Photo Albums

And perhaps a 3rd eye

I remember a time When memorable moments were recorded in photo albums From happy birthdays to birthed life And cheerful vacations in sunny lands.

So many images, snapped and snipped From polaroid cameras, that were instant print To brightly colored Kodak’s Do you remember them?

I feel like every family, had one of those The yellow ones, spring to my memory I was a mere child In those gleeful days.

A cheerful smile I had As history reveals Flipping through these pages I recall a time When cellphone cameras, could not compete And memorable moments Were saved and stored In cumbersome books That recorded time.

Today, every moment is captured Whether willing or unknowing A 3rd eye records.

The all seeing eye That could hover above Not like a divine being That watches over all But like a patient beast That is waiting to pounce Hiding in the grass Cloaked and camouflaged Or is it on a lamppost Disguised by the night I do not seem to recall.

At any rate, this all seeing eye Has an impeccable memory Unlike the mementos from yesterday The cumbersome photo albums That eventually get filled up It remembers everything With its brain Up in the clouds.

Some memories recall happy times But many more, I’ll rather forget I miss those old photo albums In every picture, I had a cheerful smile.

I wrote this in response to Pablo Pereyra prompt, ‘what do you miss from the past’. I thought of photo albums, then proceeded to wipe the dust off some old ones I had stored away. Happy memories greeted me, I was genuinely smiling in almost every picture. Then I thought about how dusty it was, how each page turned had a strong antic scent. My phone buzzed and a wry smile followed, in that moment my question was answered.

The 3rd eye take was one I did not see coming when I initially started writing, I thought about the cameras, constantly surveilling. In this part of the world, they exist everywhere. I thought about how, once we step out of our homes, we are hardly ever alone. For there is 3rd eye somewhere recording all our movements. I thought about the cloud; the infinity storage and how unlike photo albums, not all of its memories are cherished.

It is interesting I think, how time whizzes by, so many mementos from growing up have been cast away into antiquity. I think of younger age groups and all the little things they have missed out on, then I think of older generations and marvel at the experiences that would forever be exclusive to them. Our experiences shapes us, whether it be the technology that makes for an easier life or the lack of that well…I do not know. I grew up with the internet, although at a younger age it was not as available. To pass the time, I indulged in old dusty hard covered books. So I guess my trip down memory lane; uncovering old photo albums, triggered a deep yearn for the past. Nostalgia, you can say; I smile as I write this, perhaps like a younger me. Thank you all that have read this far.

Before you leave, here is Pablo’s amazing piece