The Bodily Archives
for the "What Comes Back" challenge
I passed by the chocolate store
where we locked eyes for the first time.
You wore the same roughened leather jacket,
and I, the same red ballet shoes.
.
The edifice of memory set in motion,
I know this for a fact—
the body remembers what the heart wants to forget.
.
Goosebumps rise across my skin,
leaves rattle, time moves backward and I
am sixteen again with sweaty palms and throat clenched shut.
A shiver, and it's all gone.
.
You laugh with the cashier
the same way you teased me, browsing through
bonbons, and bite-sized portions of happiness.
Revived joy threading through my veins.
.
The edifice of memory set in motion,
I know this for a fact—
the body remembers what the mind tends to forget.
.
They say, you never forget your first love,
but I hardly recall your name.
Yet, I still feel the prickling of your touch,
electrified pulses aching on my skin.
.
For a moment, you turn,
my chest collapses in slow motion,
and I realize: that girl in me is still waiting
for you to notice her.
.
The edifice of memory set in motion,
I know this for a fact—
the body remembers what the heart wants to forget.
.
It's a blood-thick curse—
this looming corrosion of the mind,
the automation of archiving emotions.
But then, your eyes fall on me again, and I
.
realize it's someone else.
The same old jacket, the identical swagger
that made my heart skip a beat yet again.
I'm not hurt, nor am I sad.
.
I smile at the stranger, before I walk away
now I know this for a fact—
the body remembers what the heart wants to forget.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Imola Tóth and writers in Poets and other communities.
Chronic Ache in the Soul of a Single Parent
There is a chronic ache in the soul of a single parent. It lingers, feeling endless. This ache feels so difficult, especially when you look at other families. They seem so… whole. They seem so joyful and complete. There is a husband and a wife and children in a stroller. Thinking about your single state, you realize how awkward you feel, how out of place at various functions and gatherings. They are all happily together and you’re miserably alone. Disappointment with the current life circumstances just settles in to stay, or so it feels. How could these layers of disappointment be broken up anyhow?
By Rowan Finley 8 days ago in Humans
Comments (7)
The third last paragraph was very powerful-you got a way with words
Imola. Lassie. This is breathtaking. Please never consider yourself anything less than a phenomenal poet. I mean, fuck. I love the recounting you shared and the layers of physical and emotional memories in a beautiful almost conversational manner. Just stunning. Another winner for sure.
Oh, Imola! This was so beautiful ❤️
🎉🎉🎉🎉👌👌👌👌👌🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖🤞🤞🤞🤞💕💕💕💕🍟☆*: .｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆( $ _ $ )
A beautiful recounting of the power of positive memories. I could feel the warmth. Thank you for sharing with us🙏🩵
"the body remembers what the heart wants to forget." This is a beautiful poem and great entry for the challenge. :)
Imola, that line's going to stick for a long while ;-)