Treasures From My Past

Treasures from my Past

In preparing for the yard sale, I gather all my junk,
I wade through the mass of items from decades before
From furniture to dishes that have sat down in my basement
And I realize that my past will be pushed outside my door.

I pick up a box of Royal Albert dishes from a dusty cardboard box,
Carefully removing the yellowed newspaper that wrap each plate,
Displaying the majestic burgundy strip with 24k gold filigree,
Rediscovering those joyful feelings that seem to calm and sedate.

Long before the death of my parents and my only aunt,
These plates graced the dining room table at all family celebrations.
Oh the food, the smells, the faces and the happy times,
These plates bring back all the best and warmest sensations.

With so many items to keep, each item with its own meaning,
The Royal Albert plates unpacked, finally get moved outside at last,
To ease my mind I think about the happiness that they can bring,
More happy memories for others, can be made from these plates of my past.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Stone Avatar
July 26, 2024 at 11:40 AM
The thought of someone else sharing joy with things of your past is lovely. I like the texture of your words that bring everything alive.
Demotte Avatar
July 26, 2024 at 10:25 AM
I really like this one. You beautifully captured how objects, often ones we haven't even seen or thought about for years, can evoke such poignant feelings and powerful memories. Like they are portals to our past.
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
August 28, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Congrats on the feature. Nice start. Will be reading more. Vince
Ramage Avatar
August 28, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Thanks Vince for your kind words. Its nice to get the feedback. I've been on PS for about 3 months now, enjoying it a great deal. Lee
Brown Avatar
August 23, 2011 at 3:06 PM
Congratulations on your poetry being featured this week Lee. Love, Carol
Breidenthal Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 3:32 PM
Congradulations for this week (btw...this poem is fantastic). It reminds me of my mother and how she would keep ancient plates >_< NICELY WRITTEN! D. W. Breidenthal "A POSITIVE POE"
Breidenthal Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 3:35 PM
Oh one last thing: i just noticed my sister commented on this poem as well!! Epic!
Sweetheart Avatar
August 21, 2011 at 11:31 PM
Congrats Lee on your featured poem this week on PS.. wonderful to share luv..
Dietrich Avatar
August 13, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Lee, I really enjoyed reading this one. I will try reading your poems from the bottom up one by one since you don't have many posted yet. All I can tell you here is that I am unsure this qualifies as free verse. For me it reads more like prose poetry or narrative (telling a story). I took many of my poems like this which I'd labeled free verse and made a chapbook called prosies. I decided they were more prose than free verse!
Agtani Avatar
July 30, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Touching expression of the happy memories in the family Lee. Thank you for sharing and also checking on my work. The dragon fruit is now also raised in the Philippines. I do admire the ornamental and medicinal quality of the plant. Dalila
Breidenthal Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 3:36 PM
True that! The memories I had in store in my filthy garage still has clean plates! heehee
Ramage Avatar
July 30, 2011 at 8:31 PM
Thanks Dalila, I enjoy your poetry. Lee
Zzzzz Avatar
July 22, 2011 at 8:58 AM
An interesting and rather poignant write. Parting with anything from our past can be a bit of a wrench sometimes. But as you say, if that can lead to happy memories for others, all is not in vain. Regards, Robert.
Ramage Avatar
July 25, 2011 at 8:08 PM
thanks for the nice comments. Lee
Dufresne Avatar
July 22, 2011 at 4:06 AM
You captured the essence of these treasures well, Lee. Enjoyed your poem and welcome to the soup. Thanks you for your comment on my culinary delight. : )
Ramage Avatar
July 22, 2011 at 7:37 AM
I always look forward to reading your poems... love the diet! Lee
Benson Avatar
July 2, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Great poetry, Lee.
Ramage Avatar
July 2, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Thank you for your kind comments.
Breidenthal Avatar
July 2, 2011 at 3:52 PM
WOW! Great poem! Your should submit it into the "yard sale" contest if you havn't done so already. They're looking for a poem with this exact subject! Always, Laura
Ramage Avatar
July 2, 2011 at 7:16 PM
Thank you Laura for your reassuring comments. This is my first poem I have posted and I hope I have submitted it appropriately. Thank you again.
Ramage Avatar
July 2, 2011 at 7:16 PM
Thank you Laura for your reassuring comments. This is my first poem I have posted and I hope I have submitted it appropriately. Thank you again.
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