This is a found poem from Hanne Steen’s interviews and Carla Richmond’s photos of 20 women who kept an ex-lover’s shirt. The words in the poem are all taken verbatim from the interviews.
At first it was a trophy, a souvenir.
I should probably throw it away.
It’s just a shirt. Part of me
wants to rip it off,
but it’s here for me
when people aren’t,
makes me look stronger
than I am. Just a rag
I turned into a promise
that he’d never leave.
So many what ifs and could have beens
and should have beens and never were.
It’s proof that we did it,
that we went through it,
comforts me between the spaces.
Maybe, for someone,
I won’t be so easily shed.
This poem is in answer to the “Something to save your life” poem prompt from dVerse. Come join the fun!
Sarah Russell Poetry 
Wow, Sarah, what a great place to find a poem! I don’t think I ever kept a shirt or even a t-shirt. This is fascinating. I love the phrase: ‘Just a rag / I turned into a promise / that he’d never leave’ and the final lines:
‘Maybe, for someone,
I won’t be so easily shed’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was absolutely absorbed by reading about this project, and knew it had to be a poem. Thanks for liking it, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the notion of putting sentiments into inanimate objects. It reminds me of the scapegoat idea. When you find the ‘right’ one, you put the shirt on the fire 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, let it be a crutch to get you past the heartbreak, but by all means burn it when the right one comes along.
LikeLike
Could cause problems otherwise…
LikeLiked by 1 person
“makes me look stronger than I am” that concept of a comfort blanket…I like this,
LikeLiked by 1 person
As someone who kept a comfort blanket much longer than the dictates of Dr. Spock, the shirt represented that to me as well, Alison. Thanks.
LikeLike
Keeping that shirt is like keeping a comfort blanket.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, Frank. I thought the same thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, this was profound and personal. Excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Buddah.
LikeLike
This is just a gorgeous, poignant, relatable, AMAZING found poem. So so good, Sarah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, De. I think we’ve all been there.
LikeLike
It reads as if it is a fully quoted section. That’s impressive.
I love this line break: “It’s just a shirt. Part of me”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Omega. I think it’s a universal story.
LikeLike
I kept nothing …. but I did buy a verdigris garden frog who sat on my garden wall, and was dubbed Frog, Formerly Known as Prince!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A true reality check. I love it!
LikeLike
Found poetry is way cool. It seems easier than it turns out to be; just this word pile arranged by someone else’s muse–and it’s up to you to fuse your take on it, creating your own line breaks, message, & impact; nice job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Glenn. First one I’ve done. Yes, it’s a different approach for sure. A ‘word pile’ is a good way to put it.
LikeLike
The weight of this poem is profound. All those heartbreaks and disappointments and losses compounded here. Great idea for a poem, I found it very moving!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Nosaint. A universal story, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! It feels so personal and lonely when it’s you but you’re right, it’s universal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At some point in our lives, we save a keepsake of a once upon a time. There’s nothing wrong with it and it doesn’t make one weaker as well. Great write!
LikeLike
You’re right, Maria. In my day it was letters, which you have to admit are more romantic than texts and tweets, but there really should be some talisman to show that a relationship existed and that people cared for each other. I love your phrase “a keepsake of a once upon a time.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww.. I’m happy to say that I have lived those love letter days, too. I still have them at home. Yes, the are far more romantic (and sincere). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This just pulled me in, what a fascinating idea to keep a shirt of an ex… widows do, and maybe it’s a bit the same. Love that it was found.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almost all of the photos showed the women hugging the shirt around themselves too. Very poignant. And yes, isn’t it interesting that someone had the idea to collect these stories of these shirts that mean so much.
LikeLike
An amazing piece of found poetry this is. Intense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sumana.
LikeLike
This is amazing and so well written. There is no harm in keeping keepsakes of a lost love.
LikeLike
I agree, NJ. I have a few myself secreted away. After a while they bring smiles instead of tears. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Symbolism both positive and negative. His shirt allows you to remain ‘dressed’ with him, for good and ill.
LikeLike
Yes, that’s a great way to put it, Athena. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
This poem flows so well, or should I say ‘drapes’? I too like the “just a rag…” part. Just lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The “just a rag” line got to me too, Diana. I think it shows the shirt was worn, and worn, and worn. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch, that sounds like a painful project… You do have such a talent for found poetry, picking just the right elements and blending them seamlessly.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Marina Sofia.
LikeLike
Damn you’re good, Sarah 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, you’re too kind, Ryan. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is amazing. I read it twice. Powerful. I especially was moved by the final stanza – quotation. I must look up these interviews!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lillian. The photos made me cry when I saw them. It was really a wonderful project they did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good stuff! I can see it as a comfort blanket, too, at least for a while anyway. I think after a while, it just becomes clutter and should be disposed of properly. Maybe it depends on the relationship, too. I think Bjorn mentioned widows. For sure, I can see holding onto things then. Indefinitely.
My best friend told me that she once dated a guy who actually told her that he always left a t-shirt behind as a souvenir. I always thought that was a little odd, and even odder that he’d tell her he did that with every girl he’d been with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And a little arrogant too, I think. What a guy! Hope he had enough to go around… Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right?! I thought he either thinks way too highly of himself or he’s that insecure he has to leave something behind to feel he’s remembered.
No problem. I always enjoy your writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh the wonder of a found poem! I love the variety of perspectives, like pieces of broken hearts. I especially like this part…
“It’s proof that we did it,
that we went through it,
comforts me between the spaces.”
LikeLike
Mish, I love your phrase “like pieces of broken hearts.” Yes, that’s exactly it.
LikeLike
A sad yet soothing touch…i loved this…!
LikeLike
Yes, Sreeja. I think the tactile “presence” is a large part of the comfort these shirts lend, just like a comfort blanket that children keep. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
i love this, sarah. i’ve been there. it is like waking up from a dream and then you find an artifact and realizing it was real and not a dream, at least for a time, after all. wonderful found poetry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Beth. I think this is universal. So many people have identified with this poem. I don’t know if a talisman like this is good or bad to keep. I suppose it depends on the circumstances.
LikeLike