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The Letters

Posted by sunshine on July 31, 2009 - 08:07
from the ABC set Moments and Memories

I’m a hoarder and I know it’s genetic.
My father left reams of strong brown paper,
a legacy from every package ever opened;
plastic cups from Great Western station buffets,
for growing seedlings, which he never bought,
and tiny, useless bits of string
from tying climbing roses to lattice by the door.

I, meanwhile, have every love letter
from all the boys and fewer men
who courted me, or I them.
Letters written on pale Basildon Bond,
or cream vellum with feint watermarks,
and decorated pages torn carefully
from sketchbooks marked with paint.
There’s one, which I so treasure,
written on a ten bob note and signed
with big bold kisses in black marker pen.

Letters from you on airmail paper are gathered
in little blue bundles with sweet Valentines,
and other tokens; notes on ticket stubs and Rizzlas.
Then there are the apologies and desperate pleas
scrawled on scraps found in your pockets late at night.
All of these, the jetsam from our years together,
are packed tightly in a battered cardboard box
marked ‘Fragile – This Way Up’.
What will the things I leave behind
say to those who find them?

Discuss this piece in the abctales forum


Comments

Beeme | July 31, 2009 - 08:26

I really enjoyed this poem Sunshine. The imagery is great and it's a lovely poem. The last question captures the message behind the whole poem for me, which I found very clever. :)

I loved these lines:
'for growing seedlings, which he never bought,
and tiny, useless bits of string
from tying climbing roses to lattice by the door.'

and
'who courted me, or I them.'

Beeme xx

threeleafshamrock | July 31, 2009 - 09:32

Lovely piece, as usual. Beeme picked out the same lines that brought a smile to my face - my father had the same habit but actually did use them, or anything else that he could find.
The last two lines pose the age-old question; I have often wondered the same myself ;)

Chris XX

Silver Spun Sand | July 31, 2009 - 10:18

Wonderful stuff. I too could relate with almost every line and as to the last two, Chris is right...It is an age old question.

Much enjoyed.

Tina x

sarah wilson | July 31, 2009 - 10:44

I really enjoyed:)
sarah x

insertponceyfre... | July 31, 2009 - 12:22

hoarders rule! I love this poem margot : )

sunshine | July 31, 2009 - 14:43

Ahh, welcome to all you fellow hoarders - how comforting to find I'm understood and not alone. "hello, my name is Margot and I'm a hoarder".

Thank you for all the comments, much appreciated as always.

ankari | August 1, 2009 - 11:01

This is a beautiful poem and I love the way you change the angle the poem so simply throughout, it makes it all the more interesting! I agree with those above me, this is an age old question- what will the people after me make of this museum of memories that i have built myself? ankari x

sunshine | August 1, 2009 - 20:37

Museum of memories - exactly. Thanks Ankari. Margot

sunshine | August 17, 2009 - 19:34

Thankyou so much for making this poem of the week and for your lovely generous comments Tony.

penandpaperdreams | March 23, 2010 - 10:05

I loved this poem and I too am a hoarder - I get sentimental over the same things, bus tickets scraps of notes etc...can related to this poem completely. Brilliant read, well done :)

Rachel xx