1.
The key was hidden inside the clock.
Nana would wind up the weights.
I would listen to the ratcheting gears.
Finally, she would set the pendulum swinging
the house once again safe in the arms
of every tick and tock.
2.
I waved my arms, the dandelions clutched
shed seeds that danced in the breeze.
She blew on the white head of the one
she held. Shedding its angels like hair
‘til all were gone, kisses on a dream.
3.
We climbed the ladder to the loft
the creak of straining wood made it deliciously
dangerous. The blanket of clothes
we created, a necessity; we joined
our golden dreams with the straw.
We were no longer innocent --
as we listened to the beat of our feet
raising dust on dirt roads bringing us home
in time for dinner.
4.
The old clock tracks the phases of the moon.
Once a week, I still the pendulum, raise the weights.
The stairs creak, marking the path.
We rock in the waves upon the bed, two
silly white heads dancing with dreams,
led by the simple safety of the pace of clock’s grace.
In a list
A contest entry
- Vignette For Ten by Dalaney.
1000 points, ended February 2, 6 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think, what it makes you feel, how you are moved.
Comments
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".....kisses on a dream...." LOVE these words. I am so soothed.... What charm and grace this has, my friend. The imagery, language, and voice are wonderful. I remember those ticks and tocks, too, dear man. You brought back a flood of good memories with this one. I loved it!!! Congrats on the Bronze, though to me it deserves so much more.....
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At every point in life we are dancing to a tick and tock. I wanted to catch the echo of time's footprint in each vingette in a different way. Glad you enjoyed my attempt at swimming with time.
Love,
Tom B.
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Tom, there is such charm in this one! I've always like the sound of my grandparent's old clock which my mother inherited...and then me. I recently gave it to my niece, as she was close to my mother, and it doesn't seem to mean anything to my kids. But the ticking was a comfort that meant a new day, sunshine in my grandma's kitchen, and her in it! It had a gong sound rather than a bell, and was wound every eight days with a key that also was kept inside.
The other vignettes in the poem also are poignant in the progression of time and dreams, exploration, and simply love. Somehow we come to knowlege and the loss of iinnocence without realizing in the moment what we've done, and soon it all blows away like dandelion fluff, the seeds of which others inherit to loose their own angels on the wind.
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We count time so many ways. The tick tock of the clock to the wave of freed seeds sent merrily on their way. I only really notice time when I am late or in the morning when I find the face that stares back at me keeps looking older when I feel so young and free.
Love, Tom B.
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You are my PhanTom
Your words sing to me!... -
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Thanks. I don't know what to say beyond that.
Love,
Tom B.
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This reminded me of this big old grandfather clock my grandpa has. What I was little I'd sleep over at my there and I'd wake up almost every morning at seven o clock and I could time it every morning because I could hear the musical chimes float upstairs.
You described a summer sleepover in the fields of time. This was a gorgeous write and a wonderful trip back to the past. Thank you for that.
Amazing write!
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Heirlooms hold the family history. It takes us time to learn how to drink from the cup. Glad to be of service.
Love, Tom B.
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to hear it tick tock and to know that all is well. in the memory of such sweet things.
"We were no longer innocent --
as we listened to the beat of our feet
raising dust on dirt roads bringing us home
in time for dinner. "
love all the imagery
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Glad you enjoyed. I played with echoes in this. The way things echo through time and space and heirlooms become book marks and hold us in time.
Thanks for stopping by.
Love, Tom B. -
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shared memories do echo in heirlooms and time. and yes, i did enjoy this piece greetfully. i have always been fascinated with antiques and such.
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Lovely.
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Thought you might enjoy.
Love,
Tom B.
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Very Good!.
I still set the pendulum.
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I love to watch the phases of the moon change. I like how the tool for the winding is shaped. Every part holds memories.
Love, Tom B.
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Personally, I would have awarded you silver for this behind Rob's piece, which is awesome by the way...but that's just me...what do I know.
Nice write my friend and congrats.
MJ.
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Thanks. I never argue with a judges call. Glad you enjoyed my efforts.
Peace & Light,
Tom B.
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you took us back in time...and it was a wonderful journey. Thank you so much. Love, Lane
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Just, memories. Thanks for the bronze baby. I will cuddle up with it in my dreams.
It is funny how a heirloom and life can weave their own magnetic force. I had fun creating different beats where tick tock could be followed. Thanks.
Love,
Tom B.
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I love the flow... and the imagery is really amazing tom!! I love this write! I made a clock with my grandfather and i will always treasure it as well as your words!!
hugs and kisses Cristy -
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We measure time in different ways at different points in our lives. I was playing with the way it echoes through us and how family heirlooms hold us. Love, Tom B.
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simply splendid
Wonderful Tom. the flow just slides off the tongue and the emotions so rich and full. The entire poem filled with wonder that it fills me with amazement. Well done, Great Job.
*Go with God* my friend,
Valerie
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Thanks. I wanted to catch how family creates history and history can hold us in many ways. Glad you enjoyed this so much.
Peace & Light,
Tom B. -
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Great Job
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this is wonderful, i shall listen to the clock with a smile from now on and recall this delicious write, what a wonderful picture you have painted here.good luck in the contest with this beautiful write
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Life connects by how it echoes through us. Often family heirlooms contain lifetimes of echoes but we have to listen closely to hear them.
Love, Tom B.
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WONDERFUL!
My grandmother had a grandfather clock that her youngest daughter took when Grandmother died. She has the clock in her damp basement. That bothers me so. I would have it sitting in my living room and would anxiously await the chimes. ~sigh
Your poem makes me melancholy and nostalgic. The third vignette is my favorite. I see you two. Sorry to spy but your words created the sight. Beautiful work dear brother/friend. I am always captivated. I wish you the best in the challenge.
Always ♥
Renee
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We are children when we are adults and so adult like when we are children. Often it is the family heirlooms that provide anchors. Glad you enjoyed it.
Love,
Tom B.
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Brilliant
We always hold our memories in connection with the objects that witnessed it...the grandfather's clock you inherited has thus become a significant relic. I love the way you recollect those days, and just wish I could write like this...
"We climbed the ladder to the loft
the creak of straining wood made it deliciously
dangerous"
I couldn't honestly find anything here which I would like to see differently.
Great work friend, congrats and best regards
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Thank you. I was trying to use echo's from each vingette in the other ones. It is an experiment in a way. A different approach to metaphor and imagery than I have taken on before. Glad it worked so well for you.
Peace & Light,
Tom B.
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Ahhhhh,
Flr me, it is Grandpa's old mechanical clock, under a glass dome, brass and memories. Just a wonderful read. Now, I'm meloncoly.
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Thought it funny we both had barns in our history of discovery. There must be something in the wind. Family relics hold so much of what family is and each is unique. Thanks for stopping by.
Peace & Light,
Tom B. -
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Indeed! Ours is older than old, and still used hard. I insisted on two things when choosing my own home. I needed an old barn, and I had to be able to pee from my own front porch with no fear of near neighbors.
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My father felt the same way about neighbors. Truthfully, i would be happy without them.
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I have my grandfather's clock on the mantle. Sad to say I rarely wind it up though.
I love how you have taken us on a journey with your words.
A lovely piece to read first thing in the morning.
Thanks for sharing Tom
Love
Juls
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I have several family pieces that are totally foriegn to my paticular style of design, but it's family and they are steeped in the history of more than me. They make up their own special place. Glad you enjoyed this. Thanks.
Love, T
Tom B.
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I really love the authenticity of these words...a sweet sweetly nostalgic look a serendipity in the making... it's beginning and timeless end... One of my favs. from you!!
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This and the last one are an experiment in a different style of poetry. I can see how it makes many things more accessible for the reader and there are things I like about it. I am still not sure about it. We are such a mixture of our family and its heritage and the blessings that pop out of nowhere in the guise of people or events. I am glad to hear that this attempt is touching people.
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Exciting & Eloquent Read
This is so full of magic, and memories of my grandparents and the clock I was in awe of ....I adore the way you allow the ticking to take you back, to the time of innocence lost in such wonderment. What a beautiful way to recall a precious moment in the loft. Now you are the keeper of time....just so neo-classical & excellent............Novy
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I remember when Carlise PA was just a little town instead of a suburb of Harrisburg. It is alll grown up now. But I remember the farm across the street from my grandparents and the dirt lanes. Great memories. I love that old clock. It has been around forever it seems.
Love, Tom B.
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