Timely

Summary

"Timely" is a free verse poem by Sally A Mortemore that reflects on the lingering presence of a beloved pet named Igor, the impact of time on grief, and the search for solace.

Abstract

The poem "Timely" by Sally A Mortemore delves into the emotional landscape of the poet, who is grappling with the enduring memory of her pet Igor. Five years after Igor's passing, the poet is surprised by the intensity of her longing and the vividness with which Igor's presence is felt. The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the fear of forgetting. It is a contemplation on the nature of grief and the human need for connection, even after death. Mortemore uses the sea as a metaphor for both comfort and the relentless passage of time, which affects all beings. The poem is accompanied by a soundtrack and a video, providing a multimedia experience of the poet's journey through memory and healing. The work is a testament to the power of remembrance and the hope that the essence of loved ones can continue to guide and inspire us.

Opinions

The poet expresses a deep sense of longing for her pet Igor, indicating an unresolved grief.
There is a fear of being forgotten and a need for the pet's spirit to remain present in the poet's life.
The poem suggests that time has not diminished the poet's love or lessened the pain of loss.
The author uses the imagery of the sea to symbolize both tranquility and the overwhelming nature of her emotions.
Mortemore acknowledges her vulnerability and the human condition of being "sadly fallible."
The poem implies that the memory of Igor serves as a source of strength, encouraging the poet to confront life's challenges.
The inclusion of a soundtrack and video suggests the poet's desire to share her emotional journey with others, offering a universal message about love and loss.

Poetry

Timely

A Free Verse Poem

Photograph by author SAM 2012 — my sweet and dearest Igor (she was a girl)

Why now do you climb inside my head and make me miss you demanding my attention the way in which you did when you were here A needy soul who craved all of my devotion returning more than two fold all the love Why are you here —

delving into that which i believed had quietened your memory: my solitude of fears fearing now a scream For five years passed and yet i feel your warmth as braw as when your four paws paced upon my heart Am i still grieving —

or am i now the needy one who craves your souls existence to curl inside my head and calm my troubled mind?

Fears lie me tired upon this ocean of my worries: do you now sense how sadly fallible i am? How time may well have found me just as time found you and laid you like a stone upon this earth to sleep? It scares me —

and i am by far too scared to simply know the truth.

Just take me to the sea and lay me in the water build me castles in the sand and teach me how i oughta be me for sometimes i forget when retrospective dissonance replays upon my mind —

but now that you are here and somehow with me maybe you are all i need to urge me on to face what i must know and do what is most needed however hard the consequence of time —

Thank you so much for reading 🙏

And with many thanks to Sahil Patel for providing the perfect place to house my poem on Lifeline.

Previous work by Sally on Lifeline:

Poetry

The Uninvited Guest

In response to Sahil Patel ‘s prompt: ANXIETY ‘…will i. will i faint. or worse…’