For My Sister – Priceless Pictures
On our summer trip to Austin to visit family, my sister took a ton of pictures. Well, okay, she only took 801, but that’s still a lot of pictures in a week. Then when we arrived at my house after our afternoon flight home I tried to copy all those pictures from her SD card to my computer, but my computer said the SD card needed to be formatted and wouldn’t show the folder with the pictures. We thought they were all lost!
I was impressed with my sister’s response, though. She didn’t panic or get upset. Instead, she said, “I can’t worry about that now. They may still be on the SD card. I just have to find someone who can retrieve them.” And then she got into her car and made the 3-hour drive home.
Over the next week or so, I prayed that those pictures would be retrieved, and also thanked God for my sister’s wonderful witness of calm and peace in what could have been a very upsetting situation.
Just the other day my sister texted me that she had found someone who was able to retrieve the pictures for only $179! What a deal – her priceless photos returned for only 22¢ each! As I’ve thought about this, the outline of a poem kept going through my head, so I decided to sit down and write it, and to post it today for my sister.
9/24/11 Update: I linked this to dVerse Poets Pub for the “Say It Again – Sam” poetry prompt because I thought it was a good example of poetry with repitition as an important element.
Priceless Pictures
What is a picture worth?
A picture that can never be replaced
or replicated from a trip that only happens once
in a lifetime, family time
What is a picture worth?
Each picture snapped with love and heart
of bats and cousins and aunts to remember
and cherish time together
Is a picture worth
a thousand words or more?
Are 801 pictures worth 801,000 words
of love and hope and memories to embrace?
What is a picture worth?
Is it worth 22 cents?
Is a word worth a fraction of a cent
spent to restore that which was lost?
A picture is priceless
for the words it can recall
of precious days spent making memories
that might otherwise fade with time.
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my boys love to go through the boxes of old pictures and hear the stories of our family….i like the old tangible pictures…just something about having them in your hand….
Brian, I know what you mean. Digital photos are great because you can take a ton of pictures without worrying about wasting film, and I do like my screensaver of all our photos, but print photos are so cool. Spent all day yesterday flipping through old black and whites. 🙂 Peace, Linda
The repeating opening phrase clarifies your poem’s point and reintroduces it as you define the answer in each stanza–an excellent example of repetition. So glad your sister was able to retrieve the memories–though I’m sure the time would still be remembered without them, but the pictures can be shared by those not present, far into the future.
Thanks! When I saw what you posted for the prompt at dVerse, this poem immediately came to mind. I actually spent the day looking at the found pictures, as well as some old black and white pictures of family. So many great memories and conversations from all those pictures. Peace, Linda
You have captured the value of old photographs and especially ones that have such meaning. I agree with you that picture tell endless stories and it is good to sit down and listen to them from time to time. Last time I was home I went through all my parents old photos and got them scanned into the computer in case anything happens this is a wonderful poem
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/09/24/loneliness-the-anger-of-lost-hope/
Thank you. I actually left a bunch of my old photos with my sister today so she can scan them, since she has a better scanner than I do. I just love looking at pictures. Peace, Linda
Yes, I agree with you 100% on the value of pictures. My little granddaughter often likes to sit with me and look back (on the computer) at her baby pictures; and then there are the pictures of people I have who are no longer alive…priceless treasures indeed. Well expressed.
Mary, Thank you, I’m glad you liked it. I have pictures of my parents that are the only way my son knows them, and they are priceless, too. Peace, Linda
sometimes i think nowadays we’re so flooded with pictures and shoot way too many…then forget…but some pictures are priceless indeed and you captured this so well…and the older they get – the more their worth is increasing..enjoyed this
I’m so blessed by the poem and the story and your sister’s response. Then the beautiful ending of recovery! I love pictures and am so glad that all those 801 are back in your grasp again.
God bless you and your family and all the memories you are making and pictures you are taking!
Deb, I’ve only seen the one picture so far, but I am so excited to see the rest and enjoy the memories of an awesome trip with my sister. Peace, Linda
Wonderful! (the poem, the story and the recovery 😉 )
“A picture is priceless
for the words it can recall
of precious days spent making memories
that might otherwise fade with time.”
That’s so true … photographs tell such wonderful stories. I love ‘listening’ over and over again.
Thanks for sharing your joy with us. I praise God for the way the story turned out.
Blessings,
ann
Ann, I’m glad you liked it. I love listening to pictures, too. Peace, Linda