Rett

Mar 19, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

The Hourglass

The Hourglass
This poem is really unimportant.
Please, for the sake of children check out my blog-http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

An old hourglass on the mantel
Full of sand worn memories
Of youth and a young boy
Fascinated by the dribble
Of sand passing from top to bottom
Memories of the kitchen smells
Coming from the old wood stove
My grandma cooked on
Such wondrous odors
Sweet potato pie
Candied Yams
Ham and Mustard Greens
And speckled Butterbeans
Fresh baked cornbread

Ah, the memories hidden
Inside a simple piece of glass
Bacon and eggs frying
In the old cast iron skillets
Crusted on the outside
With age and love
Cold winter days
Spent in the kitchen
Grandma cooking and Grandpa
Whittling on a stick of wood
A simple little glass
Filled with the sand of memories
If only the sand could
Run backwards...

Just maudlin memories of an old man feeling his age today.
http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

— Rett, Mar 19, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Southern Texas, USA

Favorite Poets: Dickenson, Longfellow

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Critiques

Mason King

17 years 2 months ago

A very tender piece

A very tender piece Rett, enjoyed the use of metaphor. M

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Thanks Mason

I was really feeling my age today, but I'm younger now. *G* Glad you liked it. Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Thank you Janice

I truly appreciate it my friend. Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

orgami

17 years 2 months ago

Old crusty frying pans

I remember those from an older person they just used bacon grease and never cleaned it wiped it with those disposable towels and put it away must have weighed a ton that old pan made scon or scone bread in it Indian fry bread something that I still miss from the Rez visits I just went back through the archives Rett and you signed up right away like I did on Neopoet here and you commented right away on my poems Just starting to sink in now and thanks for the memories on chat the other night great dreams I had after that about home I love your hat to keep the southern sun off I watched "Southern Comfort" that great creepy movie about the far south and once had a white baseball hat with the texas flag and the words texas

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Thanks Orgami

I remember being struck by the first poem of yours I read. They always evoke fabulous scenes in my mind. Mama used to make flatbread and fried bread and fried cornbread. Corn pone. Most people don't know what real corn pone is these days. When you were poor you didn't always have milk to put in your cornbread so you made it with water. The old frying pans and cast iron pots all had to be seasoned. Rubbed with lard or bacon grease and heated and allowed to cool, then heated again. after that, just a light washing was all they ever needed, but the outside would crust over and just get thicker and thicker with age. As you said, weighed a ton. I still have my mamas old frying pans, a large one and a medium sized one and a cast iron griddle for making pancakes on. Round with a small raised lip around the edge. I wish I still had the old 3-legged cast Iron kettle she used to render down lard in and make lye soap. Believe it or not I still know how to make it. I can even make my own lye. As for signing up right away, I sure did. I found a home as soon as I came here. It fit me like a good pair of Jeans. Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

Nordic cloud

17 years 2 months ago

You make me hungry Rett

And just listen to the sounds, those kitchen sounds the one's that sent us to sleep after being tucked in, as mother went on cleaning the pots and tidying away things, I think without those homely sounds sleep would have been more difficult. It was that something permanent and known, safe. Crusted skillets I can see them. And all in the glass of sand corns rejuvenated, we got them back Rett through you writing about them, and perhaps you did too, just a little bit? Ann in Norway

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

Ah Ann, you got it my friend

Those time will never be completely gone as they live on vivid in my memory. Very glad I took you back with me! Thank you! Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

orgami

17 years 2 months ago

Cornbread

i grew up with food heat incomes we didnt know hunger just one summer fall spring I knew hunger in my late twenties went from two thirty to one sixty five working in construction money went for bills and nice apartment so i could see my child I will never forget not having enough food in the fridge a beautiful kitchen though balcony and as Ann H says I have memories of the sounds of supper being made the potatos simmering in a pot with the lid jumping I love potatoes cannot imagine a child going hungry or wishing for luxurious food I remember loving cornbread in this box I would make muffins or in a bread pan smothered in butter an absolute delight I forgot all about this but when we go to the store I will look it up again we also got pancakes too with Corn Syrup real sugary tasty stuff thanks for the memories Rett

deelilah

17 years 2 months ago

Hi Rett

This poem of yours has certainly stirred a few memories for several people, me included. I remember the fresh butter churned from Guernsey cream, and the buttermilk, plus the sauerkraut and dill pickles sitting in the crocks, carrots out of the dirt and lots and lots of potatoes. I have used the hourglass in several of my poems. The images of the sand's continuous running out is powerful. In fact I just posted the weirdest thing I ever wrote--and it has some of this sands of time imagery. Anyway, I really enjoyed your poem--and now I too am hungry. Yours Deelilah

Rett

17 years 2 months ago

S Thanks Deelilah

I commented on this before, but I guess I didn't click the second time. Senior moment I guess. *L* The hourglass is a very useful analogy in poetry because the sands of time are ever changing. If I had a dollar for every churn of butter I have churned! Oh my, I'd have a lot. Had to make that quarter turn each time you you raised the handle. What I hated the worst though was having to churn in a jug. Shake it, shake it, shake it seemed like forever. We never made sauerkraut, but made pickles a lot and pickled peppers etc... I have shelled butterbeans and peas til my fingers were blue and so sore you couldn't stand it. Thanks for the read. I promise to get to yours very soon. Much obliged my friend. Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905