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RSScheerer
RSScheerer
Jan 27, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

missing links

He counted the faded paper in a patch of window-sunshaking his head as his fingers traveled over each link.Twenty-six years since she had brought it homewearing her five-year-old smiletumbling over the arm of that old brown leather chairto settle in his lap in that same patch of sunwhere the links had hung long and dragged the floor.She spoke to him of glue and numbersmulti-colored pieces (blue was her favorite)the science of carefully organizing a fragile paper chain.He never expected to be holding these memoriesalone in a patch of sun he could not feelbut fate had been cruel and shamelessclaiming her before he was ready to let goleaving him there in a patch of sunwith a chain of once-colored papercounting links that were thereand those that had somehow been lostrealizing through silent tearshow equally he mourned them all
— RSScheerer, Jan 27, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Near Springfield, Illinois, USA

Favorite Poets: Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allen Poe, Merrit Malloy

More from this author

Critiques

A

Ancientone

18 years 3 months ago

Dark, deep and sad!

What else can I say, but well done. The last line left me wanting something different, not sure what, but something more hard hitting saying the same thing. BTW have you lost a child? Hope all is well with you.:) Patrick/AO
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

18 years 3 months ago

thank you, friend

I look at every one of my poems at some time or another and find them lacking somewhere, which is why they are constantly being edited. What you say about the end is true, I just haven't found the path to those words yet. No, thank God, I have not lost a child. This poem came from a different part of me; perhaps one afraid of ever enduring such a loss. Thank you for your kind words. If ever I needed to hear some kindness, it is today. ~ Ronda
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

18 years 3 months ago

My thanks

On an amusing (or not) note, I'm the mother of three boys. Of course it doesn't really change anything regarding the emotions of a parent, but something about the bond between a father and daughter seemed very important to me here. Thanks, Rob. Athiest or not, we all count something when it comes to good fortune. ~ Ronda
Rob Graber

Rob Graber

18 years 3 months ago

Fate–“cruel and

Fate--"cruel and shameless" yet again. As father to two wonderful grown-up daughters surrounded by not a few reminders of their childhood, I really count my blessings(says the atheist)on reading this sensitive and evocative piece.
A

Ancientone

18 years 3 months ago

Welcome! :)

Hope whatever is stirring there gets better soon. Hugs and a smile if it helps a bit. :) Patrick/AO
P

poewriter58

18 years 4 months ago

how sad

This is beautiful it reads like the opening pages of a novel. So sad though written with a dreamy quality easy to picture the words as they are read well done
Janice Pearce

Janice Pearce

18 years 4 months ago

comment

Beautiful write, I so much enjoyed this, thanks for sharing!
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

18 years 4 months ago

thank you to you both

I have a good friend who often gives me "spark words" to inspire me. The words for this one were "missing links." Not sure why my mind went into the direction of paper links, but it did. Might as well not try to explain since I don't even know! I appreciate your comments. ~ Ronda
P

poewriter58

18 years 4 months ago

spark words

I know exactly what you mean , anything can trigger a poem , more often than not I will say "oh there is a poem" and that is how my work is born you call them spark words I call them triggers same thing anything that works on any or all of the senses can trigger a poem Chrys
C

Calliope

18 years 4 months ago

It's ...

...the same for me.A phrase will flow through my mind and the rest just follows.Nice read! Lacy, Where power corrupts,poetry cleanses.
professor

professor

18 years 3 months ago

Paper chains

Hi Ronda, this was a really impressive poem and on a mumber of levels. Great persistent and thought provoking imagery with the patch of sun and that all important paper chain. I remember making paper chains as a child and them being both beautiful, flimsy and repetitvely boring at the same time...and oh the yuck taste of that glue! Keith
Q

Quillsvein1

18 years 3 months ago

glue and

numbers, a paper chain, holding a patch of sun--you have a harvest of spontaneously fired yet structured images here which it is an absolute pleasure to behold! this reminds on the one hand of automatic writing; on the other of the kind of structure Auden might have incorporated. a delight of a poem. great job!
W

winterrain

18 years 3 months ago

PERFECTION

It has been awhile since I have cried reading a piece. As a parent I think I would die. Such strong emotions. Excellent imagery. I felt I was there watching. Completely inspiring.
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

18 years 3 months ago

I agree

The pain of losing a child is unimaginable. My boys are my life; to lose any one of them would take away a vital part of me. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. ~Ronda
S

Snpdrgon

18 years 3 months ago

beautiful. chills at the

beautiful. chills at the end. all your work does this to me. xxx Lisa~
F

frangipangi

17 years 11 months ago

beautiful

I was there, you made me see him when he shook his head as his fingers ran over the links. I saw it all clearly, I felt it all. Sad and heartbreaking. Beautiful,you've done your work as a writer. Thank you Yours, Frangipangi
RSScheerer

RSScheerer

17 years 11 months ago

thank you

... for both taking the time to read and leave your thoughts. Truly appreciated. Best, Ronda