Rallentanda
Friday, December 7, 2018
In The Bleak Midwinter : Choir of Kings College, Cambridge
it's the first time
i have been back
to the ghosts of my past
to that house
in the shadow of the cathedral
and its bells
i stare up at the french doors
thinking of the big bed
with the satin pink duvet
which I loved diving into
i remember
the great aunts
the aunts
the uncles
the dogs
the cats
the canaries
all gone
i remember
the christmas tree under the stairs
near the treadle sewing machine
nana and mummy bustling in aprons
bickering
cooking this baking that
lace table cloths and the fine glassware
brought out for special occasions
quando quando schmaltzy music
laughter
popping corks
all gone
the excitement of
the whole family
walking to midnight mass
hats and gloves best clothes
looking forward to
sauterne and christmas cake afterwards
still fresh in my memory
it was my home
these selfless lovely people
were my safe world
the only time in my life
i have felt truly loved
their progeny with all the
privileges and education
cannot hold a candle to them
the best part of me left with them
Wordy Thursday With Wild Woman. Homecoming
Imaginary Garden With Real Toads
Poetry Pantry #432 Poets United
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sadly too often the offspring generations can't carry a candle's worth of the character of those who came before them.
ReplyDeleteOh Rall, this is my favourite poem of yours OF ALL TIME....you brought it back for me, too, going to midnight mass - I remember the year my seven year old sister played the Blessed Virgin in the nativity....I had forgotten about that........all the aunts and uncles, the mom and grandma cooking.........sigh. This was WONDERFUL to read, to envision and to parallel with my own remembered dear ones. Thank you for this joy of a poem. It is perfect. The time when Home was truly Home, right?
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteIt is sad how we grow away from those gatherings of the clan but luckily my own children and grandchildren are very close still and we will all meet up on Christmas day.
ReplyDeleteI like this, Rall. I can tell that you enjoyed the memories as you wrote. My favorite time description was
ReplyDelete"the excitement of
the whole family
walking to midnight mass."
I love evening walks under the street lights, a treat because we couldn't do that in country life.
..
What an absolutely beautiful reminiscence! Albeit tinged with sadness.
ReplyDeleteA wonderfully nostalgic tribute to family long gone...
ReplyDeleteOh this is wonderfully nostalgic with a tinge of sadness.💞
ReplyDeleteLove this one!! I could "see," all your memories!!
ReplyDeleteElegiac and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteZQ
It is good to be able to look back on those wonderful Christmases of the past, thinking again of people who are no longer with us. Somehow the present isn't quite the same for us as we grow older, but perhaps every child has such wonderful recollections of childhood....as they should! Happy Holidays, Rall!
ReplyDeleteFound myself, travelling backwards to my own childhood and the family gathering for the high holiday feast. Of aunts, uncles and way too many cousins (26, in total) crowded, in Oma and Opa's rural farm. Been 22 years, since we all gather at Oma's place, as she joined Opa, looking down at her hopes and dreams, as we grandchildren make our way, in the world. I don't miss the crowds of family members, but the sharing of food and stories told, around the big room table. Thank you, Rallentanda.
ReplyDeleteTha ks for sharing your sweet memories Rall. Its time for us to make some
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped by my sumie Sunday
Much💜love
Lovely, sad memories are all many of us have left of our childhood Christmases. So much more casual now. Although I enjoy the come-as-you-are nature of today’s celebrations, there’s nostalgia for the pomp with which we celebrated back then. You captured it well.
ReplyDelete