Just an old chair
and my personal policy to live life
with no regrets
(a place to think,
and a fence to contain thoughts)
have been almost enough
to keep me from second guessing
whether I should have flown
when I nested,
or waited
when I ran;
. . . or if all the eyes who have met mine
on the street
will have discerned compassion
or greed;
. . .if the people I have loved
will remember selfishness
or an open palm filling the base of their backs,
cupping the curve of their faces;
. . .if my children
will treat my grandchildren
as I have treated them,
or swear by heaven to do better.
Yes, that's definitely the best thing
about creaking wood slats
of old chairs and self-erected fences--
they're nearly enough
to drown out questions
of what I might have done
differently.
Author notes
Photo: by Michael Giedrojc
In a list
A contest entry
- Do Not Resuscitate by CarolDesjarlais.
1200 points, ended September 21, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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I truly loved this. I am not even of that age, but I felt those ponderings and I felt the man sitting there is his own thoughts, resonating.
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Oh, what an incredibly evocative poem.... it gave me a start..my father woudl bring out an old cheap lawnchair, the aluminum framed kind that was easy to carry, out into the front breezeway and wait for me to drive in from the country........ this brought him to me for this moment.
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There are so many things to love in this beautiful poem. You have provided a meaningful border in the wooden chair and metaphorical fence which cradle this work. As a self-aware person you see the contradictions in life, the roads not taken, and the endless "what ifs". We all hope that we have made the right choices and I have no doubt that when your time comes, you will be remembered with love. Peace, Liz
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I suspect nothing would have been done diffently. My eldest daughter, Rachel once told me; "half of your beauty is your flaws Mommy!"
". . .to not worry whether my children
will treat my grandchildren
as I have treated them,
or swear by heaven to do better."
This works in both directions, splendidly! I have displayed some not-so motherly gestures in my career as a parent. Our responsibilities aren't written in a how to be a mother manuel. Oh how I wish! Although, I'm steered to near impossible, with each child being as diferent as each mother. Life lessons have to be experienced to be learned, maybe twice to be mastered.
I am impressed with your muse as usual. Please excuse the distant in time in coming to visit your words. Your poetry always leaves me to ponder. The best to you in the challenge.
Much Love & Respect ♥
Renee
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I'm impressed, always, with the way you pick through words to avoid the overwroked, the affected and choose the perfect one. I like this poem a lot. Partly, I suppose, it's because I know that chair well and sat it in a few times to think the same thoughts.
Beautifully done. By the way, the curve of the self-erected fences caught the corner of the plate. Good stuff.
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Hi, you said it all, lovely poem, left me with a sigh, hugs Di
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This poem certainly grabbed my attention and I read the whole poem word for word. There is a lot of emotion within it and I can truly appreciate where this poem is going.
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it is indeed how to have lived, with no regrets. I was once told it is always better to say gee, I wish I hadn't than gee I wish I had...
Perhaps there is some truth to that after all.
Gorgeous piece dear poet. I fell easily into the feel of this one.
~Pamela 
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Lovely. Simplicity (an old chair, a place to think, a fence to contain thoughts) allows for contemplation. "Personal policy to live life with no regrets" is a motivating challenge.
Outstanding, "whether I should have flown when I nested, or waited when I ran" for all choices have consequences, and sometimes we fail to see the end from the beginning at the time of choice. Beautiful contemplations of "people I have loved," and particularly poignant "not to worry whether my children will treat my grandchildren as I have treated them, or swear by heaven to do better." What a legacy of love we may leave to those yet unborn!
Excellent imagery, lovely incorporation of the senses. Reflective "it's nearly enough to drown out questions of what I might have done differently." Always, we have the opportunity to learn from our choices. If we would now choose differently, then learning has occured! Perfect accompanying pic!
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The wag of way, stopping the day to mesmurize your window, such a lovely view to look inside and find peace...I do it myself, when air is still and sun is smiling
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outstanding. i mean this with all my heart. okay, i am going to now make certain that my contests stay open long enough for you to enter - this is a winner. Period.
Love, Lane
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