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Credit Artwork by Vicki Sheehan
Title: Collage - Original Mixed Media Art - Golden Threads
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Dark shiny table tops
Soft white lace
Home décor contrasted
Like the hard-working men
And soft-spoken women
Who sat on the chesterfield
Sipping Manhattans
Smoking Tareytons
While little girls
Pressed, scrubbed clean
Sat, lips sealed
Hands folded, and watched
The scene, memorized
Lipstick, gestures
The magic of smoke rings
Never knowing that they
Were learning an era
Not an eventuality
Written for Poets United at poetryblogroll.blogspot.com who invite you to write about a mystery and timeworn memories--with inspiration from the works of Vicki Sheehan-visual artist
The lace in this piece of art reminded me of the doilies my grandma (Norwegian) used to put on all her polished dark wood end tables and side tables. The intricacies always fascinated me, just like her ability to blow perfect smoke rings. I will never know why she called a "couch" a "chesterfield" because I never thought to ask, it just was...
lovely memories! and i think a "chesterfield" is a style of sofa that's just coming back into 'vogue.'
ReplyDeleteespecially love the last few lines!
dani
♥
Thank you Dani! Your warm words always make me smile <3
DeleteYes, you gave us a view into another time n' place! I remember doilies and smoke rings being the cool thang by the grown ups in my world~
ReplyDeleteI love how your imagery guided us back in time!
Well Done
Thank you Ella! It's fun sharing these memories, so glad you enjoy and remember :-)
DeleteLoved the piece !!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!! Always nice to see you :-)
DeleteI really like the idea you have presented here....of learning an era. Yes, we did learn our childhood eras, didn't we, as we lived them! I do know chesterfield was an old term for couch. Actually when I was a child, we called them 'davenports,' as antiquated a term as 'chesterfields.' Your poem makes me nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Mary, you always take time and leave such thoughtful comments! I remember the word" davenport" too :-)
Deleteha nice one a true cracker jack - love your imagery!
ReplyDeletelovely poem! my grandmother had a doily on every surface as well - i have inherited her collection (she made them all herself) and i treasure them.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!! Vicki thank you so much for visiting and commenting. Your art is really lovely--I want to touch it! Really enjoyed taking a virtual walk through your store. That is a treasure to have handmade doilies, beautiful. :-)
DeleteHi Melissa! Thank you for coming back :-) Little girls do learn a lot by watching the grownups. I'm glad you enjoyed this scene. It was a fun write. (that cigarette brand popped up out of the ether, I had to google it to make sure I didn't just make it up...)
ReplyDeleteMom's doilies were starched and iron-formed into a wavy roundish three-dimensional pattern with a lamp in the middle. This meant that you couldn't put anything else on that table and mess up the finish. I don't know where she learned that but her mother did knitting and such and probably made them.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet there were antimacassars on that chesterfield . . .
Oh, I love learning new words! I kinda guessed what that might be. And you are absolutely right, there were crocheted antimacassars :-)
ReplyDeleteGrandma had antique floral lamps in the middle of her doilies. Thank you for visiting and sharing memories!
Really engaging images that pulled me right in and I realy like the ending.
ReplyDeleteHi Robert! Nice to see you, really enjoyed your poem. So glad that you enjoyed this, and especially the ending--I was playing around with it, took the dog for a walk and that popped into my head :-)
DeleteI love this! It reminds me of my grandmother too. She was an excellent cook and she would set the table and sit down with her cigarette as the food was cooking and share stories of being a waitress/cook.
ReplyDeleteHi Susie! Thank you very much. What a great picture you paint--I love shared family stories. A real treasure :-)
DeleteI remember elderly relatives of mine making lace doilies. Have seen the term in years but, I know I use mats on my 'good' wood small coffee table so that it doesn't get water stains and such. Blowing smoke rings used to look so cool didn't it....LOL
ReplyDeleteVery lovely share of a little piece of your family history Sara :)
Hi Brenda! Always love your friendly comments. I have my share of mats and coasters to try and keep the wood "good"' However, with two boys, friends, elderly family (who tend to spill) and a large dog, I've about given up...lol:-)
Deletelike the details and especially the last two lines work really wewll :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Steven! Welcome back:-) thank you very much for the visit, glad you enjoyed the details and especially that you caught the last two lines. Loved your poem, very fun.
DeleteThe poem creates a beautiful scene. I especially love the two final lines. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the extra info at the end about your inspiration. I never knew to call a couch that. :)
Hi Rachel!! You mean I gave you a new word :-) Really appreciate the compliment, so glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard the term, chesterfield, in ages, except the cigarette. Lovely poem, and I adore your blogsite.
ReplyDeleteHi Sara! Thank you so much for your generous words. Especially appreciate the comment about my site, this is really a work in progress, and definitely outside my comfort zone :-)
DeleteBeautifully done!
ReplyDeleteHi Mad! Great to see you :-) Really appreciate your constant support.
Deletenice..lovely memories..i smoked for some years but never really managed to really do decent smoke rings..
ReplyDelete