History Alive

Visit official historical homes;
See where a president slept.
Wander the rooms where he breathed and he ate;
Marvel at all that's been kept:

Diaries, writing desks, clothing and clocks;
Dishes and goblets and swords.
Hairbrushes, mirrors and hundreds of books;
Frames holding lots of awards.

Pots and utensils employed by the cooks;
Furniture purchased in France.
Gardens all blooming with thousands of bulbs;
Slippers once worn at a dance.

All the minutiae of living condensed
And polished for us on display.
We can imagine how life used to be
When it is presented this way.

Names that we learned in a history book
Suddenly spring forth to life.
Here is the chair where the president sat;
There is the gown of his wife.

Trolling the past doesn't need to be dry.
Jump in the car - take a drive.
A trip to a battlefield, bunker or home
Can make history feel so alive.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Martin Avatar
April 16, 2012 at 12:37 PM
Damn that's good! It makes me think of Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chancelorville, Appomatox, Ford's Theatre, Greece, France, Egypt and all the other many places I've been fortunate enough to see, feel, touch and smell - much like you've painted in this WONDERFUL time capsule of poetry. 2 Thumbs up Ilene! (And thanks for stopping by my place earlier:) Terry
Collins Avatar
April 14, 2012 at 8:18 AM
I think of Gettysburg, Ilene, where I actually felt the soldiers. Great writing. love, Kathy
Dietrich Avatar
April 13, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Nice one, Ilene. I remember the first time I stepped on European soil (it was the airport at Paris many years ago) and I was overwhelmed with the joy of being there where so much history had passed!!
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