories really made me think about the symbols of my own memories.
Really pleased to see this in the spotlight, congratulations.



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Josie
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by Josie » February 11th, 2015, 12:23 am

The men wearing their gloves arriving in their garbage trucks help by taking into safe keeping the memories I am ready to disperse. If I see them as step brothers, they are like family who I should be able to trust. Sometimes I know I hold onto memories I should let go. A safe way is to mentally hand over the trash and know those step brothers are dependable. Thank you for a new image that can probably be helpful in learning to let go.


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dornicks
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by dornicks » February 11th, 2015, 3:03 pm

Congratulations on the Spotlight with this well thought and written,most deserving piece. Thank you for sharing this,

dornicks


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kryssi_nykki
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by kryssi_nykki » February 12th, 2015, 8:10 pm

still not sure what to write here i just knew i had to say something...
"once when I remembered something beautiful,

and another time when I tried to forget. "
just great writing and that line hit me particularly hard. Congratulations on the Spotlight :)


K_N

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karrie
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Re: Safe-keepers

Post by karrie » February 14th, 2015, 6:07 pm

The imagery in this popped out at me. Great write and congrats on the Spotlight!



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