in this corner of my mind
i have hidden away a couple of things
well
more than a couple
but i will share one
with you
in this little cubbyhole
i have placed the dreams
that did not come true
this dusty old box
inlaid with gold gilded tomorrows
holds the dream of
caring for my mother
when she got old
i worked a lifetime
to fulfill this
ignoring times
i could have shared with her
so clear was my purpose
so when she died young
the box was placed upon this shelf
to be covered by the dust
of memories of what she gave to me
the patterns of droplets on the floor
are merely where my tears fell
you need not be concerned with those
but be concerned for this
good intentions for tomorrow
blind you to today’s beauty
offering only a white cane of promises
to cross an invisible street
called the future
which may vanish
in the touch
of a cane’s
tip
Read Between the Minds 
Beautifully structured, the white cane is poignant and the tone of sad regret is palpable. I love this poem.
With a tear in my eye I’m reminded about my own “dusty old boxes”…..Thank you my friend, this is beautiful:)
Wow, I don’t know what more to say. This has really touched me. I feel spoken to through the lines,
good intentions for tomorrow
blind you to today’s beauty
offering only a white cane of promises
to cross an invisible street
You are so gifted, thank you for sharing this. x
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Life moves on but memories remain… very beautiful and deep as always 🙂
So much to be said for smelling todays roses as they blossom before the petals fall away….
That is really good! You can really feel the emotion and the pain coming through.
Beautiful – echoes of Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’. I particularly enjoyed your image of the ‘white cane of promises/to cross an invisible street’ – so much depth in a few perfectly-chosen words.
So great. I’m really excited to be able to hear it read. It’s nice to be able to have that balance of absorption, between the reading of a poem, and taking words in with your mind’s voice, and then hearing the voice of the author, for his/her intended sound. I really see the stories that you have mentioned that you were focusing on in your poems, and they create strong visual and emotional connections. Thank you for your words.
So true. Thanks for sharing this very moving poem.
So full of emotion, this poem from your heart. I totally identify with it, every word infact. So beautifully written, thank you for sharing it.
Lovely.
beautiful… and heart-breaking
your work always has such a meaningful message, and this one is no exception
so we many reasons have we
to live not in the moment
missing all of the reasons
we should
beautiful
So true – love it! I wonder why use humans have such a hard time living in the present moment?
This touches the heart, a wonderful poem.
a strong poem with a lovely pattern as usual well done martin.
I spent to many years neglecting today. What a wide open world we have when u embrace it.
Caring for your mother when she got old is still a beautiful dream today. You can take it out of the dusty old box and hold this lovely intention in your heart… she knows, she knows. Yes, we can must live on the clearly visible street of today. So poignant and beautifully expressed. Thanks for sharing these candid thoughts. Heartspell
This one is,
Beautiful ……. sad….. a mirror of your big heart,
Great writing, I enjoy so much,slpmartin
Peace,
Laz
Very nice poem Charlie, you frequently mention your mom in your poem, you must miss her terribly:(
well delivered poem.
Happy Thursday!
Beautiful poem… makes me think about my relationship with my mother.
How painfully honest and beautifully clear.
I enjoyed your reading. How do you record?
My husband says I need to put down my camera and just enjoy what I’m witnessing, rather than trying to capture it for all-time.
We all do that in some way.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your mom – thank you for sharing the box with us.
– Dina
Live the day. Live the moment. Have few regrets. Hard to do, but will give it my all. I love your words. 🙂
Thank you very much for sharing this poem with us. I agree with living for the moment, we can waste time thinking about the future of tomorrow and miss out on a wonderful moment in the present
The best waylaid plans can come to naught – can’t they my friend. I’m sorry that box had to be placed on the shelf instead of opened for her. She would have loved the contents.
After reading this poem, you feel a close intimacy through the storyteller’s eyes
I feel a tension in this poem building up and exploding in a crescendo.
The poem weaves both inward and outward with strong emotion.
Your poem develops a personal relationship with the reader, crystallizing a kaleidoscope of images of our soul being trapped inside of a box
Be well and do take care.
Firefly747
extraordinary poem in form and content intertwined as one
We just never know when do we, and til that time we just continue to take it all for granted…Great poem!
Love how the lines shape into a droplet in the end. More important, the last lines “good intentions for tomorrow
blind you to today’s beauty … ” was absolutely powerful. Thank you!
This poem of yours is my personal favorite 🙂 Its beautiful.