Why I Buy Rags

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Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

0 posted 2002-05-31 12:54 PM

Eric's striped T-shirt, he wore at age five
with his Sear's Toughskin jeans, size six slim
its hard to believe he's been gone for two years
when his childhood clothes still wear his grin

a black T-shirt he wore at sixteen
with the name of a rock`n`roll band
wrapped in the teenage rebellion
of an adolescent Peter Pan

an infant romper of Victor's
with a baseball logo to show
his little boy-ness, he was so pretty back then
but that was twenty six years ago

he now cheers the New York Yankees
practices law in New York City
he wears ties and jackets to work
a handsome man, now no longer pretty

my late first husband's old flannel shirt
it's plaidness twinkling his hearty laugh
his spirit still there in the pocket
where his pen ripped the stitching in half

an old blue nightgown, I once loved so well
oh what memories still live in it's ragged lace
the fire of new amourous passions
and old married lover's tender embrace

I've saved all these things to clean up my house
they've stayed safe in their big plastic bag
patches of memories of family love
I can't dust with these...thats why I buy rags

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

[This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (05-31-2002 01:38 AM).]

my3monkeytoes
Member

since 2002-05-11

Posts 152
In the Carolina Breeze

1 posted 2002-05-31 01:53 AM

OOOOO...that gave me warm fuzzies! Imagine, the memories that the old, antique quilts hold. Maybe that's why I love them so well, even though they are not "my" memories, to know that they are embelished of history past. This is a very thoughtful poem & well-written. Thank you for that!

~Sydney McLean

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

2 posted 2002-05-31 02:32 AM

When I move, should I send you my rag bag?
I loved your Family Rags album and poetry. They all seem to fit together, as if they were meant to hang sid-by-side, forever. They are much more than mere "memories."

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius

since 2001-10-23

Posts 10549
By the Seaside

3 posted 2002-05-31 03:18 AM

Madame C~ This is simply beautiful.
I love your insightfulness into
the life of a chimpmunk and her time.

I especially enjoyed the way you ended this.

lots of hugs to you Lyra~

Marsha

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-10

Posts 7423
Maidstone Kent England

4 posted 2002-05-31 05:51 AM

Lyra my dearest friend this is outstanding writing, again you’ve painted the poetic picture, this is a snapshot of your beautiful memories painted in colours of fondest love. You really are an excellent writer darling girl, the silk smooth flow of this, the perfect tempo and rhythm it is excellent writing.

You know I often envy you your ability to write such utterly perfect poetry. But then it is rather like a candle being jealous of the sun, totally pointless. And I can at least you. This is going into my library I love it darling heart

I love this utterly utterly love it

Love and warm stuff
As always
Mushy

Breathe through the heat of our desire
Thy coolness and they balm
Let sense be dumb let flesh retire
Speak through the eathquake wind and fire
Oh

Toerag
Member Ascendant

since 1999-07-29

Posts 5622
Ala bam a

5 posted 2002-05-31 07:36 AM

I buy a bunch of rags...I have ten toes yanno. Nice write, valuable momentos, memories....

[This message has been edited by Toerag (05-31-2002 07:48 AM).]

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

6 posted 2002-05-31 07:45 AM

Lyra,
A soft and lovely write and you do it so well

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

7 posted 2002-05-31 07:47 AM

Memories locked solid in those articles.

I really like the delightful way you bring this around full circle.
Myself....I wear rags....but hell I'm comfortable!!

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

8 posted 2002-05-31 08:31 AM

(BIG HUGGGSSSSSSS) Oh Sue, sometimes I can't help but get overemotional over poems like these, I too have so many memories I never want to forget so I hold onto some stuffed animals and toys and things that I can give to my children if I ever have any in the future! (kiss on cheek) This is soooooo beautiful, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Lyra, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

9 posted 2002-05-31 08:54 AM

Lyra, this has to be my favourite from you now.
So heartfelt and full of love...
Enjoyed this piece so much.
~Hugs~

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

10 posted 2002-05-31 09:40 AM

Lyra, I do believe this is your best ever!!

I don't think I will do anything but buy rags
from now on....

Lots of memories in those clothes...

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

11 posted 2002-05-31 10:16 AM

Lyra

A memory is a special thing, you have kept yours alive in a wonderful way. This touched my heart, ya know...cause I have some momentos just like those.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

12 posted 2002-05-31 10:50 AM

I like this very much, Madame. *S* Keep buying those rags... cheesecloth is cheap... memories such as these are priceless. *S*

rofg @ 10 toes... buy the best, sweets. LOL

Dulcinea
Senior Member

since 2001-07-22

Posts 774
IN

13 posted 2002-05-31 10:56 AM

Oh, Lyra! ~~sniffle~~ Isn't amazing the memories we collect, and how we collect them? No dear lady, memories can never be used to wipe up the dust! Beautifully sentimental, made my eyes teary remembering some of my own...~~huge sigh~~ ((hugs))

Kethry
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-29

Posts 9082
Victoria Australia

14 posted 2002-05-31 11:06 AM

Lyra,
this is indeed a warm fuzzie moment. I have clothing from friends and family that I can't bear to part with. Thanks for sharing this.
Keth

Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown

catalinamoon

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-06-03

Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone

15 posted 2002-05-31 11:09 AM

Oh,I love this. I understand all of the memories. I kept a nighty I wore with my first love 25 years ago. Keep wishing for a reason to wear it again..

And keep dreaming, sometimes they are more than reality..at least for me.
Sandra

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

16 posted 2002-05-31 11:13 AM

Lyra...I have a friend that would take all those items and piece them into a quilt or wall hanging for her family...then they are keepsakes forever

hugsss
M

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

17 posted 2002-05-31 05:18 PM

Thanks so much for your reply, Sydney...I always used to use old clothing for rags, until I realized what treasures they really were. Now I have this big old ragbag that I won't let anyone else touch.

~ raggedy hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

18 posted 2002-05-31 05:20 PM

Thanks Kacy...Where are you moving to?

Please don't give me your rags, they are probably valuable to you.

~ ragamuffin hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

19 posted 2002-05-31 05:21 PM

Thanks so much, Lori...I bet you never knew before, that chipmunks were so sentimental.

~ chipmunk hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

20 posted 2002-05-31 05:22 PM

Oh thank you so much, Marsha...I am so glad that you enjoyed it...

~ raggedy chipmunk hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

21 posted 2002-05-31 05:23 PM

Thanks for your reply, Mr.Toe...do any of your 10 rags have sentimental value?

~ hugs from superchip

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

22 posted 2002-05-31 05:25 PM

Thanks so much, Sy...welcome to my rag kingdom....I mean princessdom

~ragged hugs from princess chipmunk

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

23 posted 2002-05-31 05:27 PM

Thanks so much, Eric...I actually like to wear rags once in a while also...it harkens back to my old hippie days...

~ hugs of comfortable rags

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

24 posted 2002-05-31 05:28 PM

Thanks so much, Noah...
It looks like you are a sentimental packrat like I am...but I am a sentimental chiprat...

~ stuffed animal hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

25 posted 2002-05-31 05:30 PM

Thanks so much for your reply, Nancy...and I am so glad that you enjoyed it. I was actually nervous about posting this poem because I was afraid it was too personal...and I also re-wrote it about a dozen times before I got it right...
so I am so glad for the appreciation.

~ ragged hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

26 posted 2002-05-31 05:33 PM

Thanks so much, Barry...Maybe I should send this to the company which manufactures those store bought rags...maybe they'll pay me something for it...

~ homegrown rag hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

27 posted 2002-05-31 05:35 PM

Thanks Dulcinea...I agree and thats why I just couldn't use any of these memories to clean up the dust...its also probably the reason why rags are even for sale now. When I first got married, there were no rags for sale...we always just had to use old clothing....

~sniffly hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

28 posted 2002-05-31 05:37 PM

Martie...I am always complimented when you enjoy one of my poems...and I am really glad that you enjoyed this one...as I mentioned to Nancy, I was a bit nervous about posting it.

~ hugs and then some more hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

29 posted 2002-05-31 05:39 PM

Thanks so much for your reply, Suthern...
Its certainly worth it to buy the rags and keep the momentos...but I have a whole closetful of my late first husband's clothing and I know I can't keep all of it because I need the closet space, so I am donating some of it to charity...I think he would probably want that.

~cheap cheesecloth hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

30 posted 2002-05-31 05:42 PM

Thanks so much, Keth...I really have that problem with my late first husband's whole closetful of clothes....I know I have to donate at least half of it to charity so that we can have the closet space, but I am having a very hard time with it.

~hugs of frustration and love

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

31 posted 2002-05-31 05:45 PM

Thanks Sandra...I know exactly what you mean....but my old nightgown is probably about a size 1 and it would look pretty silly on me now....I used to be so skinny back then.

~ hugs with memory

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

32 posted 2002-05-31 05:49 PM

Thanks so much, Maureen...I actually like them better the way they are...especially the little baby rompers, because its closer to the way it was when he wore them. But I do have an old antique tablecloth of my grandma's which is hanging on a wall in the stairwell. I love the tablecloth, but I never had a table it would fit...and then when we moved into this condo, we had this tall wall facing us going down the stairs to the family room and it just looked so blank, so I got the idea of folding it up and hanging over a dowel in that spot...now everyone asks me where I got the wall hanging from.....someday, I might write a poem about that.

~ patchwork hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

SmartChick
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-09-23

Posts 7081
On A Journey To The Unknown

33 posted 2002-05-31 09:04 PM

What a delightful trip down memory lane. Thank you for sharing this.

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

34 posted 2002-05-31 09:07 PM

Thanks so much, Sue...I'm so glad you enjoyed it....It was difficult and challanging to write because the memories kept getting to me...and I almost didn't post it because I was worried about it being too personal....but I'm glad I did.....

~ thank you hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

35 posted 2002-05-31 09:08 PM

I am so glad you have these keepsakes...I know I sometimes wish I could feel again the cloth I used when making several of my daughters' clothes...yes, I know you know...

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-05

Posts 8296
Michigan

36 posted 2002-05-31 11:11 PM

Thanks Karilea...Yes...I do know...
and when I moved into this condo, I almost threw them all out...
I'm so glad I didn't.

~ hugs with sweet old memories

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks

Titia Geertman
Member Ascendant

since 2001-05-07

Posts 5182
Netherlands

37 posted 2002-06-01 04:33 AM

I know exactly what you mean, I too can't get rid of special things they wore when they were little and even some of me own.

They're such good reminders of passed times.

Beautiful poem

Titia

A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess...
Check out my new website: lookheretitia.fcpages.com (I didn't 'link' this, so it won't take too much space).I

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

38 posted 2002-06-02 06:25 AM

well I got here late but I wanted to let you know I read and enjoyed!

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