Lottie, looking back

Lot's Wife Pillar, Mt Sodom, Dead Sea, Israel

A wee reflection sparked by Genesis 19:12-26 on Lot's wife, who looks back

Lottie, looking back

Lottie lifts the album

from its dustless shelf,

hugs it close,

places it on the coffee table – 

all in quiet tenderness.

It’s not a proper visit 

without the family on display.

And ach, how she loved them.

She was happy then,

fresh-cheeked, eyes twinkling –

eyes now with a soft light

as her finger moves slowly

to the children.

‘Ah, wee Callum - cheeky laddie; always the joker.

And Shona, forever making sandcastles – 

och, the sand got everywhere.

They loved the beach, eh.’

Seaside holiday snaps,

Christmases, birthdays,

a few anniversary celebrations 

in for good measure.

‘Would you look at Billy –

wearing that silly hat one Christmas:

he was always ‘silly Billy’ after that,

but there was no harm in it.’

Lottie strokes the close up face.

‘A good man,

a kind husband,

and a doting dad, that one.’

Always the photographs;

fading, dog-eared memories 

of days long gone;

smiles, frozen in time –

a past now only remembered by her.

And so she tells their stories,

while she still remembers:

when she goes

then they’ll all be gone.

‘What’s your name?’

‘It’s Shona.’

A page turns;

me, 40 years younger.

16 year old -

all excitement and puffy sleeves,

dressed up for my very first dance.

‘This is my girl, Shona – such a pretty one.

You’d like her, I think.’

Tears threaten, but I shake them off. 

‘Yes, Mum.’

My hand covers hers,

it’s warm, and wrinkled,

and still on the photo album

full of memories,

where her heart and soul,

and mind, now live.
                c. Nik 2023