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Open Poetry #40
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Mothballs and Lavender
| Open Poetry #40 |
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Mothballs and Lavender |
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ivordavies Senior Member
since 2007-01-10
Posts 739Chester, England 
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Mothballs and Lavender There’s a rug on the hearth and a fire in the grate, Grandma and Grandad, sitting with me to wait. While the black-leaded oven is cooking our tea, Of ‘tatty-ash’ stew, made especially for me. We’re red hot on our fronts, but cold on our backs, Drafts round our feet, as the fire draws air back But we’re warm in our hearts and as cosy as toast, For dinner we’d all shared, Gran’s tasty beef roast. I can stay for the weekend, and will sleep here you see, On my own, in the spare room, when I’ve had my tea. There’s real flannel sheets and a big comfy bed, With soft feather pillows to lay down my head. When I’ve eaten my tea, Gran will take me upstairs, And wait by my side, while I’m saying my prayers. She’ll tuck in my blankets and kiss me goodnight, And wish me ‘God Bless’, and then bid me sleep tight. The sweet smell of lavender rests on the air, From the bunches my Grandma has hung everywhere. But I know if I open the drawers by the walls, I’ll wrinkle my nose, from the smell of mothballs. I lay here and think of good things while I rest, At home, my own bedroom is one of the best. A computer and tele’, and my own phone as well, Why is it Gran’s house then, can cast such a spell? I know everyone loves me, both here and at home, But staying at Grandma’s, makes me feel quite grown. I find when I’m here, then I do not run wild, And they never treat me, like I was a child. The thing I’ve decided that I like most here, Is the feeling I’m safe and have nothing to fear. The way they both speak, in a soft gentle tone. It’s much quieter here, than it is back at home. But the thing I love best when I’m lying in bed, Is the smell of the room, that floats all round my head. Yes, the smell of the lavender, Gran hangs on the walls, And the smell from the drawers, of my Grandad’s mothballs! Ivor G Davies The moment created this second, is a moment that's going to last. It lives the full spectrum of time, the future, the present and past. [This message has been edited by ivordavies (01-18-2007 05:08 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2007 Ivor G Davies - All Rights Reserved | |||
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trutodaraiders Senior Member
since 2006-12-02
Posts 820CA |
Ivor wonderful poem here..You did a superb job on this poem in whole. A great story that was done in excellence. Kudos my friend ~Bill |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
wonderful memories! |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
ivordavies Well done enjoyed the read. |
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ivordavies Senior Member
since 2007-01-10
Posts 739Chester, England |
Thank you all again for reading, this is from a while ago and I've read it quite a few times but I just noticed an error and have edited it! One line said: 'I'll lay here and think of the things I like best' giving an awful attempted rhyme of 'best and best' I would have spotted that in anybody else work, so why is it that I am so blind to my own work? Thanks once again, Seymour you must be old enough to relate to this? (LOL) Ivor The moment created this second, is a moment that's going to last. |
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Nightshade 
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
This made me think of spending weekends at my grandparents home. Sweet memories and scents that I dearly miss. Thankyou for sharing. hugs, Chris Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. |
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Beatrice Boyle Member
since 2006-12-06
Posts 438 |
Love this Ivor...I don't think anyone hangs lavender anymore...what a shame! There are so many childhood memories that our generation can share (including you baby boomers) that youngsters today have no idea about. Bea |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
delightful Ivor love these memories... |
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Fairplay Member
since 2007-01-15
Posts 222England |
You Lucky Devil Ivor I had to share a bedroom with my grandma … Granddad had passed away earlier, you were probably in the good bedroom with the other five brothers and two sisters My memories were of mentholated spirits or whatever Gran rubbed on her legs, the cold bedroom with the defunct gas- lights from earlier years…. The chamber pot under the bed (Toilet out in the backyard cold wet and quite frightening at night) I can almost feel the damp bed and grans arthritis in my bones as I write. I do however also remember the soft Manchester water and grans soft soft hands. Then there was Uncle with the missing plug from the air bed….. Eric |
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ivordavies Senior Member
since 2007-01-10
Posts 739Chester, England |
Nightshade, Bea, The Lady, If this brings back memories I take it none of you are still in your teens! Eric These memories go back to a time when my Grandad was alive and I was the favorite, I don't know about the lucky but a lot of people have attributed my work to the Devil! Bea, My love of Lavender has probably remained with me because of these memories, not too keen on the mothballs though but isn't smell supposed to be the most active sense to the memory? Ivor The moment created this second, is a moment that's going to last. |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
For me, it was always the smell of lilacs at grandmothers house. Very nicely written Ivor!! |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
Ivor... wonderful words here.. I was taken on a journey from start to finish and relished every word.. grandparents are the best aren't they! just lovely! RDB Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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ivordavies Senior Member
since 2007-01-10
Posts 739Chester, England |
Gentle Spirit, RDB, Thank you for reviewing this, I feel that a lot of the past has been somehow lost in the rush of today (or am I just getting older?). Ivor |
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