I hosted Christmas this year. And though it was fun to play 'mother' again, I appreciated a quiet time at the end of the day...
Christmas Night with Miss Potter
How very still the house is!
I can hear the soft tick
of the grandfather clock
and Jerry snoring in the bedroom.
Father loved that clock.
Bought it from a patient in Sixty Eight.
Wound it faithfully every night,
until he died.
We had to turn the chime off
when it came to live with us.
Jerry couldn't stand the noise.
Said it hurt his ears.
Odd that, because he hates the quiet too.
Likes the air to be filled with sound.
Turns on the bedside radio
before his feet hit the floor.
He went to bed tonight at eight.
Tires early since the stroke.
Left me to watch 'Miss Potter' on the ABC
Said he'd find it 'boring'.
I think he was put off by the title.
Doesn't really care for children's books.
Hasn't read Winnie the Pooh
and calls Lewis Carroll 'that pedophile'.
I found Miss Potter quiet enchanting
as I'd always found her books enchanting
(especially Jemima Puddleduck)
when I was small.
I watched the credits to the very end
and sat for ages after that.
Pity Jerry missed the film -
but then his mother never read to him as a child.
Ken e Hall
Xmas at home the page reads like a story book and a copy of a million homes..delightful ending as we all sit alone pondering as the credits flip by oooops its already a new day...regards
Xmas at home the page reads like a story book and a copy of a million homes..delightful ending as we all sit alone pondering as the credits flip by oooops its already a new day...regards
nimal dunuhinga
Wonderful place really call home! Everybody enjoys I see and the hapyy surrounding towards the New Year! Best of luck!
Wonderful place really call home! Everybody enjoys I see and the hapyy surrounding towards the New Year! Best of luck!
Saraswati
Embrassing the end of the day with wistful and open-hearted words..wonderful. Happy New Year to you Allie and Jerry
Embrassing the end of the day with wistful and open-hearted words..wonderful. Happy New Year to you Allie and Jerry
sonetta
glad to see you enjoyed a quiet Christmas late ngiht with Miss Potter though as you say it would have been nice to have shared it with Jerry but then again, it could have turned out differently...well, just make sure Jerry stays up for New Year! Wishing you the best for 2011!!
glad to see you enjoyed a quiet Christmas late ngiht with Miss Potter though as you say it would have been nice to have shared it with Jerry but then again, it could have turned out differently...well, just make sure Jerry stays up for New Year! Wishing you the best for 2011!!
Munia Khan
Happy New Year to you and Jerry Allie!!!Thanks for sharing your wonderful heart again through this vividly described work of yours.Enjoyed very much.
Happy New Year to you and Jerry Allie!!!Thanks for sharing your wonderful heart again through this vividly described work of yours.Enjoyed very much.
Shashendra Amalshan
Allie, as i was going through the poem a I wondered how dare he calls Lewis Carroll 'that pedophile', but as i finished reading the poem my antagonistic feelings were all gone and they i start to sympathize with the poor sod. Very light hearted poem that ends in a touching note... (How are you Allie, just turned to your page, specially to wish you a wonderful 2011.. Hugs shan)
Allie, as i was going through the poem a I wondered how dare he calls Lewis Carroll 'that pedophile', but as i finished reading the poem my antagonistic feelings were all gone and they i start to sympathize with the poor sod. Very light hearted poem that ends in a touching note... (How are you Allie, just turned to your page, specially to wish you a wonderful 2011.. Hugs shan)
Ken e Hall
Felt as I was there in a chair resting and knew all about what you said ....just great ,,,,Happy New Year...regards
Felt as I was there in a chair resting and knew all about what you said ....just great ,,,,Happy New Year...regards
tony jolley
So much to make one smile in this, Allie. There is also such a lovely tone throughout: peaceful, introspective, wistful even... right until the last line which feels like a train coasting (rather than ploughing - it isn't too powerful or overbearing) right into the buffers. Appreciate Jerry's 'boring' comment - Ellen loves period pieces : Jane Austen and the like, whereas intellectually I tend to 'switch off somewhat' and as for Brideshead revisited - well I wonder why the writer even visited the idea the first time!!! Ok some readers will shoot me for that, but there it is: it is as impenetrable to me as Jackson Pollock's canvases of splattered paint: all effect and no language / style over substance. "I watched the credits to the very end / and sat for ages after that" is masterly. You being one for whom the credits were just that - credits rather than mere records and attibutions. You in the fine detail. Like the picture of you sitting quietly thereafter, just digesting it all in peace, allowing the impact to settle like snow around and upon you. A touching piece. Regards from a cold corner of France! Tony
So much to make one smile in this, Allie. There is also such a lovely tone throughout: peaceful, introspective, wistful even... right until the last line which feels like a train coasting (rather than ploughing - it isn't too powerful or overbearing) right into the buffers. Appreciate Jerry's 'boring' comment - Ellen loves period pieces : Jane Austen and the like, whereas intellectually I tend to 'switch off somewhat' and as for Brideshead revisited - well I wonder why the writer even visited the idea the first time!!! Ok some readers will shoot me for that, but there it is: it is as impenetrable to me as Jackson Pollock's canvases of splattered paint: all effect and no language / style over substance. "I watched the credits to the very end / and sat for ages after that" is masterly. You being one for whom the credits were just that - credits rather than mere records and attibutions. You in the fine detail. Like the picture of you sitting quietly thereafter, just digesting it all in peace, allowing the impact to settle like snow around and upon you. A touching piece. Regards from a cold corner of France! Tony
Kamala
Wow....what an ease to read, and get the reflection that your poem emits. A quite and powerful read....
Wow....what an ease to read, and get the reflection that your poem emits. A quite and powerful read....
robertchoward
I think you and Beatrix Potter would have been fast and lasting friends had fate allowed you to meet. Thanks for the vivid portraiture. Your captivating words yanked me out of my chair and across the Pacific to Australia. (Cant recall how I made it home). Please ask Beatrix:; I'm sure she knows!
I think you and Beatrix Potter would have been fast and lasting friends had fate allowed you to meet. Thanks for the vivid portraiture. Your captivating words yanked me out of my chair and across the Pacific to Australia. (Cant recall how I made it home). Please ask Beatrix:; I'm sure she knows!
oldchampagnelady
Thanks for letting me window-peep into your home. I could almost hear the clock's ticking. An interesting write of a subject matter that could easily have gone un-noted.
Thanks for letting me window-peep into your home. I could almost hear the clock's ticking. An interesting write of a subject matter that could easily have gone un-noted.
carol
it is kind of sad all those wonderful stories but everyone is different
it is kind of sad all those wonderful stories but everyone is different
robyn selters
Lovely to hear the musings of home and hearth... wistful, authentic and moving
Lovely to hear the musings of home and hearth... wistful, authentic and moving
Frank James Ryan Jr./FjR
Question is....How many Christmasses did you host?...Because, lassie,you have been MIA for far too long....and we had no choice but to exercise all options, including: Australian militia, Snow white & grey Dogsleds w/ matching Samoyed's ....And Homeland Security, from my own homeland to boot in a collective effort to corale the missing Cassidy !!!!!!lol! Glad 2 see you back in action....Hope all is well & that you & the Champ enjoyed your Christmas! Now, before you go & run off with the Rockettes or Dick Clarks New Years Eve entourage.....A Happy, Healthy, Fruitful & Creative 2011 to you, Jerry, & your families from moi 2 vous !/////\\\\\Oh yes....your poem....Let's just say....You haven't missed a step....and in your business....you should know thats a royal compliment ! ~FjR~
Question is....How many Christmasses did you host?...Because, lassie,you have been MIA for far too long....and we had no choice but to exercise all options, including: Australian militia, Snow white & grey Dogsleds w/ matching Samoyed's ....And Homeland Security, from my own homeland to boot in a collective effort to corale the missing Cassidy !!!!!!lol! Glad 2 see you back in action....Hope all is well & that you & the Champ enjoyed your Christmas! Now, before you go & run off with the Rockettes or Dick Clarks New Years Eve entourage.....A Happy, Healthy, Fruitful & Creative 2011 to you, Jerry, & your families from moi 2 vous !/////\\\\\Oh yes....your poem....Let's just say....You haven't missed a step....and in your business....you should know thats a royal compliment ! ~FjR~
Sandra Martyres
I agree with Fay this is both a reflective and wistful piece that seems to have flowed effortlessly from your talented pen Allie. Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us....May the New Year bring yougood health, peace and happiness - Love Sandra
I agree with Fay this is both a reflective and wistful piece that seems to have flowed effortlessly from your talented pen Allie. Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us....May the New Year bring yougood health, peace and happiness - Love Sandra
T A Ramesh
Nice narration with the ending revealing the cause for the problem very well! Living together itself has become rare in the modern world due to development of nuclear families with each one of the family living separately minding each one's business! So, what you have said in the end has become a common thing everywhere!
Nice narration with the ending revealing the cause for the problem very well! Living together itself has become rare in the modern world due to development of nuclear families with each one of the family living separately minding each one's business! So, what you have said in the end has become a common thing everywhere!
Fay Slimm
Reflective and somewhat wistful this verse resounds with homely asides, ponders around life at the end of a day with grace and tender compassion. A wonderful read Allie. May your next year bring creativity and health in abundance to you and all yours.
Reflective and somewhat wistful this verse resounds with homely asides, ponders around life at the end of a day with grace and tender compassion. A wonderful read Allie. May your next year bring creativity and health in abundance to you and all yours.
oh well..I can understand why..your last line said it all. what a beautiful piece..and i love that grandfather's clock you've stated.. It brought memories at home..another lovely piece Ali..and thanks for this sharing