Paper Memories

As you might be able to guess from the title, this week’s poem is quite centred around the theme of memories, and more specifically those memories that we keep through actually writing things down–and the state that those memories might end up in after some time has passed. It was inspired by ‘Mess’ by Real Friends and is the ninth entry into this song-inspired poems series that I’m doing, and the links for both the first poem in this series and the previous one (coincidentally both inspired by Tears For Fears songs!) are below. I hope you enjoy this poem!

First Poem In This Series: To Witness, To Behold, inspired by ‘Sowing The Seeds Of Love’ by Tears For Fears

Previous Poem In This Series: This Is For You, inspired by ‘Head Over Heels’ by Tears for Fears

Paper Memories

Maybe once, the paper was torn
from a beaten-up journal,
screwed into the tightest ball
but not ripped; even in sadness,
or perhaps especially in sadness,
sentimentality thrives:
this will live, one day;
it will breathe, when it is time,
but this teary night is not the night.

Yes, burn the edges with a lighter
until they crisp, but leave the words–
the paper has committed the crime
of being evidence, but the words?
Uncomfortable truth is truth nevertheless,
no matter how many ears close to it.
Still, paper and pen will listen to you
and they will hold you as you hold them,
unspeaking, unjudgemental, unflinching.

Today, the sight is an amused eyebrow,
a silent agreement to spend Sunday afternoon
flicking through a notebook bursting at the seams,
wondering who cared so much–who felt so much–
and where they are now, and how much ink splattered
across their fingers, whether they had the same callus–
but you’ll remember, and you’ll laugh,
and you’ll shed a tear and spare a glance
at the prim and proper journal you keep now.

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