Granddad's Room of Treasures.

Granddad had a front room
full of treasures

to your child’s eyes
from paintings of Madonnas

or other holies
to bowls of fruit

filling the room
with that applely smell

and vases
of all colours

and shapes
and only opened up

when Gran opened
the door on the way through

to the lounge
where your granddad sat

or when you managed
to steal a moment alone

while the elders
where busy

you opened the door
and gazed around

the room like
an Aladdin’s cave

the statues of spaniel dogs
or wiry cats

your ears listening
for the voices of the others

from the lower part
of the house

waiting in the doorway
your eyes wide

taking it all in
right down

to the smell of fruit
that filled the room

the half light
the dark shade

where another world
seemed to begin or end

until on hearing
your parent’s voice

or Granddad’s call
echoing along the hall.

Comments: 12

Angela A. Jan 8, 2013, 12:09pm UTC

Sounds like a treasure that kids would love

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Terry Collett Jan 9, 2013, 1:46am UTC

Thank you, Angela.

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Audrey Howitt Jan 8, 2013, 12:29pm UTC

A treasured memory? Lovely write!

Terry Collett Jan 8, 2013, 3:58pm UTC

Thank you, Audrey.

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Kevin E. Jan 8, 2013, 1:29pm UTC

More than any other poet I have ever read you have a way of catapulting childhood memories many that I had forgotten or thought that i had, to the forefront of my immediate thinking so much so that I have to really focus on reading your poem before my mind wanders to those wonderful memories. Thank you.

Terry Collett Jan 8, 2013, 3:58pm UTC

Thank you, Kevin.

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Bernard C. Jan 9, 2013, 2:20am UTC

Great recollection and memory especially those fruits and home bakes that went wafting through the house :-)

Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.

Terry Collett Jan 9, 2013, 1:56pm UTC

Thank you, Bernard

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Karen E. Jan 9, 2013, 3:27am UTC

You sure did "take it all in."

Terry Collett Jan 9, 2013, 1:57pm UTC

Thank you, Karen

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Ann Marcaida Jan 9, 2013, 10:44am UTC

It seems that at one time most houses had a formal living room from which children and animals were barred. Thank goodness for the invention of microfiber and other durable materials-- this practice is no longer necessary.

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists.

Terry Collett Jan 9, 2013, 1:59pm UTC

Thank you, Ann. We were told by granddad that we couldn't go upstairs because of the ghost...but that is another tale.

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Granddad's Room of Treasures.

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Comments: 12

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