Sundays meant one thing
in our house. Cleaning day.
Mother – hair in curlers,
head wrapped up in a scarf,
Ewbank sweeper at the ready,
Father, hiding in his shed. Me
and my sister memorising our text
for Sunday school. At four o-clock
when we’d get home – Liberace on TV,
Mum, beating hell out of the carpets
in the yard, and Dad, still hiding in his shed.
Sis and me, fetched him a cup of cocoa.
He’d stop what he was doing – stashing
things away when we came in.
He’d make us all kinds of surprises.
Doll’s houses, rocking horses –
even wooden scooters painted
pillar-box red. Years have flown,
as they do. Mum and Dad have both
passed on – Dad only recently,
and this afternoon, a tearful goodbye
to the family abode, with its soulful
‘Sold’ sign nailed to the fence. Time
the two of us cleared out his domain.
I catch my breath as I tap on the window.
Old habits surely do die hard. His stool,
his bench, the box he kept his tools in
warm yet, from the hands of their maker.
Comments
shoebox | December 4, 2008 - 00:51
I really enjoyed this sad, wistful poem. It's life though, isn't it? You have a very pleasant writing style. Cheers
Silver Spun Sand | December 4, 2008 - 08:48
Thanks so much, shoebox. You've quite made my day with your thoughtful and empathetic comment:-)
Tina
Bradene | December 4, 2008 - 11:24
It's such a sad task having to clear away someone's life, particularly if that person happens to be a beloved parent, I have done it several times now for my parents, in laws, and my Brother. It never gets easier, but it does invoke some wonderful memories that you may have thought lost forever. What a wonderful gift you have Tina for preserving those memories in words that are so evocative. Val x
Caolan_le_Paddy | December 4, 2008 - 12:22
Very sad and very good. Makes your think about how big the small things mean when their gone.
MistakenMagic | December 4, 2008 - 16:59
'I catch my breath as I tap on the window.
Old habits surely do die hard. '
- These lines said it all for me! A beautiful and moving poem Tina!
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | December 7, 2008 - 09:00
Thank you, Caolan. How right you are in what you say.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | December 7, 2008 - 09:01
Thank you, Magic. I really did take a trip down memory lane with this one.
Tina xxx