Best Chest Poems
“The heart hath its own memory, like the mind, and in
It are enshrined the precious keepsakes, into which is
Wrought the giver’s loving thought.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Dear Treasure Chest
Invaluable is tender love’s domain,
that ruby red that lies beneath the breast.
But just as precious is the treasure chest
which houses our intelligence - the brain.
With memories exquisite to retain,
this coffer is the one that serves us best.
And likely we’ll not know how well we’re blessed
till luster of our keepsakes starts to wane.
The ruby oft is lost; we pay a toll.
Yet time and time again, that gem we find.
Not so within the storehouse of our soul
when strands of fond remembrances unwind.
Dear treasure chest of which we’ve no control,
what good the heart when pearls fade from the mind?
For the contest of Sara Kendrick
I have a wooden cedar box
Filled with precious things
Most of no value to you
But joy to me it brings
A copper penny, 1961
The year I was given life
A withered old white rose
From the day I became a wife
Two certified legal documents
That tell me that I am free
A US birth certificate
And a final divorce decree
Golden locks, adorned with ribbon
Clipped from the head of my son
A bag filled with tiny teeth
Exchanged for a dollar one by one
A report card, five A’s and one B
My sons first year at school
A tattered silken blanket
Still covered with infant drool
A book of poems that I had written
While I was a rebellious teen
Fifty plus love letters
From then, now and in-between
Old yellowed photographs
Of family long since gone
A dozen crayon pictures
That both my kids have drawn
Hospital anklets, pink and blue
That both my children wore
A stupid keep out sign
That I used to hang on my door
Each item within this box
Is a memory that I hold dear
I keep them for a distant time
When my memory won’t be so clear
So if you wish to see inside
To you I have one request
Do not call it just a box
‘Cause to me it’s a “TREASURE CHEST”
Written: November 22, 2023, For Line Gauthier Contest
____________________________________________
Molded in the blaze of the esoteric Earth
Metamorphosed from stone to a shape of worth
I will never ever evolve old
As long as I possess a heart of Gold.
This once was an empty hope chest,
All my wishes it was waiting to hold,
Now it keeps the things I love best,
As my life begins to unfold.
A hope chest holds things from the past,
It locks away secrets of when we wept,
And poems written to make memories last,
In my Mom's diary of thoughts she kept.
A porcelain doll, of which I was very fond,
My Grandma made her, with care and grace,
She had long hair, curly, blonde,
And a blue dress trimmed in white lace.
My hope chest holds everything I love,
Like old photographs that are looking worn,
And the wishes that I've dreamt of,
Ever since the day I was born.
My hope chest may hold new things,
Like a Valentine my first love sent me,
Maybe, eventually an engagement ring,
And the rose that won him my heart's key.
If there is a newborn on the way,
My hope chest will hold many things,
Like maybe, a baby blanket, someday,
A reminder of what life can bring.
I have a box upon my shelf
Containing precious reminders, of life's wealth
My very first bible, I got when I was nine
The very first book, that was just mine!
A plastic cameo, my mother had
And wore in 1958, when she married my dad
A purple painted rock, made in pre-school
By one of my brothers, because he thought it was cool
A poem my sister wrote about petting a mouse
And memories of growing up in our drafty old house
Coins from foreign places, gifts from "adopted" children, who called me mom
While attending the college where I worked, now they've graduated and gone
A blue visitor's pass, from the ICU
I wore everyday, while God healed my mom, thank YOU...
Stained and crumpled letters, from war zones, afar
Words written there, the most treasured so far
Words, longing for home and things to change
And for another chance, to help rearrange
To convince people to throw out things that mean the least
Making room inside their chest, their hearts, for peace
Now, I have a few things that really shine
And enjoy the bling, wear them from time to time
But they just hang around, here and there
If I didn't have them, I wouldn't care
Before this life of mine is through
I may add to my box another thing or two
But, these treasures I keep upon my shelf
No one would want, except myself....
Donna Jones
8-20-2013
Love your so sweet babe
touching my soul as the heart
skips fast a beat talks honey
You're one in ten gifts
sweet singing golden classic
memory stands out inside
a thousand dreams come
true May summer heartbeats you
so fast talking beautiful
New day dawns shining
you're my sunshine fingerprints
darling flower we enjoy
The sweet tenderness
we hold in each others love
arms delight your company
happy baby doll
your around this heart dancing
Your the nightingale who sings
Dream into nights you
whom falls A star blazing gem
beauty before one's soft eyes
Captured In sweet thoughts
in my mind I wake up day
dreaming because your drop dead
beautiful to be
In your presence adoring
breathless stars sparkle magic
in your shine honey
you're sugar that flows sweetly
from the lips ice melts each word
Captured in your space
I cannot help myself babe
around you whom touches
this soul writes again
Words just flow from the heart ore
Its so lovely having you
inside my life brings
out the best to my feelings
as you are amazing sweet
Like a snowflake gem
your unique one of a kind
Melting in soft gentleness
Heart touching love suit
All I wish we forever
bond in each others union
Solid company
warmed with gold soft tenderness
into the heart touching love
striking feathers dust
angel brushes deep magic
Each a flickering heartbeat
Dancing Cupid's bow
tugging deep heartfelt with wings
it flies amazing grace true
smiles a beautiful treasure
choka
chain linked thoughts together one story of a jewel grasped the heart in her beauty
To find my hidden treasure
No need for a tape measure
“X” does not mark the right spot
Treasure hunters get one shot
Unravel my hidden code,
and watch my treasure unfold
The key is words you utter
Express, exclude the clutter
Experience grown riches
A broken heart now bridges
Unlock yourself at my dare,
at our reward we now stare
Open my chest, find my beat
Drum with me a love so sweet
I made an Invisible Chest for my home
And I filled it with all of my Dreams
Then added some Prayers, for less fortunate ones
To help them down Lifes many Streams
Tossed in some Hope, and a Bundle of Love
And Kindness, to spread everywhere
Then carefully placed it, where Sunshine could reach
Right next to an old rocking chair
I had not quite finished, Filling it up
When a Voice somewhere, deep down inside
Said, "Leave the lid open, there's plenty of room"
"To put in the Manual, and Guide".....
Poets, Open Your Treasure Chest Of Words
Poets, dare to present what your heart speaks
let it roam other realms, true meaning seek,
venture into lands with magical shores
sail a hundred ships, seek a thousand more!
Answer Art's greatest dedication calls.
As did those resting in its golden halls.
Poets, open your treasure chest of words
release its flock of metaphorical birds,
set pen to reveal soul that truly sings
of Life, Love, Sweet Romance, Heavenly things!
Answer Art's greatest dedication calls.
As did those resting in its golden halls.
Speak of treasures, innumerable dreams
weave your verse tapestries with golden seams
let your spirit cast forth what is within
show Art's truth is were poetry begins!
Answer Art's greatest dedication calls.
As did those resting in its golden halls.
You may find that beauty shines in the Dark
for world shows Nature is oft bold and stark,
in that dose of truth- poets may thus gift
deep verse, some that inspiringly uplift!
Answer Art's greatest dedication calls.
As did those resting in its golden halls.
Poets, know this- Life is preciously short
write deep, kindness from your readers exhort
set stage, in scenic views, let beauty shine
who knows fame's glory, may be yours or mine!
Answer Art's greatest dedication calls.
As did those resting in its golden halls.
Robert J. Lindley, 11-11-2019
Rhyme, (Thirty verses composed to honor a dear poet friend that turned thirty today)
"My friend, such is this poem, its heart true
its splashed ink, sincere gift unto you!
And in return this old poet found this
touch from poetry's goddess, her sweet kiss!"
Quote:
" She that sends verses to this seeking heart,
shall forever, greater wisdom impart."- by RJL
" Celle qui envoie des vers à ce coeur qui cherche,
doit pour toujours, une plus grande sagesse conférer."
Note:
Composed this morn, before the birds sang
before the old red rooster's first call rang
as steaming hot coffee I sat to drink
a poet, from Life's duties, will not shrink!
He that gives to others, reaps seven-fold,
treasures that can never be bought or sold
I was told, Life's treasures are to be found
beyond horizon's glow, far out of bounds!
I open up my chest
You see my beating heart
I sometimes wear it on my sleeve
If ever we're apart
I know I should be guarded
Protective of this flesh
But then again your gaze upon me
Rejuvinates to fresh
I open up my tiny realm
Allow you to step in
The veil between our worlds sometimes
Evaporates to thin
You see me when I'm naked
Clothed in nothing more
Than a garb of insecurity
Without asking for more
You see me when I battle
With the enemy inside
You see me in those moments
When I'm overcome with pride..
And all the while your kindness
Rekindles all that I am not
A treasure you uncover
Where an 'X' just marks the spot
Through the sand you dig relentless
On the island of my soul
To uncover wealth within me
Lift me up and make me whole
I hear the willows weeping
in the corners of my mind,
I feel the sand go slipping
through the hourglass of time.
I see the catfish whiskers,
more like tentacles, thick and black,
I sense the wasp nest growing
as I wait for their attack.
I watch the full moon rising
as the sun sets in the west,
I feel the thunder rolling
like a pounding in my chest.
I hear the barn owl's question,
though the answer no one knows,
as the spider weaves her magic
in the poison mistletoe.
©Danielle White
The time reads ten on the clock
and I take in hand my pen.
I pull up my chair to my makeshift desk
and begin removing books from the panel
so that I may lift it and peer into my chest.
One by one I move them, one and all,
the short and the tall.
Moby Dick, The Idiot, Republic, Walden
and Civil Disobedience, The Oxford Book
of American Verse, Alcoholics Anonymous,
The Divine Comedy, This Side of Paradise,
VITA NUOVA, Paradise Lost and Paradise
Regained, Selected Poetry and Prose of Poe,
The Audacity of Hope, and so on and so
on until not one was left not even the
Bible which had rested on their heads.
I opened my chest and went searching
for treasures of my past. Most
were trinkets I stored away like a pack rat.
I found little figures of pirates and
soldiers which I played with when a boy,
marbles and sand dollars, Chinese stars
and nun chucks, most were not even my favorite
toys. I saw yearbooks from middle school and
others from high school. I dared not crack their
spines for I felt not enough time has passed
yet. I found letters from Francheska, Lucy, and Jenny.
I saw pictures of Stephanie, Virginia, and Niki.
then I began to read poems from Nicole and
glanced at the time. It was already one twenty nine.
Alas, it was a nice trip to the past, but now it is time
to close the panel and resume to my books
and my work, for if my head stayed in my chest I
would surely go berserk!
Sigmund Freud
Father of psychoanalysis employed
Experimented with cocaine, hoping for fame
Instead got congested nose and chest pain
Treasure Chest of Memories
Cleaning out my closet a chore this is sure to be. A day at best to dig through this stuff packed and stacked to the ceiling. Now, where to start and what to keep! Might as well start here at the top and get moving.
What on earth was I thinking to bring this home, out it goes? This looks like a keeper; it goes over here. This is cute I think I’ll keep it too. When did I get this; I don’t even remember it must not be too important, it can go too.
Now for my treasure chest filled with special things. A breathless moment as I open the lid and spot things; treasures from my past. Oh so many beautiful memories packed in here and tucked safely away in my heart as well. Time slows down as I savor each moment in time each of these treasures brings back to me.
I can’t believe this, it’s still so beautiful. Oh my God just look at this; it was my baby girls! I will always have her in my heart and treasure chest too. This is perfect, I remember this too! I had hoped this day would never end. This was the most special thing ever given to me; I remember crying in secret with pure joy.
This cut through my heart and left such a scar, I knew life would never be the same! I can’t believe at times I survived my very own life. Tears now stinging, no falling down my face; partly joy, partly sadness! This treasure chest holds so many memories; none of which I can part with.
I know these will always be with me buried inside my heart and tucked inside this chest. My mind will always remember each one of these, some sad, some happy but all are mine to remember!
Debbie Knapp.
**
Each time I read God's Holy Book,
It's like a treasure chest.
You never know what you will find.
Until you look inside.
Each page is like a pure adventure.
Each word is a precious stone.
God always speaks the total truth.
His words breath of life.
This verse I saw had golden words.
A promise Oh, so true
Jesus said that He'd return.
And I will come for you.
So, keep this treasure in your heart.
I'll never let you down.
I'll reign with you forever more.
And heaven will be on earth.
Written on 4-7-2022
A Brian Strand Standard Contest
Sponsor: Brian Strand
~ 1st ~
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so,
shall we ever be with the Lord.”
“Wherefore comfort one another
with these words.