Ilene Bauer Poet Rhyme

Beyond Bereft

If you go to my neighborhood thrift shop,
You just might come across
Five ice cream sundae dishes
And two mugs; if not, your loss.

See, I’m very slowly sweeping
Things that I don’t use away,
Though I often must remind myself
Why items needn’t stay.

In L.A.’s recent fires,
People found out in a flash
That they had to leave; their homes
And all their stuff reduced to ash.

I think of them as I decide
What I should keep or ditch,
Knowing that so many there
Were left without a stitch.

And as I agonize about
The trove I still have left,
I’m sure that those who’ve lost it all
Must be beyond bereft.

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Hilda Greenhough March 4, 2025 at 12:26 PM Thrift shops certainly help those in a pinch. A great many thrifts also donate to charity. It's a win win. Thank you for this poem. I enjoyed it.

Jerry Brotherton March 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM You know what they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. So we must think of it as giving it a second life. I remember we had a house fire when I was about 5 years old. It was total destruction and everything was lost. Oh, how much those few donated items meant to us. A marvelous poem, my friend.

Maurice Rigoler March 4, 2025 at 3:40 AM You make a good point Ilene. Not long ago I took an inventory of my possessions, much of it nonessentials, so into the big outside garbage "elephant" they went. I am now more careful what I buy. / Maurice

Jan Allison March 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM I too have been clearing out my wardrobe today - I am a horder and hate getting rid of sometime i once held dear - your poem makes me realise how darn lucky we are. keep on writing my friend, whatever the subject matter your poems are always a joy to read:-) hugs jan xx