host a weekly opportunity for poets to post
one of their poems
Here's mine:
A Bar of Ivory Soap
Held its familiar shape in my hand
it lathered and released a fragrance of time
It took me back to claw foot tub
mother kneeling beside it soaping my body
as I played in the cloudy water
I raised the soap to my face like a sacred object
tried to inhale my mother back to me
and for a moment she was there
but my grip failed
and the bar slipped from my fingers
splashed
into the sink
vanished
under cloudy water
and
she
was
gone
***
This is very beautiful and i love the way it looks like a splash of water in the air.
ReplyDeleteThat was a sweet memory. And yes, ivory soap holds lots of memories in its strong scent. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI work in the home town of Ivory Soap (Cincinnati) - which seems strange to me. It's like all of these iconic symbols of the past aren't supposed to get MADE somewhere - sort of like seeing your teacher out in public...
ReplyDeleteMy poem today is about my mom too - they do seem to be elusive!
Does P & G still whip air into the Ivory formula to make it float? Lovely piece memories.
ReplyDeleteoh, suz- this is exquisite!! i would ahve to say that this is probably one of my favorite peices, maybe because it brings back those very same memories?
ReplyDeleteyes it does, but when it is dropped it goes down
ReplyDeleteonly to reappear
you are such a good reader
Sheri, so you had a clawfoot tub too? and everyone used Ivory
ReplyDeletethat magical soap that you could pull down under only to have it reappear..such fun
and when the soap plops into the sink..the magic is gone
I am forever connected to the floating Ivory and it's sweet scent...thanks for the sweet reminder!
ReplyDeletethat was really clever..i often get nostalgic through smells and i like the way you portrayed the soap and its fragrance in this...thanks for sharing such a fine piece with One Shot..cheers Pete
ReplyDeleteisnt it amazing hte things that take us back...i can so relate to the smell fo ivery soap and the the blue grey cloudy water...i still have my mom, but still remember the days....nice oneshot!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes -- but for me it reminds me of my grandmother. Love 'inhale my mother back to me.'
ReplyDeleteSweet memory of a bath with your mothers assistance. I love Ivory soap so much...
ReplyDeleteI'm heading out to buy a bar of Ivory:)
ReplyDeleteAmazing how a childhood memory can come to life through a common household object. Beautiful poem, Suz
ReplyDeleteYour poem is so evocative, Suz. I like that the soap is a sacred object and the use of 'cloudy water' twice. I can smell that clean scent of the Ivory soap.
ReplyDeleteso wonderful... one can almost feel the magic
ReplyDeleteI don't know of this soap but that doesn't matter - you created a beautiful picture of a memory that is more than the soap alone; a memory as slippery as soap.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how fragrances can kindle fond memories.
ReplyDeleteThis brought back memories, a lovely poem. Thanks for sharing with One Shotx
ReplyDeleteI haven't used ivory soap in years-- but this sure brings back memories.
ReplyDeleteI think
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Oh so sweet, lovely memories, and association, but sad too, losing our mother's sigh. Nice one shot.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Joanny
That is a lovely contribution! "tried to inhale my mother back to me" really got to me. Thanks for coming by my blog, btw!
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful. Magical.
ReplyDeletelove the way memories come back. this was so perfect and sudsy...
ReplyDeleteGlad you shared with One Shot
smiles from the Moon
I like this a lot. Our sense of smell carries so many memories. One sniff, and you are transported. You captured that feeling very well.
ReplyDeleteAwww...wonderful poem. Very touching. I lost my mother, so this struck a deep chord in me.
ReplyDeleteSmells are irrevocably tied to memories. I love the telling of yours. Nicely done!
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There is something very special about the memories that aromas take us to. The ending is just inspired and so true that when you try to hold on too tight to things they just slip away from your grasp.
ReplyDelete