.
I leave tomorrow. My few possessions, thrown in a box.
Tom Waits’ raspy voice echoes round the empty room. We loved listening to him together. Now, slouched in a corner, I listen alone. You? Just a picture in a frame, on the floor.
I’m gonna love you till the wheels come off he growls as I fall asleep.
It’s dawn. Your picture’s bathed in the sun’s golden glow. The needle click-click-clicks as the disc goes round and round. I lift the arm and place it back to the beginning.
I love you baby and I always will, ever since I put your picture in a frame.
.
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Thanks to Rochelle for hosting and Rowena Curtin for the picture.
Click on poor Froggie to see what others have made of this unusual photo!
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That;s the thing about photographs. They capture your soul and squash it flat and black and white
Indeed they do Neil. I still have some I should have thrown out, but it’s not easy .
It’s terrible when a relationship has gone sour and all that’s left is a photo in a frame.
After my grandmother had had a series of mini strokes and it was the beginning of the end, I undled a number of unidentified family photos up and took them down to the hospital to show her. A woman appeared in a few of them so I thought she was well worth putting a name to. Well, she turned out to be my grandmother’s brother’s old flame, and I couldn’t help feeling she’d been a waste of time. However, there you go. Once upon a time, she was special…
Best wishes,
Rowena
Thanks for sharing that with us Rowena. I believe most people possess something that’s special, be it small or otherwise. It sometimes takes a photo to remind us.
That’s very true, Keith. I love zooming into small things with my photography. Your comment also reminded me of going walking with my son when he was very small. He kept stopping to pick things up as he walked. You know the kind of stuff…a bottle top, a non-descript rock or bit of gravel. I’d sometimes be trying to get somewhere, and it could be frustrating and I wrote a poem about me going too fast for him and hi going too slow for me and and it was quite touching. However, in my usual way, I became too perfectionistic about it. Will have to dig it up now and revisit it.
Hope you have a great week.
Best wishes,
Rowena
You really should Rowena. Thank you.
A poignant story Keith
A change of direction this week! Thanks Sadje.
You’re welcome! Yes indeed.
Loved the tone of this story, Keith. (Tom Waits is great too!) 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks so much Susan, he’s one of a kind!
Keith, I don’t get the feeling he’ll ever get over this unknown companion, more than “just a picture in a frame,” even as he moves on. Sadly nostalgic.
I’m sure you are right Dora. Thank you.
Dear Keith,
It’s sad when a relationship dwindles away to nothing more. Well written. Thank you for the Tom Waits bonus. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
Indeed it is Rochelle. I’m pleased you enjoyed my musical interlude!
You’re a sensitive soul really, Keith. Touching and poignant.
Actually you are right! I usually write comical pieces simply because they are far and few between most weeks and I like to be different! Cheers Iain.
Great to listen to Tom Waits, and great to read your offering this week.
I can’t get enough of him! Thanks so much Michael.
So very sad, whether the person left or passed away. Either way, the grief is awful.
Fortunately I wasn’t writing from experience, but you are so right. Thanks Mimi.
There are some people you will never forget. An ache you can only allow yourself to indulge in from time to time. That’s what the pictures are for. I keep mine also. A tear-jerking story, Keith. {{{HUGS}}}
You are absolutely right. I too have boxes and albums full! Thanks so much Jade
You’re welcome, Keith.
Photos are weird, they can envoke happiness or sadness, sometimes at the same time. The music might not be helping.
Moments in time caught for eternity. Cheers Tannille.
Photographs can be such poignant reminders of days gone by.
Absolutely so. Thanks Draliman
Hi Keith – I’m afraid to say I’d never heard of Tom Waits – but loved that clip and now I’ll pay attention when his music pops up. Your story line matches Tom’s desire to safeguard his life and family …. really interesting post – thank you! All the best – Hilary
It was this song that gave me the idea for the story.
There’s another of his songs that gives me a lump in the throat whenever I hear it – Tom Traubert’s Blues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkOMiA_uGso
Thanks … I enjoyed that … now it’s moved on to Van Morrison … ‘search my soul’ … better get on … before it rains. Take care – yes throat in lump crooners .. with wonderful lyrics … cheers HIlary
The hardest thing for me to do when clearing stuff out is to throw away a photo. I feel sorry for whoever clears out after I’ve gone… 😉
I echo your words! Thanks Sandra.
Great piece, Keith.
And great singer with great song, obviously
Thanks, he’s one of my favourites.
Aw, Keith, what a sad story. Reminds me of what I hard time I had throwing out pics of a boyfriend I thought I would Marry. Glad I didn’t, but still. . .
I still got a few pictures of girlfriends from the past. They’ll go one day I expect, but not yet. Thanks Linda
your story has captured what the song seems to convey. well done.
I hoped it might, thanks so much plaridel
Oh this is glorious. Sad, emotional and well written. The record player clicking, the sun and the photograph. Nicely done Keith.
I’m delighted you enjoyed it Laurie, thank you.
A sad and poignant tale. And thanks for introduction to Tom Waits, can’t believe I’ve not heard him before.
He certainly is very different, and his lyrics are pure poetry . As I mentioned to Hilary, Tom Traubert’s Blues is perhaps his finest work and well worth a listen.
Such endings. One of my favorite questions to ask is, “what is the best hoped for outcome of any relationship?” Oh, the looks I get. Well done, Keith.
What indeed? Cheers Bill!
Great story. There’s a real mood to it.
Thank you so much
Photos have powers we can’t seem to find a reason why.
The ones of past loves are the most painful to discard. I don’t
think the photo will ever be tossed away by your protagonist.
Good start to a great tale … Be well … Be Safe
Isadora 😎
BTW … loved the bluesy sound os the video.
So true Isadora, thank you – and I’m pleased you enjoyed the song! .
A touching and sad story, Keith. So many memories in that picture frame.
Indeed. Thank you Sue.
Loved this, Keith – a departure from your usual style that proves your versatility.
That’s really kind of you Lizy, thank you.
Photos of those we’ve lost can be painful but help in the grieving process or in letting go. Then, the good memories are inspired by those same photos. A sad story well written, Keith!
I so agree Brenda. Thanks so much.
A beautiful evocation of melancholy. Kudos!
Thanks for your kind words Penny .
What a wonderful story of loss… I wonder where he will go… or where she went.
I wonder too. Who knows? Thanks Bjorn.
Sensitive and touching, this one! Great take!
Thanks so much Na’ama.
🙂