. . . packed away memories
slowly, carefully unwrapped.
Mother’s paper-thin pink glass bell.
Father’s airplane ornament
one clipped wing, hangs askew.
Brother’s cardboard Santa.
Crayoned red suit and black boots,
thinning cotton-puff beard and cuffs.
His first grade art project
crafted near eighty years ago.
You three sleep eternally
warmed in earth’s loving arms.
But each holiday season
you live with me again,
if only atop my Christmas tree.
Merril hosts Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for global poets. Her prompt for today: “write about any object – a family heirloom, a museum piece, a monument, or a palace. The choice is yours, but there must be some link to history and the past.” The bell and airplane are 90+ years old.
Pub opens at 3 PM Boston time. Come join us!
lillian the home poet 
Great Santa. How nice that he’s still around
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I’m always so careful packing him away….and even more so the other two which are so delicate and fragile. I always smile when I take them out each year.
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This brought a tear to my eye, Lillian. These are true family heirlooms. How wonderful that you managed to keep them for so long!
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The bell and airplane are the ones I am so very very careful with. Especially the bell. Truly fragile. I always smile when I take them out each year. It brings my mom, dad, and brother home to share Christmas with me each year.
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So beautiful!
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An emotional read, real intimate poem…
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I always breathe a sigh of relief when I hang them on the tree each year….the plane and bell are so very fragile.
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Those last lines made me a bit teary-eyed, Lillian!
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Awwww…
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So well written, heartfelt and personal. 90 holidays these ornaments have lasted. How did you keep them out of the clutches of grandchildren?
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Memories so precious! ❤
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Luv that these cherished memories warm you at Christmas.
Thanks for dropping by to.read mine
Much💜love
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This is a beautiful passionate poem, Lillian! I love getting out the memorable ornaments each Christmas.
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How sweet and affectionate memories you adore of your immediate three relatives!
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Memories unwrapped as delicately and lovingly as the ornaments are.
Pax,
Dora
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Lillian, I cannot imagine how much you cherish these artifacts that connect you to your loved ones that have passed on. Your care of them is appreciated ❤
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how? How did you save it for such a long time?
❤
David
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I wanna ask the same question! The oldest object I’ve been able to preserve is a 10-month old poem… 😦 but nicely penned!
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They bring back memories of memories, don’t they? When I was a child we had a few old glass decorations that had belonged to my mother when she was a child. They were special, magical, even though the memories weren’t mine.
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Beautiful-
Sent from my iPhone
>
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Your Santa looks great, not that old. I have a couple of G-ma’s bulbs that are probably that old. My fav thing is unwrapping ornaments.
Thanks for sharing yours.
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what a delightful way to remember your loved ones … these personal trinkets mean more than a photo!
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As I read your beautiful poem I looked at my bookshelves — the pocket watch my father carried, the blown glass bird from my mother’s collection, the clock my father won in a carnival shooting gallery . We all have these touchstones of the past, don’t we?
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I had lost contact with all those things… I did let it all go, but I can see and remember the stories… I am glad you still have them and know their story.
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You remind me of a suitcase I lost in the process of moving house – packed with Xmas decorations. I vividly remember the Baby Jesus crib & other idols, a card in the shape of a hut and tree decorations chosen carefully.
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A lovely, touching, and sentimental poem about memories so many of us share. Well chosen.
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What cherished heirlooms! I am sure they bring you so much joy, year afer year.
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I love this! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
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These are wonderful keepsakes, always a reminder of people you cherish.
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Lillian – May the joy of the season fill your heart here at the closing if the year 2021, and may peace abide in 2022. This is a most difficult time for our planet earth, and a time of turmoil for its peoples. May 2022 begin the way back! ✌🏼❤️🌎
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