I wasn’t going to write today. My tired body and weary mind said, “Nope. You are all out of gas.” Then I took a walk. While walking I listened to sweet Ada Limón on her poetry podcast The Slowdown. More than the poem she read, I was inspired by her introductory words. She said, “There are symbols everywhere.” I took that line and mused on it. This is what I dictated into my Notes app (with some revision).
There are Symbols Everywhere
No one noticed
I wore my grandmother’s bracelet–
charms with each grandchild’s name
engraved, missing Beth, the youngest
born too late to make it onto the chain
before Nene’s death. I wonder
if she wore the tinkling charms
placing me in the center of her circle
a symbol of her love for us,
or a symbol of God,
family, humanity?
It is a symbol
nevertheless
to me, to me.
Reflections on the Teche 
Love this bracelet and all it symbolizes. You poem captures so much. A memoir of a kind. Perhaps you need one of these for your grandchildren.
mmm… What I noticed here is how you begin with no one noticing and end with “to me, to me.” And then, when I paused, I saw how full of people the poem – like the bracelet – is. Grandmother, grandchildren, Nene, Beth and, eventually, humanity. And then my heart swelled a little more.
(As I side note, I love Ada Limon and did not realize that she had a podcast. Am off to download it now.)
This is such a beautiful poem about a meaningful object, Margaret. Your grandmother’s life was full. Had she lived longer, it would’ve been even fuller. I’m sure that seeing the void, too, also gave you a sense of longing.
Lovely! I love the start with “no one noticed…”
Margaret, having your grandmother’s bracelet brings back such lovely memories. I am glad that you did write today and offer such a sweet remembrance to share with us.
Your poem is beautiful! I’m glad you listened to The Slowdown and let it inspire you. I rarely wear jewelry, but this post made me wonder about my teenage charm bracelet. And I need to learn how to dictate into my Notes app.
Dictating in notes is just like dictating in messages. There’s a microphone in the right corner. It can be hilarious to see what the phone interprets.