Daily Task
In hands both worn and never still
a simple watch was held
before
the daily tasks could be fulfilled
and all life’s worries felled.
And more
than that in times severe and lean,
each day it was resolved
that time
and labor served without machine
would take away the pall,
align.
This is my response to Meeting the Bar: Memento, the prompt from Grace at dVerse ~ Poets Pub, which is to write a poem in the memento form or about a memento. I have done both, writing about a daily occurrence (though not a holiday or anniversary) involving a particular object, a pocket watch that was my grandfather’s and handed down to my father (and then to me). My grandfather was a laborer all of his life, one that was mostly consumed by hard times.
Memento: The form was created by Emily Romano and is a poem about a holiday or an anniversary, consisting of two stanzas as follows: the syllable count should be 8 beats for line one; 6 beats for line two; and two beats for line three. This is repeated twice for each stanza. The rhyme scheme is: a/b/c/a/b/c for each of the two stanzas.
I have a watch that looks exactly like that from my grandfather! ❤️
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I traced the serial number to 1898. When my father gave it to me (30 years ago) it had a black shoestring for a “watch chain.” Shortly after he gave it to me, the shoestring became un-knotted (How, after decades of being tied, I don’t know!) in my pocket, and I placed it on the dryer as I put my pants into the washer. Someone threw it into the waste basket, and I never thought to look for it until it was too late.
Here are some poems I’ve written about the watch:
https://rivrvlogr.com/tag/watch/
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Oh no
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Beautiful memento and memories. 🙂
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Thank you.
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Nice one Ken. Thanks for dropping by my blog
Much❤love
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Thank you, Gillena. ❤
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I remember this watch, and its value to you. Another poem that captures the emotional connections of family that you do so well.
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Thank you, Kerfe. They do seem to come naturally.
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Well, you managed it. I couldn’t grasp the syllable/beat thing, but you got the syllables to make a rhythm. Well done!
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Thank you!
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Beautiful poem and observations, Ken. I remember that watch!
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Very nice, Ken.
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Thank you, Robbie.
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I love this form – I hadn’t heard of it before. And your poem! It’s amazing!
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Thank you!
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What a beautiful watch. I admire how your poem gives tribute to the working hands.
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Thank you, Grace. 🙂
And thank you for the prompt.
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Such a memory and understanding that it is now lost makes the memory even stronger.
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beautiful poem Ken. I carry my heart and my grandfather’s watch resembling yours as well! ❤️
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Thank you, Cindy. 🙂
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You’re so welcome! 🤗
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This is a beautiful piece of work. It had the same feel as Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”. Thank you for such a moving piece.
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This is an beautiful piece of work. For some reason it has the same feel for me as Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”. A moving work.
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What a wonderful compliment. Thank you!
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This is incredibly deep and moving, Ken! The poem has a classic feeling to it ❤️❤️
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Thank you, Sanaa. I think that sentimental attachment will do that.
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Wonderful I treasure a gold watch of my Grandfather’s which I found upside down in my childhood jewellery box whilst clearing my parent’s house . Two years on it is ticking beautifully, now restored . A 1930s Longines .
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How cool! Thanak you.
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