In The Days of Old
Life was much slower I am told.
My house built in 1885
By some miracle did survive.
It reflects the values of that year
Families determined to persevere.
The largeness of space
Due to the sparse population of this place.
Closets of a smaller size
Show the paucity of possessions considered wise.
Large families once considered wise
Revealed by the four large bedrooms of size.
An outhouse, wood burning stove and horse drawn carriage
The importance of family, friends and marriage.
When people were important and possessions few
Life was lived with what had to make do.
Relaxing and sharing around the fire
Now replaced with a busy pace so dire.
Today we spend so much time accumulating stuff
It makes a relaxing day at home tough.
So much to clean, so much to do
Maybe life was better when possessions were few.
Life today is so fast-paced
We lose so much in our haste.
Relationships, continuity, satisfaction for a job well done
Have been traded for a life too busy for almost everyone.
Busy,busy,fuss,fuss
This pace can get to the best of us.
I long for a life of slower pace
So I can take time to enjoy my place.
Thank you for this uplifting piece. It made my morning to read it. Thanks :-)
ReplyDeleteWait a minute, I know Debbie posted this, then who commented that doesn't have their own avatar?
ReplyDeleteAuthor of "In Days of Old"
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting situation for a poem. A modern person living in an old house, that has seen a different way of life. It is interesting to see the house room by room. The second part of the poem, when it starts to address our modern fast paced lives, loses that grounding in place. I'd maybe like to see what the rooms are used for now that weren't then. Maybe you can show us how life is fast pased, and how we lose so much in our haste by showing how we live in the same house as humans has changed so drastically since 1885. That's just a thought. There is some really great language in here. "paucity of possessions considered wise" is really smooth and elegant. My favorite stanza is
"Busy,busy,fuss,fuss
This pace can get to the best of us" The repetition of words is great there. It has great cadence.
Anna