I bury memories in a box beneath my bed, lying them down beside old birthday cards and childhood collections, leaving them for dust to claim.
I wash unfulfilled promises and misleading expectations from my hair with shampoo scented with strawberry and hope.
I peel back the layers of my personality like posters from my bedroom wall, folding them in on themselves, making bets with myself of whether daylight will greet them again.
I put my battle-weary thoughts in the washing machine, hoping they come out brighter, pegging them to the clothesline with a careful gentleness, wondering how long the sunshine will keep them warm for.
I painstakingly climb a rope labelled ‘time’ and hope and pray it will take the pain away.
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Part 1:
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Compelling and original writing
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Message Me Afterwards
>That was a bad idea. I thought you knew… >Oh, the pathos! I don’t really know you as well as I should. In fact, I may not know the real you at all. That essential, sparkling you that you only reveal to a select few. Had I been paying more attention to the stories you are so fond of telling, in which you are invariably author, narrator and protagonist, I would not have been so foolish as to set you up on a blind date. After all, no friend has ever done anything of the kind for another. That’s preposterous. What is a friend, really?
By D. J. Reddall7 days ago in Fiction
Comments (11)
I do hope you plan to keep expanding on this series... I could see you carrying it out until it's enough to fill a book!! "I put my battle-weary thoughts in the washing machine, hoping they come out brighter, pegging them to the clothesline with a careful gentleness, wondering how long the sunshine will keep them warm for."... hit me hard, specifically the last line... too relatable for me to properly explain. Great work Poppy!
For me, it does seem to get easier, but it never quite seems to go away. I'm not sure I want it to, as I'm afraid that would mean forgetting.
Poppy every word of this spoke to me. You are truly so gifted. I would quote a line but every single one was my favorite
Your metaphors give me life. Such stunning images. Loved so many lines but the ending is my favourite. ❤️
“I put my battle-weary thoughts in the washing machine, hoping they come out brighter, pegging them to the clothesline with a careful gentleness, wondering how long the sunshine will keep them warm for. “I painstakingly climb a rope labelled ‘time’ and hope and pray it will take the pain away.” Absolutely beautiful, Poppy. That ending is everything. I am so jealous of your metaphor work. ❤️🤯
Does it take the pain away for you, Poppy?
I wash unfulfilled promises and misleading expectations from my hair with shampoo scented with strawberry and hope. THIS!!!! Gosh I wish I could do this! Your poem was so powerful!
This is simply gorgeous and I hope the climb will get easier and not stretch too high.
I love the optimistic tone of this poem and also the cheerful daffodil picture, "I put my battle-weary thoughts in the washing machine, hoping they come out brighter, pegging them to the clothesline with a careful gentleness, wondering how long the sunshine will keep them warm for." Thank you !
Brilliantly written!!! Love this!!!1💕❤️❤️
That hairwash, oh yes. This was gorgeously written, as ever.