They are not lost
the photos - those docusnaps
indelible chemicals of time
polaroid, 35mm, blow ups
a film of ages
dodging the viewfinder
stills that moved to blur
eyes shut with the shutter
a grin, grim as the contortion
of that smile command.

Not lost just let slip
the grasp. Redacted
cut aways of regret
like throwaway lines
the tongue spat before tact. 
I prefer
that I was never there.

39 thoughts on “Missing”

1. Your poem makes me think of a Hitchcock film. I’m not sure I can explain it, but I see black and white images like a movie scene.

   So many wonderful lines, Laura.
   I love “Redacted cut aways of regret like throwaway lines. . .”

   1. fascinating Merrill – he of course always puts himself briefly in his own films

      1. That’s very true.
         I know it was a strange thing to write, but I hoped you’d understand. 🙂

2. I like how the prompt lines led you to photography,Laura. I also love ‘Redacted cut aways of regret like throwaway lines’, and ‘eyes shut with the shutter’.

   1. stealing souls, freezing time – says me the photographer!

3. I see myself looking at an old photo album facing myself in situation where I was smiling simply to hide my suffering,

   1. or just not wanting to be there!

4. You have created a dark room of memories, Laura. Mesmerizing.

   1. a nice notion Linda – the dark room as developer

5. I like your sustained metaphor of photography to describe photos.

   1. inextricable

6. Very well done, Linda. Photos and photography have really changed in our lifetime. Sorting through old photos… throwing out our worst looks… a necessary job. Save the best… just like our memories!

   1. OOps I did it again, Laura. Got you mixed up with Linda! So sorry!

   2. sometimes we lose our memories too

      1. Seems mine is getting more that way!

7. Pictures do tell a story, and what it is depends on the viewer’s perspective. There is an atmosphere of discomfort and secrets here, probably best left untold…

   1. darker than intended Lisa – more a dislike of being captured 😉

      1. 🙂

8. Yes, I too get a faded black and white feel from this poem, memories of not wanting my picture taken, being stuck with the fact of them for years later when they show up in a box, a drawer, an album.

   1. I discard!

9. Lisa got it right, an atmosphere of discomfort. Photos can reveal very unsettling things, things we didn’t see at the time. (K)

   1. I had not considered that K

10. I enjoyed this poem as a photography and a poet.

    1. thank you

11. I’m increasingly interested in how we present ourselves in photographs. There’s a real sadness to this, for me – not wanting to be seen or recorded – I understand that, but it feels unloved.

    1. you picked up on the layer beneath the film -spot on Sarah

12. “the tongue spat before the tact” – great line

    1. something akin to the Yiddish expression: “What is on the lung, is on the tongue”

13. such a fantastic use of words to create and reflect on the feeling of that moment in time ❤

    1. what a very nice comment – thank you

14. Oh yes documenting memories. I have so few photos of my life, I simply never kept a photographic track of my comings and going‘s. I often now wish I had them, but I have them in memory, perhaps romanticized. But maybe the romanticized memories are more glorious than the photos would have been. Excellent peace Laura, made me think, I enjoyed it my friend. 🙂✌🏼❣️

    1. thank you Rob for your appreciation

15. Quite simply, this is an amazing poem …. Wishing you a wonderful New Year.

    1. many thanks Helen – high praise!

16. This captures nostalgia. 🙂

    1. indeed

       1. 🙂

17. like throwaway lines the tongue spat before tact
    WHAT an amazing statement! The use of the verb “spat” fits so very well here….a person with no tact, unable to filter what he/she says….

    1. thank you Lillian – especially good to get feedback on what resonates etc

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