Saying Goodbye To An Old Friend -- Love and Death and Broken Hearts

 EDITOR’S NOTE:  This poem was inspired by a true story.  At the time it occurred, I owned an active portrait studio.  One service we advertised was the restoration of old photographs.  I was with a client in my camera room during our busy pre-Christmas season.  An iron-clad rule in my studio was that no one interrupted a portrait session except in an emergency.

         My daughter, also my receptionist, entered and motioned for me.

         “You need to talk to this lady," she said.

         “Can’t it wait?"

         “No, dad, she’s in your office.  You need to talk to her now."

         I excused myself and went to my office.  

         My poem tells the rest of the story:

THE TATTERED PHOTOGRAPH

By Marty RicKard

She sat before me

wrinkled

gray

a tear upon her cheek

Her head was bowed

her eyes cast down

she could barely speak

Her husband of half a century

had taken glory’s path

now all she had were memories

and one tattered photograph

She looked up with beggar’s eyes

and asked so tenderly

Can you repair this photograph

It means the world to me

For fifty years I felt his touch

now death’s torn us apart

This photograph is all I have

to ease my aching heart

I fixed the cracks across his face

and brightened up his eye

and when she saw the photograph

she could only cry

How much

she sobbed

It matters not

I’ll pay any fee

I only want a smile

I said

That’s good enough for me

She squeezed my hand

and paid her bill

and in a solemn tone

she said

my husband’s picture

is the dearest thing I own

The months slipped by so swiftly

I saw her now and then

and every time

she took my hand

and paid her bill again

Then one day

she passed away

and I went to say goodbye

but when I saw her lying there

I couldn’t help but cry

A gentle smile adorned her lips

and on her lifeless breast

they had placed that precious photograph

—it was her last request

Stocks and bonds and diamond rings

she left to fade away

She only took

the dearest thing

on that final day

Yes

she took that portrait with her

into eternity

and with that special photograph

went a tiny part of me

And each of us must ne’er forget

who share this precious craft

that wondrous thread of golden love

we weave into each photograph

Marty RicKard Bio

          Marty RicKard attended William Penn College, Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi, from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism.  He also has a Masters Degree in photography, in addition to the Craftsman, CPP, and A-ASP degrees.  Marty spent two years as a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat.  He was owner of the weekly New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist for his article, which was syndicated in twenty Iowa newspapers.  For more than a decade Marty’s regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine.  He has been published in many other magazines and newspapers, including Writer’s Digest, Writer Advice, Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge.  He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China in 1986. He currently is a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and a full-time writer of fiction and poetry.  He is the author of two poetry books and one volume of short stories.  He is an entertaining speaker.

» left by Dave Tanguay

4 years 94 days ago.

Very nice Marty, your poem has a touching story

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» left by 4 years 94 days ago.

Thank You, David. It was an emotional experience dealing with that kindly widow. Marty RicKard

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» left by e

4 years 94 days ago.
132 fans.

Beautiful Marty. e

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» left by 4 years 93 days ago.

Dr. Mr. Rock: Thanks much, and thanks also for joining my fan club. I am your fan, also. Marty RicKard

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» left by Brian Thompson D

from Scotland,U.K. 4 years 92 days ago.

Really beautiful Marty, touching and sincere. This could so easily become a classic; in fact it already is. Thank you.

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» left by Shirley Green

from mn 4 years 92 days ago.

Great story, great poem. I got tears.

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» left by Alma Needham

from mn 4 years 92 days ago.

This is one of the nicest poems ive ever read. Thank you for sharing it.

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» left by Susan F.

from CO 4 years 91 days ago.

I cried when I read this. It's great

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