Symploce

I've decided that I'd like to start my story off with something a little different. I want to intrigue the reader by giving them some back story, but not by doing a Prologue. I wanted to find a way to be a bit more creative so I thought I'd have a go at Symploce which is the simultaneous use of Anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses and Epistrophe, the repetition of a word or words at the end of two or more successive verses, clauses, or sentences. I had a few tries and finally settled on this, but it may not be the final version:

If Jim had known that he would live to an old age, an age that most never have the privilege of reaching, he’d have taken more time.

He’d have taken more time with the letters written decades and lifetimes earlier that would alter the final weeks of his life. He’d have taken time with their prose and the crafting of their words that would one day be all that was left of him. He’d have savoured the memories they held and cast them to a place in his mind where he could keep them forever.

He’d have taken more time with his love for Mary. The intensity, joy and heartbreak. Her eyes, her burgundy lips and the coils in her hair, the memories of which would consume his thoughts and focus in his final days, hours, minutes, just as she had in those early days. He’d have stared at every inch of her fair skin, listened to every perfect word she uttered and committed every kiss to a place in his mind where he could keep her forever

He’d have taken more time with his mother’s love and taken more moments with her that would comfort him when she was gone. He’d have hugged her tighter, kissed her cheek often and been at her side when she succumbed to her demons having never really had the chance to live. He’d have cast her scent to a place in his mind where he could keep it forever.

He’d have taken more time to notice his life and been conscious of the fact that the years were merely a fleeting stretch, and those with his children even less so. He’d have laid beside them, immersed in their innocence and committed each and every smile to a place in his mind where he could keep them forever.

If Jim had known that he would he live to an old age, an age that most never have the privilege of reaching, he’d have taken more  time with his love and been more careful – more careful with his life.