Today, our optional prompt challenges you to write a poem based on a “walking archive.” What’s that? Well, it’s when you go on a walk and gather up interesting thing – a flower, a strange piece of bark, a rock. This then becomes your “walking archive” – the physical instantiation of your walk. If you’re unable to get out of the house (as many of us now are), you can create a “walking archive” by wandering around your own home and gathering knick-knacks, family photos, maybe a strange spice or kitchen gadget you never use. One you’ve finished your gathering, lay all your materials out on a tray table, like museum specimens. Now, let your group of materials inspire your poem! You can write about just one of the things you’ve gathered, or how all of them are all linked, or even what they say about you, who chose them and brought them together.
My Walking Archive
‘Walk in your house’, you say
I get it, as we have no other place to stray
Then make a list of collectibles,
“Walking Archive”, potentially labeled
As I stepped down my throne,
Eh, bed, as it’s popularly known
I couldn’t take my eyes away
From the only thing I saw- my vanity table!
The corner of the room where I spent a few minutes every day
As I dressed up for my work or a date with my friends
I hardly recall facing that mirror for last many days
Would it remember to mirror my image; would it still recognize my face?
A feeling of nostalgia suddenly gripped my senses
As I started to unbox my collection of cosmetics
Ah! My cherished Dior Kohl that remodeled my eyes
With a perfect black mascara that shaped eyelashes- how elegantly they went with all outfits especially saree
Oh that palette of eye color and that foundation of my skin tone
With lotions of all the brands, lie in a drawer forlorn
As I rummaged through the vanity, I noticed my assortment of lip color
Amongst the humble Dior lip shades, stood a special Chanel- Red Rogue color
The range of perfumes lined on the cabinet-
Versace, Bvlgari, Armani, Burberry
Impregnated the air with aroma of delightful retreats
The moments made special with these fragrances
From cosmetics and bags, I could never stay away
But a few more possessions became memorabilia today
My exquisite collection of precious and semi precious jewelry
A Swarovski wristwatch with a few gems gone missing, reminding of the love of hubby
A gold bracelet I claimed last birthday
Few studs, few dangling assembled in my earrings array
A Swarovski pen gifted by a dear friend
Even hues of nail color lay silent somewhere
My walking archive reminded me a lesson
“Happiness is a choice,” I’d always believed
Then why not dress up one of these days
And feel the smile and energy that’s dormant within
©Vandana Bhasin
19.04.2020
My Feelings My Freedom 
Excellent!
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Thank you so much for your words 😊
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You’re welcome.
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Happiness is a choice indeed!
Dress up and let’s have a video chat!!
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Ha ha! Sure dear ❤️🤗
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