H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

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Maureen K Clifford
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H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:55 pm

I AM A KEEPER .. Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBarkPoet

In today's modern society where things are thrown away
and replaced with items bright, shiny and new,
I'm a keeper - for it's things that I have loved and shared for years
that are cherished by me now - there's quite a few.
There are the memories, not just mine but those of the family
and I keep these close, and every now and then,
I bring them out to share - to teach the young ones of their past
and the people whose lives shared some links with them.

On a garage peg a mouldy water bag that graced the bumper bar
of Dad's car, its leather straps weathered, and dry,
but it held life giving water and somehow always kept it cool
and on outback trips on it we would rely.
I've a hammer that I use - its timber handle is worn smooth,
the head firmly secured by wooden wedge,
Dad would just make do and mend rather than a penny spend
and a hammer these days isn't cutting edge.

There's a few pieces of jewellery, nothing priceless - nothing rare,
but each piece has a story to be told,
I am currently its keeper - it once graced my Grandma's neck,
thirteen matched amethyst stones set in white gold.
Then there's books - a family bible that my Father gave to me,
has inside its leather cover marked and worn,
the recorded family details - dates of birth and dates of death,
and to keep it in the family I was sworn.

There are albums full of photos - some quite small. When I was young
my old Dad had a box brownie, his delight.
And he took the family snapshots of his family and homes
and there's just a few that have survived all right.
All are labeled with the details so that no one will forget
who they are and where they were when they were captured.
and the pets are named as well because they were important too -
it took weeks to get these photos manufactured.


I've a powder compact of my Mother's - no longer in use
and the lid's engraved with pyramids and camels,
something that my Dad picked up when working on the ships,
a trinket purchased on his many travels.
When you opened it, it played a tune - a tinkly scratchy song,
the Blue Danube I recall - I think that's right.
And the scent of Mother's powder - it still sweetly lingers there,
though both Mum and Dad have passed into the night.


There were animals that others cast aside like detritus,
the old and weak, the sick, or just unloved
who all blossomed with the love that I so unstintingly gave,
sadly all have crossed the bridge leading above.
But I keep them in my heart and in the boxes on the bench,
where their ashes simply wait in quiet repose
for the day that I will join them, and we'll all travel once more,
to wherever the wind sends us I suppose.


Our lives are full of memories, some sweet and others cruel,
we can take them out and view them anytime,
sometimes we see a photograph - our mind travels back years
to when we were younger and in our prime.
Or when working in the kitchen, squeezing lemons in a press
we recall our Mother's hands at the same task,
using that same cut glass squeezer, making homemade lemonade
or perhaps a lemon cucumber face mask.


So perhaps the world needs keepers - those with the stories to tell,
with their feet firmly implanted on the earth,
who can tell the family histories, and recall all the names,
and can document it now for what it's worth.
For doubtless the generations in the future they will ask
about those who went before them - as we do
and it seems that I'm the one now who has taken on that task.
I'm the keeper - a job I'm happy to do.

1.7.2022
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by Shelley Hansen » Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:32 pm

Lots of memories captured in your poem, Maureen! My Mum also had a powder compact with a "desert scene" in relief on the lid.

Your poem reminds me of the lyrics in the song "Your Heart Will Lead You Home" from Disney's "Tigger Movie" -

Funny how a photograph can take you back in time
to places and embraces that you thought you'd left behind.
It's trying to remind you that you're not the only one -
no man is an island, when all is said and done.


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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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:49 pm

How lovely - Not having seen the Lion King I wasn't up with that verse but it says it all

Powder compacts were quite the thing in the day weren't they - I had several myself but down to one now. Don't actually know what happened to my Mums - she also had a beautiful one covered in Mother of Pearl shell - but neither my sister nor I have it - so who knows where they have gone. We are great movers, so doubtless over the years things have been lost. My dad was Master at Arms on the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth and every trip ended with little 'gifts' he picked up for his cheese and kisses and billy lids.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Catherine Lee
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Re: H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by Catherine Lee » Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:44 pm

Lovely, Maureen - we can all relate to this. I think I've mentioned before the wonderful group I joined during Covid called A Blast from the Past, through which so many priceless memories came back to me via the many and varied posts of items, scenes and customs long forgotten, from toys to sweets to TV programs and so on... The powder compact you mention brings back such clear memories of Mum's that I can almost smell it... Treasures and photographs we keep over the years evoke so much within us and are beyond price.

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Re: H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by mummsie » Sun Jul 03, 2022 1:08 pm

Oh so many memories evoked within upon reading this Maureen🙂 I can smell the compact, my mother had a few yet funnily enough I never knew her to wear make up such was her style( and Dads!) “mutton done up to look like lamb” he was known to quip😄 I have a few what some would say are priceless trinkets but to me they are gold; a small heart shape, stained glass in appearance piece of perspex with the word Love painted across the face that my now twenty seven year old granddaughter gifted me when she was four. It has a suction cup attached to the back which long ago lost it's suction so now holds pride of place in my momentoes cupboard-just one of the humble keepsakes that provoke a smile whenever I need a pick me up- heartwarming, as is your poem. Thank you for sharing Maureen.
Sue
Last edited by mummsie on Tue Jul 05, 2022 12:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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Re: H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by Ron » Mon Jul 04, 2022 12:06 pm

Enjoyed the read Maureen, and yes sadly when a lot of things go, they are gone forever!
In regard to the age in which we live, I think you summed it up nicely with your opening lines, and there setting the tone for the poem.
Also I can relate to a lot of other lines in your poem, and I especially like the line; 'Dad would just make do and mend rather than a penny spend'. For that is exactly how it was when I was growing up.
It was certainly a trip down memory lane,
Well done.
Ron

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Re: H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by Terry » Sat Jul 09, 2022 4:29 pm

Hi Maureen

Yes I'm a keeper to these days, hanging on to old and sometimes precious memories.
Photo's of people are a moment frozen in time, scene's may change but photo's of loved ones,
and friends or acquaintances will always be will always be there, as long as they survive.
It's really about what is precious to you - Loved your poem Maureen

Terry

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: H'work for July - I AM A KEEPER

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:31 am

Thank you everyone for reading and sharing such lovely comments - very much appreciated and I am heartened that this poem touched your hearts and renewed some lovely memories for you all as well.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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