I am selling my past
on ebay
to the highest bidder.
My son insists on calling it
de-cluttering.
He reminds me:
they’re only
things.
Packed neatly in yesterday’s box
I find an old Hummel,
“für Mutter” for
mother
along with a card
from my dad,
his penmanship was still perfect
when he wrote:
To Mary, for
your first
Mother’s Day.
Love, Dad
xoxo
I hand over the statue
and put the note in my desk.
This is for IGRT, where Shay has asked us to write, "a poem that includes a letter, or stamps, or a mailbox, or a mail person." It's also posted at dVerse, where Claudia asks us to write about emotion without mentioning the emotion directly. And finally, this is my #4 poem for PAD. Click on the links and check them out!
Such a wealth of kindness is contained in those words from father to daughter. I wonder how many people take the time today.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I was very fortunate.
Deleteawww...what a cool note to find...
ReplyDeleteits not easy letting go of those memories..
i def feel better decluttering though
in the after...smiles.
Thanks Brian. And you're right, it's a freeing feeling to get rid of stuff...esp. if it goes to some place where it can help others, Good Will, etc.
DeleteSome things hold more meaning than others. But she's right, only things.
ReplyDeleteMinimizing is such a challenge, albeit an unfettering experience. I have done the same over the past year and miss none of the material possessions. I appreciate the emotion you evoke here.
ReplyDeleteSo hard to let go of those things.....you will always have the note :)
ReplyDeletemy mom used to have a hummel figure - and when i was a kid i broke it... just a twig where the girl sat on or sth.. but my mom didn't want to throw it away cause there were also precious memories connected to it...
ReplyDeletesuch things are not 'things' only they have become precious over time....but what to do?..sigh.....letting
ReplyDeletego is hard...beautiful lines..
Yes, it is. Thank you Sumana.
DeleteSentiments live on, but sometimes we need those touchstones to see their edges~
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
Yes, sometimes we do. Thanks Ella.
DeleteThe opening lines are so cool! I really like this.
ReplyDeleteThanks MZ!
DeleteOh how poignant this is, Mary. Such a wonderful note from your dad. Such a wonderful dad!
ReplyDeleteYes, he was a terrific dad. The best.
Deletehaving just moved, I appreciate the de-cluttering, but perhaps am too nostalgic to have rid myself of all the mementos. yes, poignant ~
ReplyDeleteIt's a sort of two-edged thing. Thanks M.
DeleteNotes like this are the sweet memories of our lives. The other things are just things.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
DeleteThis goes to prove that the best way to capture feelings is storytelling.. focusing on the figure and the card (and the handwriting).. this is almost a whole life's story packed into a few words and sentences..
ReplyDeleteThanks Bjorn.
DeletePerfect snapshot, Mary I love the focus on detail which brings everything home--the perfect penmanship, the relationships of father-daughter-mother -daughter, all woven tight and kept in the symbol of the note. Some things we do need to keep.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joy. I always appreciate your insightful comments.
DeleteSome things need to go, some things need to be kept as precious memories ~ I love the personal share ~ Thanks Mary ~
ReplyDeleteGrace
Thank you Grace. x
DeleteHi Mary, I think you and I might have that same Hummel! Smiles. I guess I should think about eBay when I am decluttering.
ReplyDeleteHa - it must be a ' Mary thing' :o) My son, actually, not my daughter is posting things for me. And I talked him into it, if truth be told. But that was before I ran across this find!
DeleteIt is so hard to let go of things, but words are harder for me. I have boxes of letters and cards I just can't part with yet....Beautiful piece
ReplyDeleteThank you Susie. x
DeleteI commented on PA, but just had to let you know again how much I like this one. So glad you kept the note. That's priceless.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie, I really appreciate it.
DeleteI love the clever way you divided your title into two words, and the touching story behind the Hummel figurine.
ReplyDeleteThank you Shay. What a great prompt. I wrote three different poems about three different letters/notes before this one! :o)
DeleteIt's beautiful, nostalgic, and sad.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charleen.
DeleteIt is hard to let go of things that have sentimental value..
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is.
DeleteIt can be hard letting go of things, especially when they come with memories. I love that you get to keep the letter that was with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathryn. I do think that was the most important part.
DeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteThe words always get to you. Always.
Loved this little capsule of memory.
Yes, always. Thank you.
DeleteI would have followed it right out the door. It's things like that one must always keep. Give away old glasses, flower pots, cooking things that are never used but never cherished keepsakes - at least not for me. This truly touched me.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Gay. x
DeleteLovely poem, Mary. The piece kept was the note rather than the figurine.
ReplyDeleteThank you Heidi. :o)
Delete…It's the note that made it so very special - This is so very tender. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret. x
Delete