Boyhood Inventory

Posted by Paul F. Lenzi on June 2, 2016

Posted in: Free Verse, POETRY. Tagged: Boyhood, Boys, Imagination, Mementoes, Memories, Nostalgia, Secrets, Talisman, Youth. 54 Comments

Old Cigar Boxes Photo from pinterest.com

cigar box secrets
possessions with
powers of privacy
curious objects of
preadolescence
talisman childhood
artifacts taken as
innocent prisoners
of quiet discovery
culled from adventures
and escapades
brimming with fantasy

compass and whistle
flint arrowheads
penknife and snake
rattle fossils and
seashells a dragon
tooth world war two
carbine shell feathers
and rocks with some
eye-catching features
a dinosaur knuckle
a rabbit’s foot coins
from a buccaneer’s lair

all tucked in their
art-paneled vaults
among sneakers
and baseball gear
guarded by underbed
mists of incipient
unformed tomorrows
every possible future
just waits to emerge
from shadow to shape
that will someday
put all of these prized
secret treasures aside

54 comments on “Boyhood Inventory”

gregorydyczkowski on February 27, 2014 at 6:34 pm said:

Hoot man, now that’s some cool stuff, we had some cigar smoking folks in our family who’d love to remember these boxes…neat idea thanks for the divergent thinking regards greg

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:13 am said:
  
  my pleasure, greg
  
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  - gregorydyczkowski on March 1, 2014 at 8:37 pm said:
    
    Thanks Paul, mine too! What a neat idea you displayed, it evokes much goodness in my memories…Shalom g
    
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Faith Love n Desire on February 27, 2014 at 6:47 pm said:

Great friend!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:12 am said:
  
  thanks kindly
  
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mikesteeden on February 27, 2014 at 7:20 pm said:

I gave up cigars when I gave up the finance industry many years ago – I rather fancy one right now! The boxes and your sublime words say it all! Also that has rather put the mockers on the piece I’ve been working on regarding Churchill!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:11 am said:
  
  I suspect WC had a mighty collection of boxes
  
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joseph elon lillie on February 27, 2014 at 7:50 pm said:

And yet when I pull out my cigar box I am instantly transported back to the magic of those days and sometimes that gives me the strength to know I can face tomorrow.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:09 am said:
  
  love that thought
  
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  - joseph elon lillie on March 2, 2014 at 6:03 pm said:
    
    THanks!
    
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Peter Notehelfer on February 27, 2014 at 7:54 pm said:

Significant memories lie hidden in insignificant treasures . . . Thank you for the reminder!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:09 am said:
  
  touchstones to what was
  
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Mirada on February 27, 2014 at 9:24 pm said:

Your command of language is such a delight in such poems. “Guarded by underbed mists” is just fabulous–“unformed tomorrows” waiting to “emerge from shadow to shape”–wow, wow, wow! Makes me want to step into the poem and just hide out for the day.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:08 am said:
  
  oh that tickles me no end
  
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  - Mirada on March 1, 2014 at 10:40 am said:
    
    Good, I’ve done my job!
    
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pndrgn99 on February 28, 2014 at 12:34 am said:

Know anybody that wants old ammo boxes with brass?

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:05 am said:
  
  ha ha – I have plenty of my own, thanks
  
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sc0pic on February 28, 2014 at 2:25 am said:

Wonderful. Had a cigar box like that with much of the same boyhood artifacts, and now my boys do too!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 10:02 am said:
  
  the cycle of life
  
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Roger Turner on February 28, 2014 at 10:26 am said:

Reblogged this on muddled musings of a mangled mind and commented:
I remember my cigar boxes were El Producto and King Edward Imperial and White Owl

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 9:59 am said:
  
  thanks for sharing my poem with your readers
  
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  - Roger Turner on March 1, 2014 at 2:19 pm said:
    
    no problem…it has to be seen. all of us guys in this age bracket had the cigar box treasure chest….it’s like peter pan…we just need to be reminded of it.
    
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Roger Turner on February 28, 2014 at 10:27 am said:

I forgot all about that part of childhood. Kind Edwards, El Producto and White Owl were the boxes I had for my treasures. thanks for reminding me of this Paul…such memories.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 1, 2014 at 9:59 am said:
  
  my pleasure, Roger
  
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Paul F. Lenzi on October 16, 2014 at 7:05 am said:

Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics.

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graemesandford on October 16, 2014 at 8:07 am said:

A treasure-trove of the past and our possessions, dreams, ideals – which gradually changes into the present view of a lost childhood – well, almost lost – loved the cigar boxes; one of our open-mic fellows turned up with a cigar-box-instrument (3-string version) to our beloved Art House last-year and the sound (and smell) were something else. Thank you, Paul, for this read. Graeme:)

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:55 am said:
  
  wow – never heard of it used as an instrument – very cool
  
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graemesandford on October 16, 2014 at 8:08 am said:

Reblogged this on Graeme Sandford and commented:
Paul brings a touch of the past to the present – a gift.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:47 am said:
  
  thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
  
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  - graemesandford on October 18, 2014 at 9:55 am said:
    
    You are very welcome, Paul, I really like your word / picture conbinations – Graeme;)
    
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Dale on October 16, 2014 at 10:42 am said:

Cigar boxes for you, cookie for me! Or my grand-mother’s old “jewelry box”… love this! Must share…

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:51 am said:
  
  we kids do love our “collections”
  
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Dale on October 16, 2014 at 10:43 am said:

Reblogged this on A Delectable Life and commented:
I have discovered a new poet and just had to share one of his latest. This one really struck a chord with me.
Enjoy!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:48 am said:
  
  thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
  
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Ron DuBour on October 16, 2014 at 2:10 pm said:

Reblogged this on OUR POETRY CORNER.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:48 am said:
  
  thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
  
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Planet Dream Diaries on October 16, 2014 at 2:58 pm said:

Oh so wonderful!!!!!!!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:42 am said:
  
  thanks kindly
  
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  - Planet Dream Diaries on October 17, 2014 at 2:15 pm said:
    
    You’re kindly welcomed. 🙂
    
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The Poetry Channel on October 16, 2014 at 6:04 pm said:

This poems serves to remind me of how much more we have in common than in difference. Nice piece, Paul.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:41 am said:
  
  glad that it had that effect on you
  
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writersdream9 on October 16, 2014 at 6:29 pm said:

I had a wooden cigar box. O such memories you have brought to me! Thank you, Paul!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:40 am said:
  
  love to stir the memory pot
  
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intrepidmuses on October 16, 2014 at 8:59 pm said:

Great!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:40 am said:
  
  thanks kindly
  
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Rural Poet on October 17, 2014 at 2:21 am said:

That brought back some great memories!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 17, 2014 at 11:36 am said:
  
  glad that it worked for you
  
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vivachange77 on October 17, 2014 at 9:56 pm said:

I love this, especially the last verse that links past memories with future possibilities. You also remind me of my sons and their saved treasures.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 18, 2014 at 9:14 am said:
  
  so glad to know that it worked for you
  
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pennylanethoughts on June 2, 2016 at 10:30 am said:

I like this Paul. As a young girl growing up, finding a cigar box was a treasure in itself! Loved them!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on June 3, 2016 at 9:36 am said:
  
  they often had the most lovely artwork
  
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Ancient Skies on June 2, 2016 at 4:58 pm said:

So very very cool! I used to use cigar boxes for the same things!

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- Paul F. Lenzi on June 3, 2016 at 9:13 am said:
  
  great minds think alike…
  
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  - Ancient Skies on June 3, 2016 at 11:44 am said:
    
    Yes indeed.
    
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