Cookie Jar

My childhood cookie jar was brown
And looked like it was Asian.
It must have been a gift, but
I don’t know for what occasion.

Bright flowers and some animals
Were intertwined with gold.
I always found it ugly,
Yet such sweets were in its hold:

Vienna fingers, Hydrox,
Chips Ahoy and Pecan Sandies;
Nothing homemade, only cookies –
Never cakes or candies.

It rested on a pantry shelf,
Not really on display.
That “out of sight” thing didn’t work – 
We plumbed it every day.

For years I hadn’t thought about
That jar or sneaking snacks
Until, in an antique store,
Something stopped me in my tracks.

For there it was, in front of me –
“Tobacco Jar,” it said;
And all those memories just started
Crowding in my head.

I didn’t buy it, even though
Nostalgia has its place.
You can’t relive the past
But certain objects we embrace.

That cookie jar seems special now,
Still ugly, though, in truth;
But buying it would not return me
To my long-lost youth.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Johnson Avatar
April 23, 2013 at 2:40 PM
I'm a freaking cookie monster. But that adult onset diabete's doesn't allow. COOKIE! :)
Ball Avatar
January 10, 2012 at 5:29 PM
You can never go back but the memories are great. Nice job heere Ilene annd it's great to meet you. God Bless, JB
Williams Avatar
January 10, 2012 at 10:16 AM
ilene I like this, it flows nicely, thanks for your comments, you should check out my contest if you have not already entered..David
Bauer Avatar
January 10, 2012 at 2:17 PM
thank you, david! i appreciate the comment. this poem is a bit too long for your contest and, even though the cookie jar is a piece of crockery, i don't really think of it as a "dish." i look forward to more contests in the future!
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