Things I Have Learned to Carry

Published by

Maggie

on


List poem for dVerse Poets Pub 14.05.2026

Today at dVerse we are to write a list poem.

https://wp.me/p1GTyJ-93J

Things I Have Learned to Carry

Coffee before sunrise.

The names of constellations
I can no longer see clearly.

A house full of living things—cats, daughters, silence, grief.

Old notebooks
with words crossed out hard enough to tear the page.

Songs that arrive like ghosts at midnight.

The smell of rain on dry island soil.

The way horses remember fear through their skin.

A Swedish poem about black roses.

Names I still speak inwardly as if prayer changes form when whispered enough.

The sound of typing before dawn.

One cracked teacup I refuse to throw away.

The knowledge that love survives in strange ways.

And the understanding that some people become part of you so completely they continue living inside your language.

© Maggie – The Afterlove Voice

Mr Linky https://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=dversepoets&postid=13May2026&meme=12493

With love

— Maggie The Afterlove Voice 💫

If you want a reading, send me an email:

Afterlove-Voice@hotmail.com

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31 responses to “Things I Have Learned to Carry”

  1. Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr Avatar
    Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr

    That one cracked teacup probably holds a lot of memories.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      It sure does 😊

      Like

      Reply
  2. thetigressawakens Avatar
    thetigressawakens

    Absolutely stunning, esp that last line, wow!! Perfectly crafted, I love the line about keeping the chipped teacup, I have lots of things like that. Well execusted and crafted! 🩷

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Thank you so much Tigress 💜

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Helen Avatar
    Helen

    I love your list! The depth and breadth of this eclectic collection is guaranteed to delight. It certainly delighted me. Cheers and thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Thank you so much Helen 💜.

      Happy you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. lifelessons Avatar
    lifelessons

    I can tell what fun you had writing this poem… like a walk down memory lane. A rich experience.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Yes, that so true Jill 😄

      Thank you my friend 💜 😘

      Like

      Reply
  5. Aptivi Avatar
    Aptivi

    Good morning, Maggie! 🌅

    It’s indeed a rich experience. That’s really delightful, especially when you chose to keep the chipped cup.

    Stunning! ☺️👍

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Good morning my friend.

      The chipped cup was my grandmother’s, and its been with me through a lot .

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Aptivi Avatar
        Aptivi

        That’s so nice! It brings a lot of memories, especially when that cup is for your grandmother.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Maggie Avatar
        Maggie

        💜💜

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Aptivi Avatar
        Aptivi

        💜💜

        Liked by 1 person

  6. poetisatinta Avatar
    poetisatinta

    what a wonderful list to carry Maggie 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Thank you so much Ange 💜

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    The cup of coffee before sunrise would be a great challenge for me in Sweden :-)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      You don’t have a coffee machine?

      Like

      Reply
  8. Dora Avatar
    Dora

    An amazing poem, Maggie, one that touches so many chords in the memory and in the heart, some visceral like, “Old notebooks
    with words crossed out hard enough to tear the page” and some randomly tender and vulnerable. This ia a superb write. Hardly like a list, more like a life. Beautifully done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Thank you so much Dora 💜
      Happy it resonates.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. lynn__ Avatar
    lynn__

    I admire your beautiful list poem, Maggie: the teacup, the constellations, repeated names…and now i want to read a Swedish poem about black roses!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Natsvarta Rosor:

      Säg hvarför är du så ledsen i dag,
      Du, som alltid är så lustig och glad?
      Och inte är jag mera ledsen i dag
      Än när jag tyckes dig lustig och glad;
      Ty sorgen har nattsvarta rosor.
      I mitt hjerta der växer ett rosendeträd
      Som aldrig nånsin vill lemna mig fred.
      Och på stjelkarne sitter det tagg vid tagg,
      Och det vållar mig ständigt sveda och agg;
      Ty sorgen har nattsvarta rosor.
      Men af rosor blir det en hel klenod,
      Än hvita som döden, än röda som blod.
      Det växer och växer. Jag tror jag förgår,
      I hjertträdets rötter det rycker och slår;
      Ty sorgen har nattsvarta rosor.

      Ernst Josephson (1851-1906)

      Black roses
      Language: English  after the Swedish (Svenska)

      Tell me, why are you so sad today,
      You, who are always so cheerful and happy?
      And I am no more sad today
      As when I appear to you cheerful and happy;
      For grief has roses black as night.

      In my heart a rose tree grows
      That will never leave me in peace.
      And on its branches sit thorn upon thorn,
      And it causes me constant pain and bitterness;
      For grief has roses black as night.

      But from roses come a whole treasure,
      White as death, red as blood.
      It grows and grows. I believe I will perish,
      My heart-tree’s roots wrench and beat;
      For grief has roses black as night.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. lynn__ Avatar
        lynn__

        Thanks for sharing…translation too!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Maggie Avatar
        Maggie

        You’re welcome my friend 💜

        It’s such a beautiful poem ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  10. shaun tenzenmen Avatar
    shaun tenzenmen

    Your list feels like someone quietly unpacking a suitcase of their life. Excellent write Maggie 👏

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Thank you Shaun 😊

      Like

      Reply
  11. merrildsmith Avatar
    merrildsmith

    A poignant poem–this list of things carried in rooms and heart. As others have noted, the chipped teacup stands out. I have a shirt with holes in it that was my dad’s. But all the memories, along with people, animals, things, constellations. . . Beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Thank you so much Merrild 💜

      Some things are priceless, like your dad’s shirt and my grandmother’s tea cup .

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. merrildsmith Avatar
        merrildsmith

        You’re welcome, Maggie! 💙

        Liked by 1 person

  12. erbiage Avatar
    erbiage

    you had me at the title and did not disappoint. oh the baggage we can’t seem to put down .

    until the very end

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Maggie Avatar
      Maggie

      Thank you so much 💜

      Like

      Reply
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