Discovered old postcards

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 12 Aug 2025
  • 99 reads
12 comments
 

My sister found a pile of postcards –
some to me, some written by me, unposted,
over sixty years old.
Many memories, some mysterious
(who was that friend?)
Some good reminders of sisterly and parental affection..
Many from holidays. – No internet in those days.
– Postcards – a quick way of keeping in touch.
Some forwarded to holiday addresses!
One friend rather formal (the postman can read it!).
Some like me, squeezing in so much.

One – writing very faint – a birthday greeting (9 years old)
in verse from my father.
Tiny writing at the top – a funny verse about our dog
with a pun relating to the fact that their
food product sounded
like a famous Welsh phrase.

Then, something like (loose translation):

Nine now and growing quickly,
wiser now than yesterday 
Were eight, ten to be
See how the days fly away

Eight tender years behind you,
many more to come,
We desire for your happiness –
unclouded fun.

with all our love …

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Love
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Tom Brown on

collecting postcards

Rhiannon when I was in school I collected postcards my mother helped me find penpals overseas to write and swop and that. The one man was in Russia he was in a bit of danger actually, remember it was in the time of the cold war this was illegal in communist Russia.

I don't know where they are it's a pity, would be interesting. Beautiful little verse your dad must be very clever!

See you! Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Tom. A lot of people collect old postcards and I think we must have long ago got rid of a pile my husband had collected. 

My father was good with words, and the verse is touching because it is so obviously genuine, and at ease in his rleationsihip with me, his 'little girl'! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Loved this connection with your past Rhiannon. Long live those postcard memories. I kept all mine and keep them close, reading and smiling at those precious memories of the travels and people that I knew at the time,

Gorgeous bit of nostalga.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jenny. These were such a surprise and quite an odd mixture, including some I'd written but not posted, and some my children had written in big letters with help to their gran (Welsh: Mamgu).

Mum was a hoarder and my sister took over quite a lot of stuff she found in the house and has been very slow examining a lot of it! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

How lovely to find such a treasure, out of the blue! Your Father's poem so full of love. I am glad to hear you filled your postcards all up, as I used to, also :0)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

thanks! yes, once started I always had so much to say! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Yes, treasured, indeed! Nolan &

 

Submitted by marandina on

'Many from holidays. – No internet in those days.'

A treasure trove captured so eloquently.

My father-in-law is an avid postcard collector.

Effectively...historical documents. A story to be told on each one.

A journey-in-time of a poem, Rhiannon. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you! Yes, those who snspped up packs of old postcards from charity shops may have found many intriguing 'stories' - as long as they weren't just formal! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

One would always be very glad to recieve such a postcard, someone thought of you! I have some too, even from a girl or so from school I never thought they'd like me, from overseas work, holidays and such.

There are some very treasured, and even now I say, "Thank-You!"

Keep well, good health and happiness! Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, something coming through the door, to be read at leisure seems rather different to the constatnt short messages that seem to flash back and for on social media often these days. The took trouble and money to send, took time to arrive, and were kept and read as not so many of them! Rhiannon