The Clearing Sale

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Neville Briggs
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The Clearing Sale

Post by Neville Briggs » Thu Nov 19, 2015 9:00 am

The Clearing Sale.


What am I bid, everything must be sold;
Deceased estate.

Lot No. 1. One carefully bound book of precious memories.
A fine lot, this.
It's no money for this treasure.
What am I bid.
Lot No. 2. One large crystal ball,
hand painted, rose coloured grand expectations.
Have a look, there's quality here,
Surely a lot of interest;
What am I bid.
Lot No. 3. Still in original box
golden opportunities, hall-marked 18 carat.
New condition, never used.
Could be yours to-day.
What am I bid.
Lot No. 4 One arts & crafts style bag of promises.
Some broken, sold as is.
Collectible surely.
What am I bid.
Lot no. 5. Miscellaneous shattered dreams.
With some work, a decorative lot.
A retro window perhaps.
What am I bid.
Lot No. 6. One pillow, Pure cotton, 5oo thread count.
Lots of age to this one,
Interesting patina of tear stains.
What am I bid.
Bid, bid, where's the bid, what am I bid.
Whose the bid, whose got a bid now.
Last edited by Neville Briggs on Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Shelley Hansen » Thu Nov 19, 2015 5:57 pm

Oh, I really, really like this, Neville. Definitely touched a very personal chord with me.

Cheers, Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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Bob Pacey
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Bob Pacey » Thu Nov 19, 2015 6:45 pm

Sorry personal chord got sold in the first lot ?
The purpose in life is to have fun.
After you grasp that everything else seems insignificant !!!

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Nov 19, 2015 8:48 pm

Always sad seeing a persons treasures sold off and considered by many to be trash. Farm clearance sales always choked me up - there were always bargains a plenty but you were buying someone elses life and the next sale could well be your own. Very sad times for some people when it comes down to auctions and clearance sales.

You captured that feeling well IMO Neville in your poem - the pillow was especially poignant.
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I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Neville Briggs
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Neville Briggs » Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:49 am

Thanks for the encouragement Shelley. personal chord is what poetry is about isn't it ? :)

Thanks Maureen. It's inevitable for all of us, what we have accumulated gets dispersed.


Never mind Bob , you have to cast your line where the fish are biting to catch anything. ;)
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Catherine Lee
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Catherine Lee » Fri Nov 20, 2015 2:33 pm

Ooh, this is very poignant Neville and I really like it. You have put the feeling across in a clever way, and like many others I can certainly relate, especially as I've been having a 'cull' of stuff lately and therefore thinking about just this sort of thing. Amongst all these items, the old pillow with the 500 thread count and interesting patina of tear stains is particularly moving.

Neville Briggs
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Neville Briggs » Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:36 pm

Thanks for the encouragement Catherine. :)
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Cropduster
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Cropduster » Sun Nov 22, 2015 5:25 am

Hey Neville, this is a really great piece of writing.

For me, it highlighted, in a very interesting way, the lack of interest of others in one's life - the memories, the missed opportunities, the hopes and dreams.

In the end, they are only of value to you - be they fond recollections or a series of regrets.

Loved it, Neville.

Neville Briggs
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Nov 22, 2015 6:28 am

Thanks Allan, great encouragement. You've got it. ;)
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

mummsie
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Re: The Clearing Sale

Post by mummsie » Sun Nov 22, 2015 7:45 am

Wow Neville, you keep writing pieces like this I could find myself visiting this part of the forum more frequently. Very thought provoking. Well done.

Sue
the door is always open, the kettles always on, my shoulders here to cry on, i'll not judge who's right or wrong.

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