Grab Bag

A scent, a color, a song
reach in…which one
will my mind pull from
its wrinkled grab bag?

Green paint and the smell of plaster
I hate it…both take me to hell…
Demons aren’t always red.

Shake my thoughts….try again.
Ah, Percy Sledge…When a Man Loves a Woman..
smiles….fifteen, dreaming of love, dancing.

Each day I look for happy…fold it in…
fill up my grab bag until his words
are smothered….until I forget.



Susie Clevenger 2013

Comments

Ella said…
Clever and vivid!
I love the details you handed us and the action outlined :D

Fun to read...
Me,I'm not a fan of yellow paint. One can not paint a room filled with sunshine, but a room filled with joy can!
Kerry O'Connor said…
Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to select only the good, and that on a daily basis. You have opened the bag just wide enough for the reader to glimpse the harmful elements. Fine writing!
Marian said…
wow, interesting to read your exposure of the everyday things that can trigger pain. that's a whole nother prompt, i guess.... this is interesting and arresting both, Susie.
Ellecee said…
"Shake my thoughts….try again" Yes, often we have to do this to still that ugly memory that sneaks into our head when we least expect it or want it,,,you have captured this effort perfectly,,,thanks goodness we are building happy memories that can also be shaken up at will,,,,
I loved the last stanza--such a vivid write--Really beautifully done!
Kay L. Davies said…
I was checking for responses to my parade/clown prompt for Toads and saw I'd missed you on Friday. Glad I spotted that, so I could read this.
Fabulous poem, Susie, sad elements notwithstanding. Well crafted, well done.
K
Susan said…
O. This started off so happy, and maybe it ends happy too--to have the bag and its mix of good and bad. But it still left me sad to have to forget even the great songs associated with lost love.