Hidden Treasure
Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 9:00 am
Hidden Treasure
The cottage was old and derelict , the facia somewhat worn
the floorboards creaked and groaned beneath your feet.
I'd squeezed in through the broken gate and made my way inside
never knowing what adventure would I meet.
The squatters had been through the place they'd left no stone unturned
the fittings and the furniture picked clean.
My dreams of hidden treasure slowly disappeared into the dust
then my eye caught a flash of white from neath a screen.
I turned towards the rubble and the flash was there again
through a narrow opening in the buckled floor.
I moved the pile of timber and stacked it against the wall
then I lifted up the corner to explore.
There lying in the dirt and dust was a torn and tattered bag
with what looked like a bank emblem on its side.
I reached into the recess and pulled the corner of the cloth
eager to retrieve the hidden bounty there inside.
I had dreamed of hidden treasures lying there beneath the boards
the proceeds from some forgotten heist gone bye.
But what spilled onto the floor made me gasp in pure surprise
and I felt the tears swell quickly in my eye.
There on the floor before me lay a torn and tattered doll
one eye closed but still a smile upon its face.
Though it showed the ravages of time I could see it had been loved
by a young girl in some other time and place.
I simply sat a while in silence staring at its piecing gaze
thinking how to leave it must have caused such hurt.
Was it hidden by some orphan or simply stored away
or forgotten there amongst the dust and dirt.
I wrapped it in my tee shirt and placed it back into the hole
replaced the rubble as if I was in a trance.
I stepped back out through the broken gate then wiped away my tears
then walked down the street without a backwards glance.
Bob Pacey (C)
The cottage was old and derelict , the facia somewhat worn
the floorboards creaked and groaned beneath your feet.
I'd squeezed in through the broken gate and made my way inside
never knowing what adventure would I meet.
The squatters had been through the place they'd left no stone unturned
the fittings and the furniture picked clean.
My dreams of hidden treasure slowly disappeared into the dust
then my eye caught a flash of white from neath a screen.
I turned towards the rubble and the flash was there again
through a narrow opening in the buckled floor.
I moved the pile of timber and stacked it against the wall
then I lifted up the corner to explore.
There lying in the dirt and dust was a torn and tattered bag
with what looked like a bank emblem on its side.
I reached into the recess and pulled the corner of the cloth
eager to retrieve the hidden bounty there inside.
I had dreamed of hidden treasures lying there beneath the boards
the proceeds from some forgotten heist gone bye.
But what spilled onto the floor made me gasp in pure surprise
and I felt the tears swell quickly in my eye.
There on the floor before me lay a torn and tattered doll
one eye closed but still a smile upon its face.
Though it showed the ravages of time I could see it had been loved
by a young girl in some other time and place.
I simply sat a while in silence staring at its piecing gaze
thinking how to leave it must have caused such hurt.
Was it hidden by some orphan or simply stored away
or forgotten there amongst the dust and dirt.
I wrapped it in my tee shirt and placed it back into the hole
replaced the rubble as if I was in a trance.
I stepped back out through the broken gate then wiped away my tears
then walked down the street without a backwards glance.
Bob Pacey (C)
I think childrens toys that we sometimes find cast aside like this do evoke memories and start us to wondering of the story behind them. Probably just as well the bag wasn't full of bank notes the temptation might have too great 
Just a thought - would weather worn work better perhaps than crumpled in the cottage description? Crumpled didn't really do it for me as I would think it was too 'soft' a word for what you are describing but thats only my thoughts - use or lose as you choose. 