Return To Sender

Summary

A letter sent from Ireland to Tanzania, carrying a homesick writer's longing for her homeland's sun, mangoes, and bustling life, took a detoured journey at the mercy of a compassionate mailman who tried to fulfill the letter's desires by collecting sun rays from Tasmania and mangoes from Brunei.

Abstract

The narrative titled "Return To Sender" is a creative non-fiction piece that unfolds the tale of a letter written in Ireland, expressing nostalgia for the writer's native Tanzania. The author, Gloria D. Gonsalves, shares a personal story where her letter, filled with longing for the warmth, flavors, and vibrancy of her homeland, inadvertently becomes the catalyst for an extraordinary journey. The mailman, moved by the content of the letter, embarks on a symbolic quest to gather elements that would remind the author of home: sunlight from Tasmania and mangoes from Brunei Darussalam. This act of kindness turns the simple delivery of a letter into a poetic odyssey, reflecting the universal theme of yearning for one's roots. The piece is part of Paper Poetry Prompt#2, inspired by the 'Stamps' prompt selected by Suntonu Bhadra, and is a testament to Gloria's prowess as a writer, having been recognized as a 'Previous Prompt Champion.'

Opinions

The author views the mailman's actions as a compassionate response to the emotional content of the letter.
The story suggests that the mailman went beyond his duties, engaging in a creative and empathetic act to fulfill the writer's longing.
The narrative conveys a sense of global interconnectedness, with the letter's journey spanning multiple countries.
Gloria D. Gonsalves' participation in the Paper Poetry Prompt#2 and her recognition as a 'Previous Prompt Champion' indicate her work is highly regarded within the literary community.
The author's note expresses gratitude towards Suntonu Bhadra for providing a platform for creative expression and for the honor bestowed upon her work.

Paper Poetry Prompt#2

Photo and illustration by author

From the land of Emerald Isle, where leprechauns and pots of gold are legends, a letter was written in neat scribble conveying homesick and longing for the sun, mangoes, and bustling chaos.

Sent to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

The mailman pitied her and deviated: bring back rays of sun from Tasmania, stop for mangoes in Brunei Darussalam, and give her the chaos of return to sender.

Author’s note:

This is a true story of what happened to a letter I sent to my native country Tanzania while residing in Ireland.

Thank you to Suntonu Bhadra for the fun space to contribute and giving me the honor of Previous Prompt Champion, and of selecting the ‘Stamps’ prompt .

Gloria is a prolific author of children’s stories inspired mostly by nature. She is also a multi-published poet and her poetry has appeared in various literary magazines and journals including featured four times by National/Global Poetry Writing Month (Na/GloPoWriMo). You can find her books here.

Return To Sender

Paper Poetry Prompt#2

Stamps From The Alpine Meadows

Paper Poetry Prompt#2

Stamps Elevenies

Paper Poetry Prompt#2