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Miss Amelia Havisham's Garden Shed

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Originally published: 22nd April 2021

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

This poem was placed 1st = in Brian Strand's "ALL YOURS" (Apr 23) Poetry Contest.

Chosen as Poetry Soup's POEM OF THE DAY (23rd April 2021)

Featured in The Poetry Soup Anthology "PS: It's Still Poetry"

between the plant pots and the trays the cobwebs had seen better days and for all the wood and damp and soil the smell was one of paint and oil as flies and wasps lying in state were curled up past their fly-by-date and nails and screws and metal hooks shared space on shelves with brewery books beneath a clock with broken hands where time stood still amongst the cans and jam jars full of pip-like seeds stood next to things that no one needs and while her tears had stained the glass that looked out on the unkempt grass upon the floor amid the mess ..a letter and her wedding dress. ~ ~ ~ You can listen to a recital of this poem by fellow 'Souper' Ms Line Gauthier: HERE

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Timothy Ray

Date: 4/9/2022 7:35:00 PM

absolutely wonderful. execution, emotion, inspiration, and devastating last lines have brought me thru a wonderful read

Gary Radice
Date: 4/10/2022 4:28:00 AM

I really appreciate your wonderful words Timothy. Miss Havisham, as a charachter, has always fascinated me. My one regret with the poem is not including a line about the pack of cards that Miss H had Estella play with Pip in her house. They could have been on the shelves in the shed too. Cheers - Gary

John Lusardi

Date: 1/5/2022 11:06:00 AM

I just read this work, in the Anthology book 11. What an absolute masterpiece ! While reading it, i could taste and smell and see, my grandfathers garden shed, it transported me back, too the smell of Linseed oil, and magic places. Brilliant

Gary Radice
Date: 1/5/2022 11:48:00 AM

Thank you John. I really appreciate your wonderful comments. It makes this hobby of mine feel all the more worthwhile. Cheers - Gary PS: Fellow Souper Line Gauthier kindly gave a recital of this poem here at The Soup that adds another dimension to it. The poem can be found at: https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/miss_amelia_havishams_garden_shed_-_read_by_line_gauthier_1363210

Patrick Kelly

Date: 12/21/2021 1:39:00 PM

First time, just found you. loved this poem and will be reading more, thanks.

Gary Radice
Date: 12/22/2021 4:03:00 AM

Hi Patrick. Thanks so much for your lovely comments. Glad you like this - it certainly seems to be my most popular poem. Read you soon. Cheers- Gary

L MILTON HANKINS

Date: 8/28/2021 8:11:00 PM

Gary, I just read this poem again for the umpteenth time. It deserves to be up there with Cinder Girl! It's about time I make it a FAVE instead of coming back here and clicking on it.

Gary Radice
Date: 8/29/2021 2:14:00 AM

Hey, thanks Milt. It's much appreciated. Funnily enough when I started out writing the poem, the subject was going to be my own garden shed. A flash of inspiration came over me as I remembered reading Great Expectations and liking it so much..so with much poetic license I decided to explore Miss Havisham's back story..and set it in a shed not too disimilar to mine! ..bar the letter and wedding dress of course.. :) Cheers - Gary

Marikate Kingston

Date: 6/30/2021 8:29:00 PM

What a dear poem. I could envision everything. The shed is filled w/ her life and history. It reminded me of my 80-year-old Uncle John. He lived in a 100-year-old house in the Adirondack Mountains. Your line that reads, "as flies and wasps lying in the state were curled up by their fly-by-date."Reminded me of Uncle John's window flies on their back spinning around in the sunny windowsill. I remember feeling sorry for them as a kid. I loved this poem so much & I'm glad I came across it.

Gary Radice
Date: 7/1/2021 2:24:00 AM

Marikate, (Ma- Ri-Car-Tay?) thank you so much for your lovely comments. I'm thrilled you love the poem. I have to admit it's one of my favourites too. I love to write just what I see no matter how small or trivial it might be. Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck

Date: 6/16/2021 8:02:00 AM

I've commented before, but wanted to say your last two lines inspired me to write about my Great Aunt Agnes: "Satin and Old Lace." Thank you :)

Gary Radice
Date: 6/16/2021 8:25:00 AM

Ann, it's great to know my poem inspired yours. I will take a look and read later tonight. Thanks again for your comments. Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier

Date: 6/13/2021 5:54:00 AM

Beautifully worded. Great buildup. Well crafted poem, Gary ~

Gary Radice
Date: 6/13/2021 6:13:00 AM

Thank you Line :)

Richard Breese

Date: 6/9/2021 4:59:00 PM

Oh that is beautifully sad. Well done.

Gary Radice
Date: 6/10/2021 1:24:00 AM

Richard, thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments. Cheers - Gary

Dave Timperley

Date: 5/29/2021 4:10:00 AM

Every line invokes a memory. Love the flyby line, found in every shed. Our shed is the land of lost things. Enjoyed reading this. Blessings. D.

Gary Radice
Date: 5/29/2021 5:12:00 AM

David, I LOVE that line of yours: "the land of lost things." That would make a great title for a poem. :) Thanks for your visit, read and great comments. Cheers - Gary

Dan Prizner

Date: 5/23/2021 12:16:00 AM

Gary just came across your poem like the visual that it I can see from its words. Thanks for it. I real like Rhyme form

Gary Radice
Date: 5/23/2021 12:34:00 AM

Hi Dan! Thanks so much for your visit and your kind comments about the rhyme form. Cheers - Gary

David Holmes

Date: 5/14/2021 1:50:00 PM

Gary - this is such a great poem, I can see this garden shed in every aspect of your poem, the flow, the imagery, and I can smell the paint and oil with your picture words - David

Gary Radice
Date: 5/14/2021 2:13:00 PM

Cheers David. Thanks for your comments. When it comes to my own shed, it's full of stuff I have never used and probably never will..and smells of paint despite there being no paint stored in there. :) Cheers - Gary

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 5/12/2021 3:23:00 PM

Hello Gary Radice, that garden shed holds a lot of memories. Enjoy your evening my fren.

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 5/13/2021 11:08:00 AM

Hello Gary Radice, you are welcome my friend. I did thank you. Cheers. Darlene

Gary Radice
Date: 5/12/2021 4:03:00 PM

Thank you Darlene.. thanks so much for your visit, read and comments. It's all very much appreciated. I hope you enjoy your evening too. Cheers - Gary

Terry Flood

Date: 5/10/2021 12:08:00 PM

Love this on so many levels, Gary... the imagery, the wit (fly-by-date) and, well, that sledgehammer ending. The only thing I hate about this is that I didn’t write it (and probably couldn’t) ;-). A remarkably well deserved first place. Terry

Gary Radice
Date: 5/10/2021 12:26:00 PM

That's really nice of you to say so Terry. The cobwebs and flies lines were influenced by the contents of my own shed as of a few weeks back. :) Cheers - Gary

Quoth TheRaven

Date: 5/9/2021 5:45:00 PM

Hello Gary, 'for all the wood and damp and soil the smell was one of paint and oil' Sights and smells from a better time and place. Such a practiced hand to capture a moment. A moment in fascinating prose, truly. -Richard

Gary Radice
Date: 5/9/2021 11:36:00 PM

Hi Richard. Thank you for your very insightful and complimentary comments. Yes! :) A hint of better times when she was not surrounded by abandonment and decay. In Dickens' "Great Expectations" Miss Havisham was a lady who inherited her father's (brewery) fortune but was then swindled out of it both by a man she thought she was to marry and her half brother. Her life spiralled downwards following this. Cheers - Gary

Terry Miller

Date: 5/8/2021 1:26:00 AM

"were curled up past their fly-by-date" A great line in a wonderful poem

Gary Radice
Date: 5/8/2021 1:35:00 AM

Terry, thanks so much for your equally great comments. It's very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

Date: 5/4/2021 5:18:00 AM

Ahhh!! Very emotive and creative work. I enjoyed reading this one. Way to go. Thanks for the visit to my page. I appreciate the nice comments. Sara

Gary Radice
Date: 5/4/2021 5:35:00 AM

Hi Sara! Thanks for your lovely comments. With reference to your own poem - I'm sure there was an umbrella in her shed there too ;) Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier

Date: 4/30/2021 1:00:00 PM

Wow ~ great ending. Congrats on your POTD, Gary ~

Gary Radice
Date: 4/30/2021 1:11:00 PM

Thank you Line. When writing, I knew how the poem was going to end so I started with the last 2 lines and worked my way backwards. :)

Geoffrey Brewer

Date: 4/28/2021 6:22:00 AM

P.S. Dickens would approve.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/28/2021 6:54:00 AM

Geoffrey Brewer

Date: 4/28/2021 6:18:00 AM

Brilliant evocative and convincing word picture; can almost experience it with all the senses; then the frisson of the twist in the last 2 lines. Love it!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/28/2021 6:58:00 AM

Hi Geoffrey! Thanks for your visit and valued comments. I always set out to try and paint pictures and scenes with my words so I'm very pleased that all the effort that I put in with this particular piece appears to have paid off. Your comments, like all I have received make this hobby all the more worthwhile. Cheers - Gary

David Smith

Date: 4/27/2021 5:10:00 AM

glad to catch you on line Gary and find this timeless gem. Stay safe David in NZ

Gary Radice
Date: 4/27/2021 7:04:00 AM

Hi David. Thank you! I'm bowled over by the responses I've had for the poem in truth. Hope all is good in the land of the long white cloud. Cheers - Gary

Ken Rone

Date: 4/26/2021 8:04:00 AM

Ahh yes, "The Old Shed". There are far too many of them wherein lurks the demons you describe. A place to hide. A VERY good piece.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/26/2021 8:21:00 AM

Thank you Ken. If I'm honest I think there's more stuff in our shed than there is in our kitchen. :) I appreciate your kind comments. Cheers - Gary ..And I've just read your great poem "The Shed" :)

Peter Rees

Date: 4/26/2021 12:58:00 AM

What a picture you paint. This is superbly descriptive. Even the cobwebs had seen better days and flies and wasps past their fly-by date. Brilliant. Many congratulations.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/26/2021 1:49:00 AM

Thank you Peter! I wanted to highlight the decay inside the shed to tie in with Ms Havisham's backstory so I'm really grateful for your comments. Cheers - Gary

Susan Ashley

Date: 4/25/2021 5:25:00 PM

Dear Gary, I just couldn't resist the title - its splendid and teased my imagination immediately and then, the poignant beauty of this brilliant and graceful poem found my heart. A mesmerizing piece and an excellent POTD. Congratulations, Gary, for the well-deserved honor. A fav! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Gary Radice
Date: 4/26/2021 12:02:00 AM

Thank you Susan for your valued comments and for favouring my poem. :) Cheers - Gary

Kim Merryman

Date: 4/24/2021 3:41:00 PM

A great descriptive write, Gary! Congrats on your win! Blessings, Kim M

Gary Radice
Date: 4/24/2021 11:53:00 PM

Thank you Kim for your visit, read and wonderful comments. Cheers - Gary

L MILTON HANKINS

Date: 4/24/2021 12:54:00 PM

Gary, when I first read this marvelous poem, I felt it was destined to become POTD. Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/24/2021 1:21:00 PM

Thanks Milton. I truly appreciate your comments. I'm not sure what the criteria for POTD actually is so I was nicely surprised..you could say my 'expectations' weren't 'great' so as to speak. :) Cheers - Gary