The Story Behing The Photo

One of the assignments from my summer writing course was to compose an "imagery" poem using an old family photograph.  And here's what came out . . .


Crop Away The Edges

Striped sofa, tan and auburn

Three souls fill its cushioned sitting space,

Two older, one younger, a pup in-between,

Each holds a candid story,

Crop away the edges,

Expose the truth.

She sailed from a tropical land,

To claim a piece of the American Dream,

Smooth caramel skin coats her every inch,

The finest garments don a desirable figure,

Diamonds dance along her digits,

A cocktail in one hand, a Virginia Slim in the other,

Crop away the edges,

Expose the truth.

Ivory hair and stained teeth reveal,

A life wasted on spirits,

Old age now plagues his frail body,

Gaunt arms poke out of a cobalt shirt,

Sagging ashen skin sags like drooping curtains on a rod,

A partial smile overcomes his profile,

Peer through the lens and see,

Crops away the edges,

Expose the truth.

Perky, dimpled cheeks,

Petite dungarees and a tight brown tee,

Young lad nestled between his grandparents,

Hasn’t quite met his teens,

No daddy present, a busy momma,

Loneliness met him early,

Yet his smile shines like rays of sunshine through the leaves,

Crop away the edges,

Expose the truth.

Three souls connected by one factor,

Family is a binding tie,

Focus on the photo,

Peer into their souls,

Crops away the edges,

Expose the truth.

Please leave comments below :-)