Miss Amelia Havisham's Garden Shed

Agreed - there is much fun imagery in a forgotten space. I'll take a hop over to your page and seek out your slug poem in the next day or two. Thanks for reading. Cheers - Gary

When it comes to Charles Dickens my favourite of his was always "Great Expectations". I won't ruin things for you if you are going to read the novel but Miss Havisham certainly has an interesting back story. I thought the idea of transplanting items from her life story into a shed where they lie forgotten was an interesting idea that just popped into my head one day when attempting to clean my own garden shed. :) Cheers - Gary

I'm glad you like it Bryan, thank you. All doing well thanks. This is one of three poems that Line very kindly agreed to recite and I think it adds extra depth. I still wish I had added a few things on the shelves in the shed that featured in the story..like the pack of cards Estella played with Pip..little things like that but the poem has been published in a PS anthology now and I wouldn't want to change Line's wonderful recital. Cheers - Gary

Thank you Christina. Ever since I had to study ‘Great Expectations’ at school many moons ago I have always been fascinated by Miss Havisham’s back story. A good helping of poetic license and a quick look inside my own garden shed gave rise to this poem :) I’ve just completed my 100th poem here at The Soup. The 100 poems have taken me over 4 years to complete and that’s pretty good going by my standards so I say don’t worry about taking your time, as long as you enjoy writing. Cheers - Gary

However, I do understand about just one page as I thought that for myself. But, I write so slow that it will probably take me a lifetime to fill anyway :) Thank you for sharing your gift. Blessings to you.

Thanks Jim, I will and I won't. :) Cheers - Gary

Hi Bryan. Great to hear from you. Hope all is well. Thanks for your great comments. I have to say Bryan I love your rhyming skills and your poetry. You are a master of the rhyming word and I look forward to catching up with your latest work soon. I've been having some issues with the mp3 files that keep disappearing from my poems so I hope you were able to listen to Line's recital of this poem. She has a wonderful voice. I've reloaded it just in case you didn't catch it. I've been taking a break from writing poetry recently and debating whether my one page of poems here at The Soup is it for me. I think there's a danger I'll just end up repeating themes and ideas I've already visited. I'll see how the land lies after Christmas and decide then whether there's another couple of poems in me. There probably still will be. :) All the best and Cheers - Gary

Thank you very much Christopher for your very kind words. They are very much appreciated. I have to admit that Shakespeare's works don't exactly float my boat but just having his name mentioned in a comment that relates to a poem of mine is high praise indeed. I'll add that Hamlet's King Claudius (and those who displayed servile displays of flattery towards him, even though he stole the crown) have a lot to answer for. It reminds me of world politics in general but that's another poem. :) Cheers - Gary

Susan, thank you for your lovely comments. I'm forever surprised at how well this poem has been received but it's just lovely to read your words. I'm behind once again with my reading of others' poetry here at The Soup but will make a determined effort in the week to do so. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary

Thanks John. In truth I'm running out of poems to enter that have 30 lines or less maximum. :) Cheers - Gary

Hi Mark! Thank you for having the stamina to run such a contest. I'm enjoying it and hope to make the whole 26 miles 385 yards. :) Cheers - Gary

Hi John. I noticed my poem in that list a few months back when I was trying to make sense of all the 'Best' lists. I'm still not really clear how on earth the PS algorithm works. According to PS this is the 'best' of all my poems. I can only assume that's because of the number of comments and favs that the poem has garnered. Likewise for the Top 100 list.? It's nice but I'm under no illusions that there are so many poems out there that should be on the Top 100 list and / or get filed under 'The Great Unread' :) This is a poem I'm particularly proud of. I appreciate all your encouragement John and thank you for your valued comments as always. Cheers - Gary

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

Thank you John. I really appreciate your wonderful comments. It makes this hobby of mine feel all the more worthwhile. Cheers - Gary

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

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, 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, 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

Thank you Line :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gary, It must be said by me, in imperfect opinion, for all ears and eyes.., Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" is one of the finest novels a poor man can read, and grow rich. -R

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