Photo from pinterest.com
Grandpa’s Watch
soft old gold patina
warmed by a rough rustic palm
timing medieval birth
of my father
in candlelight colored
by frescoes of Apennine landscapes
he painted while wearing
his bridegrooming shoes
this timepiece spoke life
carried vestpocket snug
from distraught
mezzogiorno antiquity
crossing the ocean of century
ticking its tireless memories
into the hands of my uniformed son
it holds heartbreak and triumph
the bloodline experience
marking we four
generations of men
nestled deep
in its intimate gearworks
where family converges
with history
What a beautiful piece of writing and history, thank you for sharing it! The words touch deep!
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I appreciate your comments dearly
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Reblogged this on Teacher as Transformer and commented:
One of the items I received from my Dad when he passed away was a pocket watch he had in his jewelry box. It always fascinated me and like the Guy Clark song about his dad’s pocket knife there is something in the old things that carry timeless memories.
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thanks for sharing my poem with your readers
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You are welcome Paul. The watch caught my eye and reminded me of the gift I received in my Dad’s watch.
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Amazing how inanimate objects hold little bits of a soul, if only we look. Lovely poem.
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amen and thank you kindly, Mikels
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“ticking its tireless memories
into the hands of my uniformed son”
Beautiful lines.
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thank you kindly, tony
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Mmmm, I Lo-o-ve this one! Every phrase and line. I get the feeling that if I could touch it, it would still be warm–alive will all those ticking memories.
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it would, indeed
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“ticking its tireless memories” just one of so many lines crafted together to form a piece that speaks more than the lines written….yes…I love this!
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thank you dearly, Christina
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Appropriate poem for a theme today when I visited my town museum that displayed clocks and watches made by Colchester watchmakers.
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what a pleasant coincidence – appreciate your comment
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Reminds me of the watch I inherited from my Grandad, one of the most treasured things I have.
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glad to evoke a pleasant memory – thanks for commenting
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I have an inkling you have Italian background just as I do. I have my father wrist watch , he wore it everyday. There is something, a bond, about fathers and little girls that is special. Never far from memory, his hands still remind me of gnocchi and the best sauce in the world. Great cook that he was!
Enjoyed your poetry, need to come back often to read more.
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yes, my parents were from Italy – hope you enjoy what you find here
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Hi Paul, Very nice. Thank you for liking my poem ‘ The Monastery!’ Best Wishes, The Foureyed Poet.
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thanks, Malc
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Lovely. Family is history. Memories kept alive.
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yes indeed – thank you kindly for commenting, Jane
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I really like this… senses of our heritage… family…. excellent.
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thank you most kindly
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Beautiful and touching. There are so few who cherish each other, father to son like this. I stopped in to thank you for your comment on change and got a gift.
Alex
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I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed this piece, Alex
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Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics.
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Beautiful words!
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thank you for the gracious compliment
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Beautiful! And moving . . . like a good time piece should be . . .
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it is amazing that it still works like a charm
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The watch becomes a story; a history then a poem – marvelous stuff Sir.
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and my son will soon pass it along to his
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Reblogged this on OUR POETRY CORNER.
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
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