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Open Poetry #42
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LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria

0 posted 2008-02-20 11:48 PM




                THE CLEARING SALE


At last the day had finally arrived in rough weather bleak and cold,
I gazed up at a brooding sky and  thought, will the weather hold,
A life of farming, stock and plant would all here be sold today
And when at last with the final bid, a lifetime swept away.

Age had finally made it’s mark and with health on the downhill slide,
The wife said we’ll have to sell and by the doctor’s orders you abide,
So nearly every day for several weeks I sorted through the sheds,
Drenching guns, tins of paint and some old time antique beds.

Forgotten trinkets came to light that I’d forgotten all about,
Things I’d bought at clearing sales that I thought were cheap no doubt.
Picks and shovels and thistle hoes and a man killing crosscut saw,
From some rusted old paint tins nuts & bolts rolled round the floor.

When through the stable door I passed the memories seemed to flow,
Hames and collars up on the wall and now they all must go,
Dolly, Diamond, Robin, Bell, each horse could pull a ton,
They done their share of heavy work as they all pulled as one.

On another peg up on the wall an old saddle showed its age,
Used long before the motor bike when the stock horse ruled the stage,
And I thought again of a trusty steed as I took his bridle off the nail,
A lump rose slowly in my throat but I knew the future must prevail.

As the years slowly passed we find that time will not stand still
And a Fergie tractor took the place of the horses jobs to fill,
With tractors came some different plant and a most useful carry-all
But a tractor is not like a horse who will answer to your call.

And down the track behind the barn the old hay-shed has the leans,
I remember the fun when chasing mice when we were in our teens,
From the dairy came the cans, milk machines and diesel motor,
For in the days we milked the cows we had a good sized quota.

At last I had all things laid out after hours of toil and grunting
For all the regulars at clearing sales, a bargain they’d be hunting,
And then the crowd began to come in trucks and cars and utes’
To take an early look at plant and tools and their many attributes.

Then right on the hour of ten in a voice quite loud and clear,
“Gather round all you good folks,” cried the voice of the auctioneer,
“I’ll read the terms then make a start so we can get out of the cold,
This is a genuine clearing sale as everything must be sold.”

The terms are read, the folk crowd in, a bargain there to claim,
The clerk said, “ Get your number at the office and register your name,”
“Who’ll give me a start,” cries the Auctioneer to the people crowding round,
“Hey Jack, what about you, this pile of wood will suit you down to the ground.”

The sale proceeds down each long row, a mixture of trash and treasure,
Some tins of paint, I watch them go and an old time six foot measure,
A four wheel trailer stacked with tools that had served me thru’ the years,
An old chain saw that was hard to start and often had me close to tears.

Then an electric grinder is held aloft, the bids come thick and fast,
It makes nearly as much as when I bought it new as the final bid is cast,
An old bird cage that’s showing it’s age for the bird long ago has flown,
Then the Auctioneer gets caught with a bid and puts in a bid of his own.

The dairy plant is next in line, I’m amazed at the price the milk cans make,
A collectors item they surely must be, for high price they’ve taken the cake,
But lots of things like chains and swings, only a pittance they have brought
And the harness of which I once was proud was not now so eagerly sort.

The furniture now is last in line, the wife is feeling quite tense I know,
She’s looked after it well since first it was bought all those many years ago,
The old leather couch from the living room, oh what a tale that it could tell
And even though it was showing its age it had certainly served us well.

A great stack of records, mostly 78’s that brought us all a joy untold,
A pathway down a long long road as I saw those bygone years unfold,
Then the Auctioneer when the end was near thanked all for coming today,
He said, “ I think we’ve had a bit of luck for the showers have kept away”

An hour or two and the crowd was gone and I felt so much alone
But I knew when we collected our cheque the amount would surely atone,
Now the wife and I must change our ways for we finally can retire,
For at last it is time to take a rest, for our farm we’ve found a buyer.

                                                                                                          

© Copyright 2008 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved
amusemi
Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262
A State of Disarray
1 posted 2008-02-21 12:03 PM


Incredible write
About their plight
I read with melancholy
And awakened sight

I think all of us fear that a tragedy will cause an upheaval in our lives and that all we cherish will dissipate into thin air.  At least they still have each other.  Great topic. Well done!

Magicmystery
Senior Member
since 2002-02-13
Posts 821
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
2 posted 2008-02-21 01:27 AM


What and incredible story. It brought back memories of my great-grandparents' farm. This is a MUST READ AGAIN for me. And so into my treasure chest it goes!

Sherry

PS I used to work for an auction company and that part too was vivid.

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
3 posted 2008-02-21 01:50 AM


Excellent emotional writing. Something we all have to face sooner or later. Enjoyed."late"
Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
4 posted 2008-02-21 02:31 AM


What a wonderful poem LP.
It truly touched my heart and I can certinly relate to it. It is very sad but  an inevitable part of our lives I guess.
I hope you and your wife will be happy and comfortable with your new start.
                                   Ida

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
5 posted 2008-02-21 04:01 AM


a pleasure to read this fine writing...reminded me of my feelings after reading a biography...the last chapter bittersweet...James
effjayel
Senior Member
since 2007-09-30
Posts 1474
At the Crossroads of Infinity
6 posted 2008-02-21 06:36 AM


Lindsay, an excellent piece so succinctly summed up ( can't believe I wrote that, but it's staying in !) My friend I was saddened as I read through it but on the 2nd reading, I began to smile...why? because now you will have more time to write more wondeful things to post on here....enjoy your retirement but I hope you did not sell all your writing implements because I'm watching & keeping count....

Have a good one,

Cheers

John

LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

7 posted 2008-02-21 07:20 AM


what an outstanding write, bittersweet story of someone's life...incredibly articulated....

well done!

Lee J.

simon
Member
since 2008-01-14
Posts 440
London, England
8 posted 2008-02-21 07:20 AM


Lindsey,

Loved this tribute to both an end & a beginning...

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
9 posted 2008-02-21 09:01 AM


Lindsay!

I enjoyed this wonderful emotion filled post!

Great Write

ARCTIC WIND

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
10 posted 2008-02-21 07:15 PM



To my wonderful PIP friends, Amusemi, Sherry, Late, Ida, James, John, Lee, Simon

and Arctic Wind, I didn't know whether I should post this one or not as I was unsure

whether anyone would be interested in my clearing sale. I was delighted to say the

least at your generous responses. thank you so much dear friends and may the sun shine upon you always. Take care.

Lindsay

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
11 posted 2008-02-23 04:28 AM


Lindsay... this is for sure a KEEPER! wonderful heartfelt write here my friend.. thank you .. love RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
12 posted 2008-02-23 07:14 AM


Reading this reminded me of when I was 12 and my Grandparents sold the farm to make way for a dam. If you haven't been through this yourself, you have a great empathy.  
It held my attention from start to finish. Gave me a smile here and there as I remembered helping clean up for our sale. Childhood memories can be wonderful things. Thanks for reminding me.

Dee

Stand straight and tall, not the reflection as others see you, but as you truely are.        Clearwater

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
13 posted 2008-02-23 07:15 AM


Ooops Forgot the library button.

Sorry I didn't read the replies or I would have known that you have been through this.

Dee

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
14 posted 2008-02-23 08:42 AM


On another peg up on the wall an old saddle showed its age,
Used long before the motor bike when the stock horse ruled the stage,
And I thought again of a trusty steed as I took his bridle off the nail,
A lump rose slowly in my throat but I knew the future must prevail.


Dear Lindsay, oh my, this is heartwrenching, yet such a wonderful write, a keeper yes! I can hardly type as I tremble within.

Everything will continue to exist within your hearts though. Memories last and accompany you now in your new life.

Wiping tears ...
love and hugs
Margherita

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
15 posted 2008-02-23 02:00 PM


LP, I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. What a difficult time that must have been for you and Norma. You wrote of your experience, exceptionally well and it was a ver y emotional read.

However, as I know that you have come to realize, that every cloud does have its silver lining! I have to remind myself of that fact, every once in awhile.

I was reminded of when my grandmother died and my parents had held an auction to sell everything off. To my chagrin, my parents decided to sell their house and to add their complete household in the auction as well! They were leaving for Florida for 6 months and when they returned they were buying a new house and putting everything brand new in it.

On the day of the auction, I bawled my eyes out. I saw my memories and our family heirlooms being carried off ~ and it pained me to no end. I have some understanding as to how you must have felt ~ Mind you, I do believe what you experienced was far more difficult because it also was the end of your way of life.

Whenever a poem affects me very deeply, I tend to get long-winded.

Love to you, Aussie Man!

Linda

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
16 posted 2008-02-23 09:30 PM



To have friends like you four, Roniece, Dee, Marherita and Linda makes me feel so

humble, and also very thankful to get such a glowing critique from you all.

Love and hugs to you dear friends and may the sun shine upon always.

Lindsay

Earl Brinkman
Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan
17 posted 2010-10-21 06:33 AM


One of the benefits of the internet is that gems like this poem can continue to attract readers like me.  Thank you.
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