photo by Jennifer Bloom
Each Moment a Snapshot
(from Within My Illusions)
Light and shadow filter
through the reflections of my memory,
trying to recapture the details
of a little girl’s laugh
from the way she reaches
with outstretched arms
to offer a handful of seashells,
zooming in on a sun-weathered table,
weary lines on the edges
of eyes that long to tell
a story.
If I could still
this life,
distill it down
to one frame,
would I be able to capture
the entirety of my existence?
Slowing down to inhale,
water warms on my wrists and hands,
soap accumulates, caressing
the insides of the crystal vase,
a gift, chipped on one side
of its hexagonal mouth.
My finger lingers there.
I held onto it despite
its imperfection.
Each moment a snapshot,
holding onto time, even as
it blurs around the edges,
even as the forms begin to fade.
You can hear me read "Each Moment a Snapshot", along with music composed by my friend Orlando Villarraga, in this excerpt from the Within My Illusions album. I paired the audio with a photo taken of me sitting on the porch swing at my aunt's house forty years ago. I found it while going through albums at my parents' apartment this past week.
Wishing you moments to savor.
With love,
Jennifer