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SPIRIT
Senior Member
since 2002-12-29
Posts 1745
California Desert

0 posted 2004-06-27 08:59 PM



The Prize

The old man died,
It had been expected...
Four sons and two daughters
Quickly moved in
To ‘take care’ of business.

His thrift shop
That sat in the middle
Of a graffiti splattered block,
Within the poorest part of town,
Would be sorely missed,
Once gone.

For nearly fifty years
The old man ran his business;
Giving away for free
As much, if not more…
Than he sold.
He was considered
A patriarch of the community.
A most diverse neighborhood,
Of Immigrants from all over,
A real League of Nations.

I live opposite the thrift ship,
I have no relatives that I know of,
And although I could afford
Far better living quarters,
I am at home here.
Everyone knows my name,
They treat me with respect,
And I am invited
Into their homes and hearts.

My past is of no importance
To these kind people,
And I appreciate that.
The walls of my small flat,
Are comforting…a haven,
I have been here twelve years.
Before that I was housed
Behind bars…as a juvenile
And as a young man.
Too much time on my hands,
And more temptation
Than I could handle,
Constantly landed me
Where I did not need to be.

I am surrounded by my books,
And a zillion magazines.
I am an author of two best-selling books,
And a freelance journalist.
I share my flat with Emily,
My fiancé and best friend,
And two Siamese cats.
Emily and the cats
Came as a packaged deal.
Life is very good.

The thrift shop has been the site
Of the biggest and best
Scavenger hunt… ever known.
I waited until the end time,
Not needing or wanting anything
But curious, to see what I might find,
Within the nooks and crannies
Of the old building,
To see what treasures
Maybe, had been overlooked.

The shelves were pretty much empty,
But for some reason I felt compelled
As if I was searching for something,
But I didn’t know what.
In a back room thrown in a corner,
Covered with old newspapers
Was a worse for wear cardboard box,
Without a doubt I knew this was
What I needed to find, and to have.

I took the box up front,
Showed it to Loretta,
One of the daughters
And asked “How much?“
She looked inside
Didn’t recognize anything
And told me, I could take it
No charge!

The doors were closing,
At the end of the week
Everything needed to be gone.
I ran across the street
With my treasure,
My heart pounding so loud
In my chest…I was surprised
Everyone else could not hear it.

I put the box down, excitedly
In the middle of the room.
Pulled down two big pillows from the couch
And called for Em to come and join me
On the floor, and look at my prize.

She looked surprised
When she saw the box,
Even more so when she saw
It was filled...with nothing
But old pictures, newspaper clippings,
Postcards and other paper
Souvenirs of years long past.

“This is my new book Em,
My next best-seller.
Can’t you see it?
This is a box filled
With life and memories.
Shouldn’t be cast aside
As if these people didn’t exist,
This is my next book.
This assuages my need
For inspiration.”

So many pictures,
Obviously all connected,
School records, dance cards,
Autographed menus,
Graduation notices and
Hand-painted napkins.
Even an old autograph book
Filled with childish doggerel.
News of the Civil War,
Obituary notices
Baby books with locks of hair
And christening notices.
Someone had cherished their life,
Kept every memento
And now this bounty,
Well over a hundred years later
Was in my hands.
I would bring those past,
Back into the present
To give them life once again.

At the bottom of the box.
Layered between cardboard pieces
Was the prize to top all prizes.
A beautiful large photograph
That someone who cared,
Had lovingly hand painted
In exquisite water-colors.
The man bearded, possibly
Late forties, early fifties
Sat on a stool, holding
A well-crafted walking staff
Of considerable length.
Dressed in grey tweed
He was flaunting the air
Of a country gentleman.

Behind him, proudly stood
His wife, one hand
Somewhat possessively
On his shoulder.
At her side a well-played guitar,
(Obviously music lovers
Was my first thought).
Her black pinafore type dress,
Crisscrossed with large white lines
Was over many petticoats,
And a small straw hat sat jauntily,
Atop a head of coiled long hair,
Black and luxurious.
They were back-dropped against
Sepia toned clouds within
A photographer’s studio.

On the back, barely discernible
The words Momma and Poppa and a date
Eighteen hundred and ?
It will not be a mystery for long
Once I start researching
For my next literary challenge.

******************
All of a sudden
I have relatives.
If you come to my apartment
You will see.

On the wall, over the couch
Beautifully matted and in gold frame
Hangs a magnificent picture,
Of a man and a woman.
Also complimenting this,
Are smaller framed pictures
Of the same couple
And their family.
In shadow boxes are displayed
Mixed medleys of dance cards,
Menus, and graduation invites.
Another larger shadow box
Holds my new best seller,
Simply titled
Instant Relatives


© Copyright 2004 das - All Rights Reserved
Trillium
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098
Idaho, USA
1 posted 2004-06-27 11:24 PM


SPIRIT:  You are truly inspired!  This is just wonderful and I love it!

Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Joyce Johnson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912
Washington State
2 posted 2004-06-28 11:47 AM


This kept me intrigued to the very end.  Great imagry and insight.  Loved it.  Joyce
Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2004-06-28 03:17 PM


SPIRIT~
This is a totally fascinating piece~
The sentimental softie in me enjoyed the word-pictures it painted~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

noles1@totcon.com

SPIRIT
Senior Member
since 2002-12-29
Posts 1745
California Desert
4 posted 2004-07-06 01:24 AM


Thank you - I appreciate the kindness of your replies.
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