BITTERSWEET DAYS - a memoir from the "Harvard Street" Collection
Poem by: gerabel
Reads: 707 | Likes: 0 | Shelves: 0 | Comments: 28
All rights reserved
Submitted: December 26, 2008
© Copyright 2023 gerabel. All rights reserved.
Comments
Memories we can all relate to..
I loved this..I'm about to embark
on a full day with the Grandchildren
I hope they have memories like this
when it comes time for their memory
rocking-chair. Great read Jerry
Kind regards B.
Author
Reply
Thanks so much, Brenda! Happy that you enjoyed reading 'Bittersweet Days' and glad you are make some memories today with your grandchildren!!
Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with joy.....Jerry
Very nice Jerry; I enjoy the space you're in where you can pause in your 60s to reflect and get it all down on paper in your inimicable way. I look fwd to more of the collection and judging by the amazing responses to Monster and Talking to Myself, so do many other poeple.
Fri, December 26th, 2008 8:43pm
Author
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Thank you Steve... how kind of you to leave such a glowing comment. I'm happy that you enjoy some of my writing. I'm hoping to finish the 'Harvard Street' Collection at some point in 2009, however, I enjoy writing and reading all forms of poetry and short stories and dislike being tied down to one particular project, so we shall see at what rate of speed I am able to progress. LOL I shall not rush my thoughts!
'Stroking loose strands of blonde hair from your forehead' oh how precious Jerry. you capture things so well. this is what makes a good writer; those details, and especially these ones that bring out the child in us all. Whilst reading we can touch a part of you as we touch a part of our selves as well.
such inocence...
Merry Christmas Jerry, I hope the season is forgiving to us who may have eaten too much pie lol. who me? hahaha. its good to be home again.
Author
Reply
I'm so happy that you enjoyed 'Bittersweet Days' as my probable opening verse to my "Harvard Street" Collection. It all still needs some tweaking and of course some new poems to complete the book but I shall not rush my thoughts just to complete it. I enjoy all forms of writing and don't like to be confined to just one project.
Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with promise, hope and exceeding great joy.....Jerry
Wonderful Jerry. It took me back to earlier times, many moons ago, when I could smell the lingering scent of freshly baked apple pies, damson jam and my granmother's home made chutney. Took me on a journey of the imagination right back to my childhood days when my Grandmother would come spend a week with us and cook lovely, naughty and nice things!
I too would like to be kept abreast of further developments in your writings please.
Hope you have had a lovely christmas and I wish you a very happy, healthy and succesful year in every way :0)
Hugs
Vee
Author
Reply
Oh Vee... your words of comment are always so encouraging. Thanks for being such a faithful reader and always commenting so beautifully. ((your writing is pretty fabulous too!!!)) LOL
I'm happy that you like this little intro piece which still needs some tweaking but I wanted to get it posted so all would know what I am working on for the future.
Wishing you much love, joy, and promise for 2009. Happy New Year.....Jerry
I have consistently been accused of living in the past... this piece is another reason for me to continue. I find this benevolently nostalgic serving to remind me of a yesterday that was far richer in soul and spirit of life. Nice write.
Sonny.
Author
Reply
Thank you so much for your encouraging and lovely words of comment!! I am overjoyed that you like this piece, which still needs some tweaking but is an introduction to memoir collection that I am working on.
I think much writing deals with the past, as it should, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We learn from the past so as to make for a better and brighter future. There is something comforting about delving into the past... even with all past trials and tribulations.
Wishing you much joy and happy writing for 2009. Happy New Year.....Jerry (^_^)
A delightful read Jerry. You take us into your world with some vivid recollections.'Follow' at the end was the icing on the cake. Well done friend. Ricky.
Sun, December 28th, 2008 12:08pm
Author
Reply
Thanks so much for your encouraging and kind words, Ricky! I'm happy that you enjoyed this piece. Happy New Year....Jerry
Sun, December 28th, 2008 5:16am
goodness this brought a smile to my face :) it had a very young, vibrant tone full of memories and made me recall some days when i was younger. this is such a cute poem ^^ i loved the line about kool aid! hehe that made me smile the biggest. i guess that's because i love kool aid muchly xD haha
nicely written jerry ^^
have a happy new year :D
Author
Reply
So glad it brought a smile to your face! Thanks for the lovely comment. Happy New Year.....Jerry
Mon, December 29th, 2008 3:13am
Very Nice Jerry, Great visualization. You make it easy to put myself into your place.
Happiest of New Years to you and yours!
Karena
Author
Reply
Thank you for the lovely comment. I'm happy that it gave you a great visual! Wishing you and loved ones a most Happy New Year!!.....Jerry
Mon, December 29th, 2008 3:15am
A wonderful piece. A creative, yet familiar way to connect with the reader, memories that all of us can relate to, in some way or the other. I guess, because I'm still only in my VERY early years, this puts new vigor in me. It should be an inspiration to young people, cherish those little moments, they can make a difference in the long run. Thanks, once again, for a great read. Endless writing.
- Nas
Author
Reply
Memories do light the corners of our mind, don't they?!! Thanks so much for the lovely comment, Nas. I hope your new found vigor will be a great inspiration for you. Happy New Year.....Jerry
Mon, December 29th, 2008 3:18am
Nice work Jerry.I hope to someday get published myself.It's a hard thing to do,but I'm hoping it will happen for me someday.Keep up the good work.
Mon, December 29th, 2008 12:37am
Author
Reply
So happy that you enjoyed this piece. Thanks for taking the time to leave a nice comment. Happy New Year!!.....Jerry
Mon, December 29th, 2008 3:20am
i so identify with the endless waiting for dad, in vain. it's a sad scenario for me. i hope it ended more happily for you than for me! very evocative and beautiful poem. i can't wait to see where it leads and yes, i will "follow". write on!
Mon, December 29th, 2008 4:46pm
Author
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Thanks for such a lovely, sweet comment, Allison! I am thrilled that you enjoy much of my writing. This one was sort of an intro to my forthcoming memoir book of poems and stories. It's working title is "Harvard Street". I have a new memoir poem coming out today or tomorrow called "The Money Jar"... it will tell you a bit more about my dad. You might also like to check out "Talking to Myself" if you haven't already which sums up the waiting for dad to come home syndrome and will be part of 'Harvard Strett'
Thanks again for your faithful reads and 'wonder-full' comments. Happy New Year.....Jerry
Oooh, Jerry! 'With bug eyed wonderment...' - what a vivid line!
And, ' Everything was beautiful…
Everything was magical…
Everything was perfect…
or so I imagined in 1957
at the tender age of ten.' - Perhaps twenty years from now you would write another poem, saying how perfect and magical everything was in 2008, at a ripe age of (I won't be mean enough to mention)! I think we all tend to feel happier looking back at our past nostaligically, much more than we enjoy our present. Probably because nostalgia filters out the bitterness and adds a mellow tinge to memories?
Lovely poem, needless to say. As expected from you.
Author
Reply
Oooh, Urja!!! I love your wonderful comments that you leave! Thank you so much for reading my work so faithfully and encouraging me to write on!! It means the world to me as I respect you writing so much. I have a new one coming out later today or tomorrow called "The Money Jar" which will be part of the "Harvard Street" collection.
Wishing you all the joy and happiness you can handle for the New Year!!!!!........Jerry (*_*)
Wonderful poem, I enjoyed reading this; brought up many memories from my past.
Best Wishes for 2009
Anna Elizabeth
Author
Reply
Thank you for your kind words. They mean a great deal to me. Happy New Year.....Jerry
Tue, December 30th, 2008 9:02am
Wow. ^^ A very beautiful piece. it makes me want to freeze time and savor each moment you know? Thank you for the heads up. ^^
Tue, December 30th, 2008 12:47am
Author
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So glad that you enjoyed this piece. Thanks for your encouraging words. Happy New Year.....Jerry
Tue, December 30th, 2008 9:01am
wow thats a lovely poem getting all the old feelings on the surface.....this nostalgic poem made me remember my old times and got a smile on my face......
Tue, December 30th, 2008 5:33am
Author
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Thanks so much for your encouraging comments. I'm glad it gave you a smile.....Jerry
Tue, December 30th, 2008 8:55am
WOW, one more beautiful piece from MAGNIFIQUE collection of urs....and trust me when this memoir is published, it would be an instant hit with all because it encourages all of us to look back and reminisce in our past lives which is always so sweet yet bitter like Urja correctly added...
me fav paragraphs were
Trace scents of Clorox and Tweed
from mother’s caressing fingers,
stroking loose strands of blonde hair
from my forehead, crowds
my recollections.
Oh, so many late afternoon summer
picnics of strawberry Kool-Aid,
crustless, tuna salad sandwich wedges
with potato and macaroni salad on
our Harvard Street veranda, waiting…
waiting rather impatiently per mom’s
insistence, for dad to arrive from work, yet
more often than not, waiting in vain… as
hungry eyes and rumbling belly settled in.
yes everything sure was PERFECT and MAGICAL...what a tribute
Author
Reply
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my work, Pratibha. I'm happy that you enjoyed this piece so much. It means a great deal to me. Thanks for sharing your feelings.
Happy New Year!!
Jerry
God your words come out brilliantly. I was hooked from the very first line! Acid smells! Wonderful and nostalgic. I absolutely enjoyed it. =)
Thu, January 8th, 2009 12:40am
Author
Reply
Ohhhh... thank you so much for taking the time to read and to comment so beautifully. I'm overjoyed that you enjoyed my poem.
Wishing you happy days in 2009.....Jerry
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Fri, December 26th, 2008 4:50pm