Image source – Graphic Journey
In my mind, the world is flat,
laid out like a tattered Persian rug,
a little singed here and there by embers
jumping from the coals of another well-laid fire.
Our cheeks are rosy, fingers chillblained,
and Puss is semi-supine, small chest rising and falling,
sleepy-breaths long and deep,
sliver-shut eyes adoring the flames, glinting.
She too is reluctant to leave this warm envelope
bounded by the hand-me-down sofa and
twice re-used and re-loved armchairs.
There is the world beyond –
Utility-stamped sideboard hugging the cold back wall,
its teacup-ringed top bedecked with old photos,
the small chest that contains St Paul’s fingernails
(joke-blasphemy courtesy of grandad
who served his God well,
if sometimes with a nod and a wink),
and Mum’s sewing basket, overflowing as it will ever be.
The Anaglypta wallpaper, its lumps and bumps
beating a steady rhythm under my fingers
is Apple White in my mind
and I press yet another piece of pattern to the wall,
surreptitiously.
This is my safe harbour.
———-
This week, on dVerse Poetics, Abhra has asked us to write about where in the world we would be, if we could choose. Hmmm… this has caught me off-guard, because at this moment, I am feeling very much of a home-body. I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit and there are places I would like to visit, but not at the moment, and not enough to write about them.
Perhaps it is to do with how my life has panned out of late, perhaps it is to do with knowing how quickly someone can be lost to you with no second chance, but nostalgia is pervading my waking moments right now. So really, I would love to be with my family again, as a child. We didn’t have a lot when I was growing up, but we had lots of love. Really, isn’t that all you need? I’m time-travelling this week. It’s still travel, right?
I do like to educate where I can. CC41, my poem’s title is named after the Utility brand that was stamped on furniture and clothing during World War Two until 1952, here in the UK. CC stood for ‘Controlled Commodity, and illustrated that the merchandise met the government’s austerity regulations. It was designed to cope with the shortage of raw materials and ration consumption. We were still using the Utility furniture in our house when I was growing up – it was strong stuff, and I really liked the design!
Please pop over to dVerse to read some excellent poems on the travel theme. Join in – we don’t bite!
Freya Writes... 
huh interesting on the CC…it looked like Pacman to me…ha….
and what better way to serve your god than a smile and wink…ha…smiles.
a flat world…i just hope i never fall off…smiles
and having that safe harbor is nice for sure,
for me when the journey is done.
Yes, it does look like Pacman! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
God likes to laugh and smile and home is the best place in the world to me.
I think you’re right, Nessa!
I had never heard of CC41. a good idea, and I can see that this will happen again.. a good thing to stay and enjoy what is there.. I think we all need those periods of getting all together before venturing out on adventures again.
Yes,we do need the time to reconnect, I think.
I had never heard of CC41 either although we had food stamps until a few years after WWII was over. Neither did I know what Anaglypta wallpaper was. So you educated me twice!
The little girl that was you obviously loved the quiet and safe world you exquisitely described.
Yes, I did. Life was all rather confusing for me as a little girl, so the safe haven was a great joy to me.
A beautiful, whimsical, poetical start – great first lines made everything flow so well.
Thank you!
Going back to being a child…would be cool.
Yes, I think so. The innocence and imagination can get lost on the journey to adulthood, if we’re not careful.
You took me there – into your private world, your safe haven. I got to travel to you today! That’s so special.
Thank you, Gay.
You make this sound the most perfect place on earth – lovely.
Thank you. It was to me!
The sense of love for life’s simple pleasures comes across loud and clear in your poem. Your memories come to life and create a mental haven of safety that draws the reader in.
Thank you, Suzanne. That time is special to me…
One is not being fair in most instances when they are there right in front of one’s eyes! Agreed Freya, simple things in life have a life of their own. Those who care can find lots of benefits in knowing them! Wonderful write!
Hank
Thank you so much, Hank.
when we have safe harbor, we can dare new explorations!
Indeed, we can. We all need that anchor, don’t we?
cool background on the CC41 stuff… never heard about it before and it’s good to have that safe harbour… so precious
I like to inform! Yes, safe harbours are indeed the most precious thing…
Yes, sometimes I long for that safe harbour myself… can fully understand…
Thank you, Marina. Sometimes, I think we all need that sense of place, where everything was OK.
Marvelously clear imagery–I love it.
Thank you, Starralee.
a lovely time ride and new things to learn…thanks for the post…
Thank you, Sumana, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Oh this is lovely! The sideboard with the imprint and all the recovered old sofas but the highlight for me is St. Pauls fingernails…ROFL!!!!
Thank you, Cressida! My grandad was quite a stern man at first sight, but he had a great sense of fun and wicked humour. I would like to think I have inherited some of his comedic traits (although I do have his hot-flash temper as well….).
Your language is so, so lovely. I feel the coziness, love, contentment. I also love your historical note!
Thank you, Jennifer. I am so glad you enjoyed both aspects of it.
Your journey is of the heart, your destination the past, the conveyance your soul; and yes, we love to be educated; fascinating tidbit of personal history; a very charming way to rock the prompt oh so gently.
Thank you, Glenn. I like to be a little gentle, every now and again. I’m glad you enjoyed the journey.
A beautiful sense of place and nostalgia in this. It sounds like home to me!
Thank you, Jenny.
Love that you time-travelled in your poem. Your journey of nostalgia was wonderful…and yes, lots of love trumps lots of money EVERY time!!
Thank you so much, Bryan. I don’t need a Tardis, unlike Doctor Who…!
Thanks for inviting us back in time to your safe harbour…a cozy place by the fire with Puss.
Thank you, Lynne. You are very welcome!