I have lived with no furniture literally,
did you know that?
Nothing but my clean clothes in plastic bags,
to sleep on as a mattress.
Not a stick of furniture.
My father made a piece of cardboard into a checkerboard
and that's what we did.
I just want you to have all.
In a sense we are the same,
for I had half a doll, and she was my best.
She had a shoebox cradle that my mother made,
and I loved it.
The house of us with all of its pieces
I cherished not for the material value,
but for knowing how we were placed around a table;
each had their place there.
We circled that table in love.
I had little things of worth, but I had love:
my mother loved us and God did.
We had valuable furniture that my stepfather beat to shards.
Every empty space he left, held a memory of beauty.
So: what is best? To have nothing, or something beaten to bits?
Destroyed in front of your very eyes?
With drunken violence?
I know ... we have both lived in destruction.
You were freed of possessions and their burdens.
But I, I see not cupboard; I see grandma, or mother,
or home; for in every piece of us,
I see a moment;
and in every curtain I see a view;
and in every knife and fork and cup and saucer
I see nourishment and meal,
prepared in loving care.
I don't recall owning anything so long as that.
I'm happy you have history.
.
Author notes
Prompt: iii Prose "Live is Survival"
What we cherish, may be nothing to others. A conversation with someone I love deeply -- I post this with his permission. Thank you, Devon.
In a list
A contest entry
- empty spaces by of insincerity.
1500 points, ended June 25, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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prompt in AN please.
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I have lived with an ant
or maybe a spider
perfectly preserved in amber
only dead
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Amazing I was thinking as I sat on my patio, how and why I see no value in all that I have when there was a time where all of what surrounded me held value, growing up without led me to value things and now I don't see it any more, photo's seem to be the material things that hold value, because of memories they hold, for the same reason perhaps you value the things that hold precious memories.
well I just came in and clicked on your poem
imagine that
this is lovely and brought a great big
thank you
God bless you my friend...
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I agree with you, absolutely... It is much more important what "furniture" we keep inside of our hearts, as you beautifuly said:
~
and in every curtain I see a view;
and in every knife and fork and cup and saucer
I see nourishment and meal,
prepared in loving care.
~
~Sonja~
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I have lived in a house full of furniture without love residing in it and it felt empty. Now I live in a house alone with little furniture and am happier than ever before, so I can see why and how this works C
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a good poem, i have thrown my television across the room whilst drunk, i have thrown a glass (empty of course) against a mirror. i have messed up my hand hitting a wall. my toes recently though that was an accident- hit the edge of the living room door. but all solitary things. i have also danced and smiled and held my woman at the time and listened to music all night, i have laughed and joked and cried with humour, all whilst drunk with others. it's a mad world.
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The markers of our lives, are indeed not necessarily items. In general people have items to pass down, to enrich a sense of history, and who we are. Eventually such things become markers within our own lives, and its the memory we attach to such, that make them valuable to us. Some have many such, others none at all. What is important is that we dont fail to recognize the significance of holding onto memories as being potentially good or bad, the very things we cherish can hurt us the most in loss. Life is full of such. What is important is that we learn from this, the most important aspects of who we are is not a thing, but the memories we create, in our spirits, which are eternal.
Myra reminds me that how we love each other, is what we cherish the most. The greatest of items can never overvalue the love attached to the simplest.
Thank You for our Loving, thank you for sharing
All my Love,
Devon
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Heartfelt and a truth to be told, to hold onto, to get into our hearts, minds and souls, Excellent write my dear sis. Blessings.
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