Sher Poetry

Voicing and Sharing Poems from a Wide Range of Voices.

“Elegy for the Lost Umbrella” by A. E. Stallings

Elegy for the Lost Umbrella 
 
To lose an umbrella is nothing. But to lose
An umbrella you've held on to year after year
Through various chances of rain, that you've gone back for
Into restaurants and shops, with your sopping shoes,
And leaning against the wall like a confident lover,
There it was-- "You'd be back." Beautiful!
Sage green, sprinkled with flowers, the cloth-covered handle...
But left on a west-bound train--everything's over
Like the end of a movie. You are suddenly light
As if it were that hook that was holding you steady
Through shifting sands of years, always ready
With its shadow and kindly cane. Or it might
Be you feel dizzy because of the sudden flare
Of Possible Umbrellas opening all around--
The ones you may yet have, flimsy or sound,
But fickle, tugging you off into thin air.


A.E. Stallings. “Elegy for the Lost Umbrella.” Archaic Smile. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999, p. 80.

Afterward: “Elegy for the Lost Umbrella” by Sher Schwartz

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Sher Schwartz

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10 responses to ““Elegy for the Lost Umbrella” by A. E. Stallings”

  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Umbrellas. 🌂 Made me think of those who have used them. Lacquered updos and satin gowns. Protecting presentations. I have kept one in my car for decades… where has it disappeared to? Long gone along with my high heels and sequined shawl.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Sher Schwartz Avatar
      Sher Schwartz

      Oh that’s wonderful! So fun to hear what people think of when they hear these poems. Thank you for commenting. When I lived in southeast Alaska we could always spot the tourists for they used umbrellas. We long ago gave this up for rain suits. After all it rained 13 feet a year there.🙂

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  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Such a curious poem! I would have never had thought to write a poem about an umbrella but I do understand the pain of losing something you’ve had for a while. Thank you for sharing this poem, Sher!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Sher Schwartz Avatar
      Sher Schwartz

      Hello an thank you for commenting. Yes, it’s an unusual subject for a poem, but it’s fun to think about umbrellas again. Stallings is a clever poet; she makes such interesting connections.

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  3. Avatar
    Anonymous

    i appreciated the thoughts it provoked. i love umbrellas and have had quite a collection of vintage bumbershoots over the years. it’s rare i get to use them because of wind but i keep one in my car boot at all times.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Sher Schwartz Avatar
      Sher Schwartz

      bumbershoot is a great word! Thanks for sharing.

      Mr. Whifflebottom shifted to his other arm the long black bumbershoot he carried ever with him, against the rain that seldom came, even as he wore always knee-high rubber boots for the same reason.—Harry Stephen Keeler

      A bumbershoot is exactly the same as an umbrella, but it’s a much better word. The bumber bit is a variant of brolly, and the shoot is there because it looks a little bit like a parachute.—Mark Forsyth

      … the sort of writer who won’t say umbrella when he can say bumbershoot.—Malcolm Jones

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  4. annedfarley Avatar
    annedfarley

    I must be making up for everyone else, because I have an umbrella collection. The latest one I bought is black on the outside, but open it up and the underside is a deep purple blue with the night sky of stars.

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    Reply
    1. Sher Schwartz Avatar
      Sher Schwartz

      That’s amazing! Do you use these umbrellas? A collection… I love it. Your latest sounds sublime. That would be a fun umbrella to use. Do you remember the days when a gust of wind would burst the umbrella into an upbrella 😎?

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      1. annedfarley Avatar
        annedfarley

        Yes, I use (and sometimes lose) umbrellas! I don’t like rain in my face, but it’s free to fall all around me. The night star umbrella folds up small enough to fit in my jacket pocket, so it’s my go-to dog walking umbrella if it looks like it might rain. If it’s already raining, I have a lovely umbrella from The Nature Conservancy that looks like a spring meadow in bloom — perfect! (Many people have this umbrella, and we’re like a little club of nature lovers out in the rain.) I have a couple of umbrellas in the car, just in case. I had a little white umbrella that got blown out enough times and used for so many years I managed to wear it out!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Sher Schwartz Avatar
        Sher Schwartz

        Anne, I think you have an umbrella poem coming on!

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