Faded Memories

I really like the comparison of memories to messages in a bottle, and I'm also a fan of the last line, which I think is the strongest in the piece.

The first stanza could use some work, IMO, since "gray clouds with silver linings" is a cliche, and I'm confused by the contradiction of being weighed down by gravity and floating in the clouds at the same time.

I like that you went with a slant rhyme, which I think is more interesting than a rigid end rhyme most of the time. In general, though, I'm one of the people who will advocate for free verse, because I think not confining yourself to end rhymes gives you more room for original/evocative language. That's a matter of personal preference, though.

I liked the first stanza, where it strongly conveyed the feeling of wanting to escape. From reality to memories, capped away and sealed, now breaking free.

A lover grieves twice for the other, every time one goes back to past memory, although God part them early, love lives on strong.

Although there weren't fixed end rhymes, the flow of the poem was nice and smooth. I really like the poem overall.

By the way, you probably wanted to type this instead:

[1](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/4ttp5z/z/d5k6tyt)

[2](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/4tjf18/z/d5k60r1)

I'm particularly fond of the simplicity and accessibility of the language. Far from being a shortcoming, it conveys the mentality of one with Alzheimers, as you have mentioned below. There's a detached sorrow that accompanies the soothing voice of the speaker.

I'm unravelling details that strike me as I read and re-read.

I'm searching for silver linings

Not bad, if a little cliché.

To eclipse the gravity that weighs me down To rise above the sinking feeling

This is a contradiction that feels a little unusual. Maybe it is suggestive of the torn inner turmoil of the speaker.

My head never leaves the clouds

Viewing this stanza as a whole; one begins to piece together this poetic puzzle. The fact that the speaker must search for silver linings, despite being in a place where one would most expect to find them, gives insight into the cynical/unlucky nature of this individual. Despite the probability of such be as near as 1 as possible, the speaker is still at a loss. Interesting.

All the pain and anger exploding out Like the lump in my throat I cannot swallow

I'm being very picky regarding what is indeed a strong metaphor here. However, for me it isn't quite strong enough. I think if the language was roughened up a bit and given a raw, visceral edge, then the pain and anger that you speak of would become more tangible to the reader.

No matter how much I repeat I love you

This struck me for a rather unusual reason. The lack of quotation marks around 'I love you' makes me question - was the speaker only imagining this in their head? Or did they really say it. Regarding the theme of Alzheimers, this could be regarding as an amazingly subtle reference to the nature of this condition.

Thank you for sharing what has been a lovely read.

I think the strongest imagery here as others have said is the memories stowed away, like messages in a bottle, thats a pretty beautiful line