but the heart of a tree
a remnant of me
an accumulation of scents
the essence of adolescence
and early adulthood
a repository for bad and good
different lives and different times
an amalgam of stories and rhymes
Kim M. Russell, 12th January 2021
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Poetics: Object Poems
Mish is back to host this Tuesday’s Poetics with ‘object poems’, in which an inanimate item is the subject of the poem. She says that the object is often brought to life using vivid, detailed descriptions of physical appearance and function, and has given us an amazing example by May Swenson, ‘A Navajo Blanket’.
Mish would like us to focus on the abstract and give begin our poems with (or give them the title) ‘THIS IS NOT A…’ We should choose an object from inside the home or outdoors, look past its obvious characteristics and uses, and spare the details. Instead, we should write about the connection it has to us or what it represents: what it means, the memories it holds; the emotions it evokes, etc.
writing in north norfolk 
Great poem –you’ve inspired me to try this myself.
BTW, the title with “This is not” is a bit Marks and Spencer, or am I finally going mad? 🙂
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Thank you, Kim. The non-British hosts wouldn’t know the M & S advert, but I had a chuckle at that too! 😉
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I had trouble getting the ads out of my head before I wrote my poem! 🙂
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a very personal poem wrought in wood – bravo!
“an amalgam of stories and rhymes”
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Thank you, Laura. It was a Christmas present from my German family my first Christmas in Cologne all those years ago.
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a lovely rhyme about a treasure chest holding crucial parts of your life
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Thank you, Kate!
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my pleasure Kim
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Wonderful poetics here, KR.
I esp like the essence of adolescence line, as that’s when secret boxes seem to be the most important..
Have a great day.
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Thanks Ron! You too!
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This is a treasure-trove of a poem wrapped up in your trinket box, Kim. I love the phrase:
‘essence of adolescence’ – sometimes smells are the most evocative senses of all when it comes to memory.
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Cheers Ingrid!
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Great rhyming, Kim, and good to honour those objects that have lived alongside us.
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Thanks Sarah!
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Very well done! Your poem reminds me of a cedar chest that when opened has such great aroma! What kind of wood is your beautiful little box?
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Thank you, Dwight. I’m not sure but I think it’s rosewood.
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That sounds like it would be right.
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LOVE thinking of wood as “heart of a tree,” Kim. Just beautiful.
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Thank you, De.
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The heart of a tree, precious, like the memories it contains. A wonderfully rich metaphor, Kim.
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Thank you, Dora.
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A fine repository for memories.
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Thank you, Ken.
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I love this poem about your beautiful carved box. I collect boxes!
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Thank you. Linda! I have a few other ones, but this one is about 46 years old!
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Wow, it’s truly beautiful.
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Nicely conveyed, Kim. You can’t go wrong with the heart of a tree.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re welcome!
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I especially love “heart of a tree” and how it can this beautiful box held such a variety of times and treasures.
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Thank you, Mish!
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The heart of the tree – wonderful, Kim
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Thank you, Debi!
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What a lovely carved box … perfect repository for precious mementos.
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It’s a bit battered now with a piece missing – it’s over 46 years old – and used for odds and ends in my study.
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Beautiful and so raw.
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Thank you, Lucy.
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I’m sure every crevice contains a memory. (K)
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🙂
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Wood has an amazing ability to soak up scent and restore our memories. This is a lovely poem, Kim, and I particularly liked “the heart of a tree / a remnant of me.”
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Thank you, Marilyn. The box was a Christmas present from my German foster mother. It first contained jewellery, then incense and oils (it still has a faint patchouli scent), and finally odds and ends in my study. It’s over 46 years old!
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It’s quite gorgeous.
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Thank you for reminding me about the box thing. I had a similar one that I remember thinking had a horrible smell. It’s maybe the secretive aspect of adolescence that makes us want to keep everything in little boxes.
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I have a small collection of boxes.😊
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I haven’t collected anything since I went away to university. Packing is such a pain I throw out more things each time we move.
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I love how much there is in the box (even without any content mentioned). It looks like sandalwood.
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Sandalwood is one of my favourite perfumes.
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Wonderful.
The way you began this really drew me in.
but the heart of a tree
a remnant of me
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Thanks so much, Ali!
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Wonderful write, Kim!
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Thank you, V.J.!
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My pleasure, Kim.
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