Tuesday 18 September 2012

Wonderment


At first glance you may have passed
that dusty box plain rusted
with nails that clasped fixing
an ornamental lock
that should have fastened with a bolt
but that had been long gone
along with the years
when he'd guarded it close
I always in wonderment what it had held
but this was a part of house and estate
and intrepidly now I reached up to take
but still I could not bring to task
to opening up that deep wooden cask
Not too large I decided to polish the grain
waxing I rubbed to glisten again
and there it sat for the whole of the day
with me staring hard wondering what way
I could steal myself to prise open the lid
but there was no other way ~ I clicked
the clasp ~ the lid sprang open and I could see at last
inside that dusty old box ~ was completely empty and clear
puzzled I knocked onto each of the walls nothing concealed
no hidden stalls ~ but wait ~ I see there's a corner upturned
I pulled at the edge as the floor gave way ~ a velvet cloth ~
seemed hidden ~ swathed in threads of silvery gold ~ I untied
the pouch from days of old ~ and there before my widened eyes ~
the biggest surprise of my life ~ chippings of diamonds, emeralds and pearls, rubies and sapphires and one of my curls ~ but the richest of these I can say from the heart ~ was the childhood treasure ~ that he clearly wouldn't part. 

9 comments:

  1. I was afraid at first this would be one of those Pandora experiences. But no...it's a lovely tribute to memories of charm and love...all beloonging almost to another age, stored safely in an attic for you to peruse and remember. Lovely, Lib!

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    1. Thanks Jacquie, really pleased you enjoyed it - and quite true about that curl - a friend found one of her long plaits that her Mum had kept from when she had her hair cut into a shorter style - had no idea - hugs Lib

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  2. aww nice..this is lovely...love what you found...and love also the whole process of the opening, the polishing it outside first, the tension, being a little afraid..the disappointment and then...lovely..

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  3. smiles...commented at your other place..wish i would have seen it here as it is much easier to comment here...smiles...hope you are well...

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    1. yes, tried to retrieve but couldn't :( thankyou so much for stopping by x x lib

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  4. The value of what cannot be replaced, true treasure. You build to the reveal well and I enjoyed feeling the anticipation, nicely done!

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    1. thanks Anna glad you enjoyed this piece x Lib

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  5. Not all mysteries should be solved. Wonderfully rich and melancholic write. I'm glad I experienced your poem this morning.

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