Nostalgic Paintings: That One Song
By AC
I still remember those moonlit nights all those years ago.
I was just a child,
But the memory of your face will never go.
These nostalgic paintings
Created on the canvas of my head
Will always hold your voice, your warmth, your smile.
I still remember the pounding of my heart
As I laid in bed,
Replaying the precious moments of the day
That I spent by your side;
Slow tunes carrying my soul on waves of harmony,
Like a raft floating on the ocean, under the stars.
I still remember the name of that one song,
The one that for a second allowed me to believe
That only if you would hear it,
You would know how much I loved you
And just how much you meant to me.
But then again, I was only just a kid.
Author’s note: I was around 12. She was like 2/3 years older than me, and I honestly never got around to telling her that I “loved” her. The song was “Una Aventura” by Grupo Niche. My favorite thing about the Hispanic Culture is our music. Enjoy!
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Such a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing
Hi AC!
Your poem made me smile and I greatly enjoyed reading it. It definitely made me feel a sweet sense of nostalgia by reminding me of my own memories my from childhood and early teenage years. It’s amazing how a simple song can take us back in time, in a way. I hope you keep up with writing 🙂
Hi AC,
Love the use of the descriptive words! It really makes the poem come to life with the creativity of your imagination. The flow of your writing is also done really well. Good job!
You do a great job sharing a fond memory of yours through the art of poetry.
This poem about memories and love was short and sweet. Every stanza began with “I still remember” to convey that despite how much time has gone by, these memories are fresh. Lines like “Like a raft floating on the ocean, under the stars” painted an atmosphere that made the audience feel like they were there with them, it made the childhood memory more palpable. This is a great poem! I would love to read more of your work.
This is a beautiful poem – the comparison to a “nostalgic painting” really helps the reader understand the level of connection that you’re expressing. I really enjoyed it – keep it up!
This poem brings out so many nostalgic feelings of first crush and how innocent we were terms of expressing our feelings that sometimes we went without letting the other person know. This poem feels like laying in bed at night thinking about the small moments and eye contact with your school crush years ago.
We should always take the leap of faith into doing things, just so we can look back and say that we do not have any regrets.
AC, this poem tells such a beautiful love story. I remember the feeling of those first ‘loves’ when I was a pre-teen–the heart pounding, laying in bed day dreaming about them, etc…
I absolutely love this poem! I felt like I was experiencing those emotions and experiences when I was reading. It reminded me of my own childhood love story–bittersweet. I made him a mixtape just so that he would know how much I loved him.
This is a beautiful poem. I love the way you talk about the song being an ocean that can carry you away. It’s so easy to get lost in a song, and the connection between the ocean and wanting to use the song as a way to communicate your feelings works so well. You really captured the feeling of an intense childhood crush, and it made me nostalgic too.
Hey AC,
The poem is really beautiful. I really like your poem. I like how you started the poem with ” I still remember” in every paragraph. I can see that you are trying to end the line with a rhyme word so I would suggest looking at the rhyme one more time and reading it loud to see if it goes well. For instance, the 3-6 line does not have rhyme words.
This poem is beautiful. Maybe you and the subject of this poem will be reconnected one day. Feelings as a child are no less important than those as an adult. I hope that you turn to music when you need to feel better, music can be healing and it sounds like you like it. Carry on, your future is bright.
I really love this poem, especially the last stanza, as it speaks to me from past experience. It makes me feel a lost longing for a time swept by the waves and asundered beneath the see. It’s a manifestation of that regret of wanting to let the person you love not just know but understand how you truly feel about them; however, that fear of your own words casts you away and prevents you comitting through the distance. Despite this, the poem gives me hope as from way you write I feel like your own words sing a better tune of your heart than any other song someone else could possibly write. Therefore, if you are to find love again or try to reclaim it, I’d recommend to write a song with your own pen and sing with your own voice as the right person will definitely sing back to you.
I love your imagery, you paint such a vivid picture of what you are trying to say.
I really love the lines “The one that for a second allowed me to believe… you would know how much I loved you”. It shows such real emotion and it reminds me of times when a song made me feel that same hopeful love.
This poem is beautiful! The imagery and references to art were engaging and painted a moving picture of a young love lost. I think everyone can find something within this poem that resonates with them, and I appreciate the vulnerability that it took to create art around such a deep personal memory. Beautiful work! 🙂
Hola! Su poema es muy hermosa! No se mucho sobre usted, pero parece como unx escritorx buenisimx! Me gusta como utiliza la frase “I still remember.” Su amor parece muy pulpable.
Hey AC! I’m Aditi Furtado and I am a freshman at Wayne State University in Detroit. I came across the Free Minds Book Club Organization through a class that I am currently enrolled in. This class aims to bridge communities through engaging with organizations that allow us to experience from service learning.
Your poem has an incredibly nostalgic sense which is obviously very touching. I love the way you put to words the way that you remember this girl from so many years ago in the same way you would remember a painting and the way that painting would’ve made you feel at the time. The way you describe the situation is almost lyrical. The mosaic of the different scenarios that allow you to be able to remember how you she looks like is genius. I find it amazing the progression that you seem to show through your words. The way that you describe yourself as a child that found it so hard to put to words the way you felt about her but now you so confidently put your thoughts to paper like you can finally think straight about her after years.
I am so impressed by the nostalgic feelings you have passed on to me as someone who has never experienced the same feeling you have felt for this same girl even though I have never personally felt the same of someone else when I was 12. I think you do a great job making your readers feel immensely through your words and the way you convey them.
You have a great grasp of the imagery in this poem, I’m able to feel as if I was there with you and understand why you feel these feelings for this person. Through the wording, in this poem, I can tell how strong those feelings were and I can see how much you cared for that person. Writing is always a great way to get across your feelings and views on a topic and I think you did an amazing job with this. I truly enjoyed reading your poem and I think overall it will give any reader a great grasp of how you truly feel.
I think this poem is especially well written, as it entertains many forms of thought and emotions. The layout is great with 3 paragraphs, each being 6 lines, while you begin each one with the same three words, “I still remember.” This sentence in itself is particularly meaningful, because it almost implies the loss of something or someone, which we are then told about later on that it was. We’re not sure about where this person is, but it’s clear they’re not in their life anymore. The story, however, isn’t a negative one. It’s more reflecting on all the positive times and memories that were created with this person, and being grateful that they happened. The second to last line mentions how much this person means to them, which is really good for curating emotions for the reader. I enjoyed the stylistic choices made in this poem as well as the meaning associated. This is really good, I encourage you to keep writing about your experiences and how they’ve affected you personally.
AC, this poem is awesome. I love the metaphor that you make comparing a memory to a painting. Love is so hard to express in words and is easier to write down, which you do beautifully. I am glad I was able to read this poem.
Howdy AC. I am a student from a community class. I just wanted to say it didn’t matter that you were a child, because if you felt the powerful things you felt, then you are a person. That’s that. People feel. But to me, having a song play in your head to remind you of a moment in your life, in this scenario a crush, I believe is something we can all connect to. For me it was the “Viva la vida” song by Coldplay. What is interesting in this poem is how episodic memories take place through our senses, such as our hearts beating, the vivid images you paint in your mind (or what we call the “visuospatial sketchpad” in psychology). I remember that one girl I had a crush on. For me, it was the feeling of “will she like me back?” that drove me to insanity. I felt the same things you did, and for you to put them into words that I could never express (because I get very speechless when I think about love) it really just goes to show how powerful you are as a person. I also listened to the song. I took seven years of Spanish in high school, and I could see how you relate this song to her. Thanks for sharing this song. I will share it with my family. Take care.
Hey AC,
I loved your poem very much! I think it’s beautiful, there’s such great sensational details, makes me feel what you’re talking about.
This poem is so sweet, and I think so many people can relate to these feelings and kinds of memories. reading this definitely brought back memories for me from my childhood and childhood crushes. I love how you used such strong imagery in linking memories to paintings. This is a really good poem.
Dear AC, Love poems are some of my favorite poems and you’ve written a really beautiful one. It’s a little bittersweet which is the flavor I like the most. I can feel how warm and gentle your feelings were through your words and description. I can also feel your sadness and regret at losing more of these moments with your young love. The imagery you create in your poem is very comprehensive and so romantic- I’m looking up the song you wrote about as I write this because I want to get the entire experience of your poem. Keep writing, you are so talented! Warm wishes, Roxanne
That was a great poem. It was sweet to read about your childhood memories with someone you loved and the nostalgia you feel now looking back. Plus, the writing is very creative. Nice job!
First off this is a very beautiful and well written, I can feel the emotion and scenery through reading. The feeling of having a crush on someone comes with so many emotions and thoughts, and it is interesting the way you describe the memories as a nostalgic painting on the canvas of your head. It’s memories like this that always get imprinted in your mind the most and are the hardest to forget, almost like the painting has dried and can never be covered back up.
AC – what a lovely poem. The title “nostalgic paintings” implies that this might be part of a series? If that’s the case, I really want to see some more nostalgic paintings. If you were to take another crack at this poem, I would only make two suggestions – 1) move the author’s note to the top, the context is so important and turns the poem itself into a celebration of Hispanic culture, 2) I think the last line sounds like a rationalization or an apology. You don’t need it, the poem and its feelings are beautiful and need no further explaining.
Dear AC,
Thanks for this transporting, romantic poem. I love how lavish the imagery is, and how you use all your senses – sounds, images, touch – to bring the moment fully to life. The line “slow tunes carrying my soul” will stick with me. There’s also wonderful energy in your “Author’s Note”! I wonder if there’s a version of this poem that includes lyrics from the song, or snatches of conversation in Spanish. This poem reminded me of my own young loves. Thank you.
Best,
Heather
I fell like everyone has a specific memory that holds on to them for a life time. Your memory is very specific and detailed that I can imagine what you truly remember. I can see that you regret not telling her that you love her but I can tell that you both love each other and are important to one another.
I can’t put it into words as well, but there are still moments in my head that I’m scared to forget. When you talk about those paintings that hold warmth, I struggle to find a better word to describe the feelings they cause and also possess. They’re so warm and bright and I’m terrified of forgetting that they happened. I’m terrified that something so previous and significant to me can be lost to the sandpaper that is time. I haven’t considered that fear in a while, but thank you for reintroducing it to me. Because your writing brought back fond memories that I haven’t thought of in a long time.
I really enjoyed your poem! Your show the beauty of young love and how we never really forget it. I couldn’t help but notice your note about your poem about being a kid and never getting around to telling her you “loved” her. I assume you mean that you didn’t understand love as a kid, but I think the beauty of love is that it changes throughout time. While our understanding of love as children was different than what it is now, it doesn’t make it any less meaningful and you really show that in your poem. Those emotions stay with us and help us grow into the love we feel as adults. It’s important to hold onto those memories and learn from them and be glad they happened. Thank you for sharing!
AC,
I think this is a really great poem that illustrates how one feels when they think of someone fondly. The first stanza is my favorite. I really like, “these nostalgic paintings created on the canvas of my head will always hold your voice, your warmth, your smile.” I love how you compared the memories we have in our heads to paintings. Keep writing, you are really great at it!
Dear AC,
Your poem is very heartwarming and beautiful! I also appreciate the additional note you left to share with each of us. I listened to the song you left so that I could understand what you were feeling better. My favorite lines in your piece included “these nostalgic paintings/created on the canvas of my head/will always hold your voice, your warmth, your smile”. These lines especially bleed love and nostalgia. There is such a sweetness of youth and young love in your poem that makes it so good. In your second stanza you wrote “I still remember the pounding of my heart/as I lay in bed/replaying the precious moments of the day/that I spent by your side”. Not only do you allow the reader to see exactly how you feel, but you allow the reader to relate to you with these lines. As I read this, I was able to understand exactly where you were coming from and know those feelings of being excited about another person. This is a great piece and it brought me a lot of joy reading it.
Best,
CB
This was a very powerful poem about love, and I wish I had a memory like you. It is beautiful that you can remember these moments, but also the image in your head being crystal clear, and even being a child recognizing those feelings and how strong they are. Never stop feeling and loving someone, I am sure many people wish to love as you do. Amazing poem.
Hi AC, what a precious poem! This is so sweet. I can see myself in that moonlit night with a loved one. I appreciate your vulnerability and I’m sorry that you never got to share your feelings with her. Please keep writing wholesome things like this, it’s so special!
Aside from love, nostalgia has always been the biggest ruler of my heart, for better and for worse. Nostalgia allows us to remember our longest ago memories in all of their glory; all of their beauty. Your words portray this beautifully. I have many memories from my childhood that I can remember as if they were yesterday. It is crazy how when something is of great importance to us it will stick with us forever. It will stay in our hearts, in our minds, to remind us of all of the most beautiful experiences we have endured in this life. Thank you so much for sharing. I loved this work truly.
Dear AC, my name is Megan. I am from Minnesota and I absolutely loved reading your poem. I think your story with this person is very beautiful. It really captured innocence and the idea of a first love. I really enjoyed reading it and I thought the imagery you used was so beautiful. My favorite part was when you talked about “slow tunes carrying” your “soul on waves of harmony”. You also did a great job showing how much you truly cared for this person. I also listened to Una Aventura, and I loved it so much. I listened to it while I read through your poem again, and it’s almost as if they were made to go together. I’ve been learning Spanish since elementary school, all through highschool, and still now. It’s such a beautiful language, and being able to understand the song you recommended really added a whole other level to this poem. It ‘s almost like I could feel the love you had for this person while I was reading. You are an incredible writer, thank you so much for sharing this piece.
You really captured young love into a poem. The vividness of the memory and the clarity and style of writing. The metaphors you make are some of the best I’ve seen in a long time. The time and care you put into this piece really show in more ways than one.
Thank you for sharing this poem. I’m a writer myself, and this is the kind of poetry that I’m really fond of. The ability to take such an intimate, yet fleeting moment and use poetry to make that moment feel endless and expansive is unmatched. The reader is invited into this quiet moment with you, where we are able to bathe in the feeling of bittersweet nostalgia. I would love to see you continue to explore the influence of Hispanic music on your childhood in more of your poetry, because music are time capsules for memories and moments and poetry is the avenue in which we can share those time capsules.
This song is truly beautiful and I love the word choice that you use. I can clearly picture the images you are trying to display. Your poem is what I love about music. We can often connect with the lyrics and they can represent our relationships with those around us. I have a special song that reminds me of my other half, and it brings me so much love and joy just to hear it. Your poem is a work of art, and I hope t read more from you in the future!
The imagery this poem contains paints such a vivid picture in my head, its so well written. As well as the formatting and rhythm of this poem makes for such an easy read. Its very easy to relate to the young blossoming love that comes from this poem, I can feel the past affection for this person. The mix of different swirling imageries makes for such a beautiful visualization. Thank you for the wonderful poem, AC!