Reminders of the Past
By Elton Camp
Five generations of stuff can be found
Yet, in clutter the house isn’t drowned
I try to be selective in the items I retain
Only if of family value will they remain
The oldest, by far, is a sculpted clay vase
Its origin in the 1800s I am able to trace
It belonged to a lady many greats ago
Her name is just about all that I know
It’s a true antique, but of little worth
I recall seeing it ever since my birth
My mother remembers it just the same
To want to keep it, who can blame
To be candid, it is as ugly as can be
But it still means a whole lot to me
When I see it, a connection I feel
It makes my ancestors seem real
The porcelain dog has a cracked ear
The damage was done by me, I fear
At three years old I made the crack
My grandmother kindly glued it back
The elegant bed on which I sleep
Is an actually useful item I keep
It was always reserved for a guest
And with a great many was blest
It’s no place where Washington slept
Only regular people has it ever kept
None of the names historians know
I recall hearing their stories though
Grandfather clock’s from modern times
But four times an hour, I enjoy its chimes
My father got it when he was an old man
“I always wanted one and so now I can.”
The living room holds a Victorian chair
After my parents died, I placed it there
But just for looks, it’s sure no place to sit
Because it’s hard, not comfortable a bit
Writing this poem brings tears to my eyes
It is just amazing just how fast time flies
All around I see treasures from the past
Favorite things I’m glad I’ve amassed
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