Friday, March 11, 2022

Something Hidden Now Seen

 

My Family's Pocket Watches
Photo by Amy LV



Students - Some of you may remember that my father died in August 2020. Since that time, I have slowly been going through many of his belongings, thinking about the past and my ancestors. I had my father's shirts made into quilts, am having a pile of broken jewelry made into a ring, and this week I made a display of these very old watches. I want to surround myself with reminders of who I am, not to leave precious stories hidden away.

In today's poem, the pocket watches come to light after years of darkness. Can you think of something in your life that has not seen the light in a long time? Perhaps an object, like a toy from when you were very little or an article of clothing that no longer fits but you have saved. Perhaps a feeling you have not felt in a long time. Try thinking about hidden things. And consider bringing one to light, either in real life or in a poem or story or piece of art. Let the hidden be seen.

As for the title of this poem, did you figure out that it is the message of the watches, one of the phrases I imagine them saying - Time is everything. I almost always title poems last, after a poem reveals to me what it wants to say. If you title your poems first, leave space to change your title afterward if you so choose.

And one revision note. I thought that this poem was finished. But when I read it aloud a final time, I changed one single word. In the third stanza, I had originally written I talk with them/sometimes. Somehow, changing talk to chat made the conversations feel more cozy and intimate. So I changed one single word to make a better poem.

Look at, read, and think carefully about every word. Each one matters.

Sylvia and Janet are hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Poetry for Children with a celebration of their delicious new anthology, THINGS WE EAT: A POETRY ANTHOLOGY FEATURING FOOD POEMS FROM A TO Z. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

May you spend your time on what you most love.

xo,

Amy

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13 comments:

  1. I love the way you surround yourself with memories using the treasures of the past. My father repaired antique clocks, so this poem hits home for me. I love "bright moons of time."

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  2. "I believe what they say" ... wonderful. Love this display. And thank you for your wonderful teaching of process, talk to chat. An old memory came to light with one of the Poetry Friday blogs today... precious and hilarious.

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  3. Your poem comes at the right time, Amy. Missing time with my dad, too. Hugs.

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  4. This is lovely, Amy. "bright moons of time" is such a special phrase. Your poem reminded me of a necklace I have tucked away that my husband gave me when we were young. I wore it constantly and had it repaired so many times that it finally needed to rest. I wrote about it once, but not as a poem. Thanks for the inspiration to find that hidden gem.

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  5. Wonderful to fix these in your sight, Amy, & to write the poem as a connection. A nephew just shared a watch he has from a family ancestor (of my husband's) - a special object he holds dear.

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  6. Yes, that change from "talk" to "chat" really changed the tone of the poem.

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  7. I love "faces hidden away" and "bright moons of time". Yes. Spend time...because we can't save it. I will look for something hidden and write about it this week. Thank you for your poem.

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  8. I love the tenderness in this poem...for the elderly and for what they say. That really speaks to me.

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  9. The watches are personified for us from the first stanza, when they "lived" in boxes, so I love how that culminates with the chats in the last stanza. Thanks for sharing this poem and your creative process with us today.

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  10. I love that you take something old and make it new again in a poem. I have an old pocket watch and I'm now thinking about putting it in a shadow box.

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  11. I love the "bright moons of time" metaphor for your lovely collection of pocket watches. What a treasure they are and what a treasure-time-filled memory poem your created, thanks Amy!

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  12. How wonderful that you have these "bright moons of time" from your father. I love the display and your poem honoring their wisdom: "Time is everything!"

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  13. Oh, Amy - I'm late to this post but it is truly timeless. So rich and full of love and inspiration. And very good writing advice. XOXO

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