Hereditary roots are important to some, as they frantically haunt online heritage sites avidly searching for people with the slightest tenuous link to a version of their family name. Seeking perhaps, long lost connections to the aristocratic families of the distant past. An obvious linkage to a wealthy forgotten branch of their family with the chances of a long lost inheritance.
Personally I prefer to forget the past and let sleeping dogs remain fast asleep in the pages of tenuous rumour and mystery. I certainly understand the view and outlook of my imaginary friend Henry in this poem.
This is a response to a writing prompt provided by WordPress.
PROMPT ~ Memories for sale
On a weekend road trip, far away from home, you stumble upon a garage sale in a neighborhood you’re passing through. Astonished, you find an object among the belong- ings for sale that you recognize. Tell us about it.
Image courtesy of etsy.com
MEMORIES FOR SALE
by John Yeo
How much value could I place on a distant memory?
It shocked me to the core to find your favourite cloak
I knew at once it had been your favourite accessory.
To find it for sale here brought an emotional reverie.
~
To discover this treasure brought a lump to my throat
How much value could I place on a distant memory?
A world away from your home roots it was rudimentary
The likelihood of misidentification was sadly remote.
~
I recognised it at once as your favourite accessory.
All those years ago my life took a different trajectory
My past clouded swiftly behind a veil of smoke.
How much value could I place on a distant memory?
~
I left it where the memories lie in the past to soak
I knew at once it was your favourite accessory.
The feel of soft purple mohair still affected me.
How much value could I place on a distant memory?
~
The price of lost memories is immeasurably costly.
I walked away fast leaving the past with a finality
Allowing heartfelt memories to die yet evoke,
I knew at once it had been your favourite accessory.
I thought I would spend time writing about freedom from writer’s block.
FREEDOM
by John Yeo
Soaring freely with the winds of time Writing requires much persistence Expressing feelings is so hard to define. ~ Eyes searching the terrain sublime Looking for inspirational assistance
Soaring freely with the winds of time. ~
Swooping low before you can climb Searching for continued existence Expressing feelings is so hard to define. ~ To stretch imagination is never a crime In spite of harsh critical resistance Soaring freely with the winds of time. ~ Fulfilling a hunger hard to prime Pushing hard with a sharp insistence Expressing feelings is so hard to define. ~
Hunting for perfection in any instance Fighting against a passive resistance Soaring freely with the winds of time Expressing feelings is so hard to define.
I wrote the above poem in a way that illustrates the dangers of spending money that hasn’t actually arrived. The elation at the success of winning could lead to some unfortunate decisions. The unfortunate person who forgot to invest in the winning ticket is obviously in dire straits with the family.
Yet although I’m sure winning a massive amount of money would be welcome, I can’t help thinking this sort of success can often be something of a double-edged sword.
Success will always be a difficult concept to recognise and to write about. Anyone’s first thoughts about suddenly winning 13 million pounds on the lottery, would obviously be extreme delight and excitement. However on reflection a massive sum such as this carries many hidden disadvantages, not the least being the sudden, certain, changes of lifestyle.
Obviously the members of the family would be the most uncomplicated beneficiaries. The mere fact of the initial delight of receiving what would be a reasonable sum would certainly lead to an easing of life’s pressures. Then, human nature, being as egotistical as it certainly is, would throw up all manner of complicated psychological reasons on the way the spreading of the winners good fortune could have been done differently.
The main problems would surely arrive, with the certain lifestyle changes for the winners that would arrive the minute the cheque is cashed and the money becomes available. The sheer danger of the ability to indulge in everything in excess would be incredibly stressful.
However the positive aspects of a large win would certainly outweigh the negative aspects. All I can say is keep buying the ticket, as you can’t win without the investment of the entrance fee.
Today I am republishing a previous poem of mine as Time has stolen the day. 🙂💻✍️
Prompt ~ TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
by John Yeo
If animals could communicate clearly And we could understand their thought, If the Lions could talk to the Lambs Would the thought processes differ really, Or give answers to the problems sought If Bears could converse with Orang-Utans?
~ How could we eat creatures who question Our motives for making a meal of them, Without giving their feelings a thought? Communication would aid the digestion Of plants and seeds and bugs. What then? If Chickens and Turkeys were able to talk.
~ If Horses became clever with logistics. Or Pigs preached the wisdom of the ages Ants could help to govern all smoothly Monkeys could be studying simplistics While Ducks would be veritable sages Humans would be lost in technology.
~ People have lost the talking habit Most of them are lost in their phones People no longer look up and around No time to chat to a passing Rabbit. Bees plainly buzz these walking Drones Who shuffle by without making a sound.
johnandmargaret1607 