The brilliant Nolcha Fox is the Poet of the Week for the W3 Poetry Prompt #126. (You can read her winning poem Too Hot to Handle, here)
Poetry Prompt
Nolcha’s prompt is to compose a poem with at least 1-2 lines from Robert Frost’s Poem, The Road Not Taken (1915). I chose the following two lines to include in my poem, “I shall be telling this with a sigh” and “Somewhere ages and ages hence:”
On the Tip of my Tongue
What’s his name?
It’s on the tip of my tongue,
He was my hero from when I was young,
I remember him so well…
But it’s a terrible shame,
I cannot tell or remember his name.
Was it John, Emanuel,
Alfred, Guillaume,
Tom or George?
My memory is getting worse,
It’s like a fading mirage,
I don’t know where my glasses are—
And where is my purse?
I feel lost,
I shall be telling this with a sigh,
I do not know what or where or why,
I might cry.
I am sitting, waiting,
Reading… turning pages…
Feeling tense,
I cannot remember where we met,
It was a long time since…
Why was I waiting?
I cannot recall,
Why was I waiting,
near Pall Mall,
on a seat next a wall?
Who is this approaching me now?
I cannot believe it!
How is it possible?
My heart skips a beat!
His name was there on the tip of my tongue,
My hero, my love from when I was young,
After all these years he stands before me,
Handsome and tall,
in front of my seat,
near Pall Mall,
next a wall.
When did we last meet?
I try to recall,
Then I remember it all!
We made a vow to meet
At our bench in Pall Mall,
Somewhere ages and ages hence—
Which is now.
“Clarence!”
I exclaim,
(I remember his name)
“You look handsome and tall!
How lovely you’re here!”
“Likewise, dear Florence…
but my real name is Paul.”
“Of course, dear Paul,
I’ll never forget.
I hope you don’t mind,
And won’t take offence,
But my name is not Florence—
It is sweet Margaret.”
“I’m sorry,”
“Don’t worry, Ken,
It’s good to see you—
To meet you again,”
“You too!
You look so young,”
“I’m a hundred and ten!”
“May I take a seat
Beside you?”
“Please do.”
“What are you reading?
“It’s the book, ‘How to Improve Memory…
By what’s his name…
It’s on the tip of my tongue…”
”May I look?
See my name is on the cover,”
Says my once upon a time,
long ago lover.
Lesley Scoble, September 2024
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Thank you, David, The Skeptics Kaddish, for hosting, and for all you do.
Thank you, Nolcha for your inspiring prompt. I love Robert Frost’s poetry!
Thank you, dear reader for reading. 🙏🩷
Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. She is an accomplished artist, actor, and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture winning the V&A Inspired by…Award). Lesley is also a scenic artist, book illustrator, playwright, TV dancer, mime artist. Animator & illustrator for TV. She founded Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd, producing award-winning films made by children drama and filmmaking workshops in London.
LesleyScoble.com 
Leave a reply to Nicole Horlings Cancel reply