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Remember me when I am gone away,
         Gone far away into the silent land;
         When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
         You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
         Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
         And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
         For if the darkness and corruption leave
         A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
         Than that you should remember and be sad.

– Christina Rossetti, English writer

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Behind the Frame

I was helping my cousin move in at Georgetown, and later we proceeded to tour the campus grounds when we stumbled upon an empty classroom with these heels curiously situated on a table facing the entire room. It was a peculiar sight, but I was intrigued by the setting and captured the scene despite it seeming absurd to those with me.

Behind the Title

“If You Should Forget Me For a While” comes from the 9th line of Rossetti’s poem. The line evokes a keen sense of melancholy over the prospect of our loved ones forgetting us, yet quickly resolves into a feeling of relief that they will able to move on, if but a little. We all wish to be remembered, but if it brings naught but grief, then we would much rather the ones we love to forget, smile, and live on.

Technical Stuff

Title: If You Should Forget Me For a While
Shot on: Olympus OM-2n
Lens: Zuiko 50mm f/1.4
Film: Fuji Superia X-tra 400