Surprise Departure | Teen Ink

Surprise Departure MAG

October 21, 2009
By BlueAstronaut PLATINUM, Herndon, Virginia
BlueAstronaut PLATINUM, Herndon, Virginia
33 articles 36 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Tiny curtains open and we hear the tiny clap of little hands
A tiny man would tell a little joke and get a tiny laugh from all the folks"




Missed the Boat - Modest Mouse


We heard the news
Saturday
evening phone call
the vegetable spoon clattered to the floor
looking so terribly ordinary – empty holes like dead, blank eyes.
Spot crept forward to sniff the splatter on the linoleum.
We stared.
We packed your belongings.
Sunday,
sunny morning, light and warm.
the hand-spun blanket snagged on the car door
light blue yarn resembling, for all the world, your face etched into the sky
a butterfly alighted on the shredded fibers
We cautiously tugged them free.
We drove to the morgue.
Sunday,
Fireflies swarmed, dusky afternoon.
the blue vase cracked, stale water oozing from your box
like your small cache of knick-knacks, missed you, and cried hard.
Mosquitoes buzzed, growing their young in the pools of tears on the sidewalk.
We turned away, disgusted.
We dressed formally.
Monday
Brightest sunlight turned gray in our eyes.
the summer camp bead bracelet wouldn't latch;
the birthday gift tie turned out crooked every time.
Pookie gazed out the window at the ­mismatched, somber pair
We stumbled to the car.
We stood in the second row.
Monday,
Dry static fairly sparking in the air, pulling us closer together.
the first line of chairs empty, no real family in attendance
their vacancies sucking us down like a black hole as we strained forward to hear the preacher.
the eyes in all the paintings followed the moving casket.
We closed our eyes in horror, striving to stop the tears.
We ate our breakfast.
Tuesday,
A damp sky, as soggy as the cornflakes in the bowl.
Silver and porcelain settings at your place, patiently waiting.
No footsteps echoing down the stairs – the loudest sound no one could hear.
Coiffed anchormen and women stared ­accusingly from inside the TV
We turned our eyes to the new “Room for Rent” advertisement.
the empty trash can gladly swallowed it up.


The author's comments:
Often it is the smallest, most mundane parts of life that make a relationship special. Unfortunately, many do not realise this until they witness these trifles of everyday existance and find themselves wiping tears off their cheeks.
Isn't it interesting that an old, plastic, serving utensil can make one feel so alone in the world?

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This article has 7 comments.


on Apr. 17 2011 at 4:50 pm
KaitlynMarie GOLD, Northborough, Massachusetts
10 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I finally understood what true love meant...love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be."
-Nicholas Sparks

Beautiful! I can relate. Simply wonderful.

on Aug. 4 2010 at 5:31 pm
alwayssunshine PLATINUM, Charlotte, North Carolina
24 articles 5 photos 147 comments
Wow. You're really talented. This poem was amazing. A life can change so much in just a few days

on May. 13 2010 at 4:01 pm
AdoroPiano SILVER, D, Other
8 articles 0 photos 5 comments
Wow. This is really amazing. I love the ordinary aspects of it, but also the poetic aspects that don't overdo the overall feel of the poem. Great job, great job.

on May. 11 2010 at 4:30 pm
BlueAstronaut PLATINUM, Herndon, Virginia
33 articles 36 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Tiny curtains open and we hear the tiny clap of little hands
A tiny man would tell a little joke and get a tiny laugh from all the folks"




Missed the Boat - Modest Mouse

:D

you're too kind.


on May. 3 2010 at 8:09 am
LihuaEmily SILVER, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
7 articles 3 photos 196 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It is said that there's no such thing as a free lunch. But the universe is the ultimate free lunch." -Alan Guth

It's stunning. It mean it's really stunning ... I don't know which words to choose to describe it other than stunning, and the remark that every word was solidly, flawlessly perfect.

on Jan. 21 2010 at 5:57 pm
BlueAstronaut PLATINUM, Herndon, Virginia
33 articles 36 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Tiny curtains open and we hear the tiny clap of little hands
A tiny man would tell a little joke and get a tiny laugh from all the folks"




Missed the Boat - Modest Mouse

thanks ^_^

on Dec. 30 2009 at 3:13 pm
alchive PLATINUM, Fort Worth, Texas
38 articles 0 photos 58 comments

Favorite Quote:
The best cure for writer's block is...to write

Wow--I'm digging it!

It's very deep- even though it is mundane.