A hodgepodge carton of books
and soft toys -
a whale, a dolphin, teddies,
the Gruffalo
tucked away in a higher
shelf because
you stopped needing, reading
them, years ago
when you were five or six.
Children outgrow
all their stuff quicker than
mothers. I pause
the decluttering, though I
know, I know
everything must go, boys are
only boys
for a finite time. Yet I
cannot bring
myself to throw away a
single thing.
Some childhood remains in
these residues
in soft toys for which
you’ve no further use,
old and matted, beaded eyes
coming loose;
in well-thumbed pages you’ve
finished reading.
Oh yes. Remnants of childhood and precious memories. So very hard to discard, despite the memories needing no shelf space.
ReplyDeleteMemories = no shelf space, mementos = clutter, can't get behind that equation even though I try hard :)
DeleteMy mother kept a lot of it which means I have toys over fifty years old now, including a talking bear that still works. And I'm glad she saved them.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is indeed priceless, must feel so good to look over them now.
DeleteMy mother kept a lot too, great fun to go over them with her grandkid.
Lovely poignant poem. You can clear when you are ready...or never. Keep a box and give to him when he's older and married. We did that and trust me, his wife appreciates the sentimental pieces and shows their kids. It's OKAY!!!
ReplyDeleteNever seems to be the probable scenario. :)
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteThat one box in the attic... rediscovery and adventure. Yes. It's okay. YAM xx
Have box. Have no possibility of attic :) But will find some space somewhere no doubt. Where there's a will n all that.
DeleteHi Nila - yes we all move on ... I asked my mother to keep things - but she mostly ditched the lot ... can't blame her as none of us had kids ... and perhaps has made things easier.
ReplyDeleteBut you've some wise ideas here - particularly Joanne's ... so hold on to a few ... letters and photos in particular ... adulthood comes to us all - cheers Hilary
Yeah, no escaping adulthood...comes round way too fast. I loved Joanne's ideas too!
Delete