1903, my great grandparents
Left their long time home
One-time graziers,
Parents to four daughters
Now aging moved closer to the coast
Lived their days out in my house.
The clock was a gift from grateful people
Why I have not been able to discover.
A job for me to uncover one day.
Not much is known about them
They cared for a grandson
No family name carried on from them.
Their grave is nearby,
A lasting monument
They had money.
The daughters built houses after their deaths.
Today this timepiece resides in my lounge room,
Thankfully it doesn’t work.
It chimes every fifteen minutes
I recall it as a child
Chiming all through the night.
But it stands as a reminder
Of family
Of connection
Of significance.
My mother had it restored,
Each evening we turned the key
Kept the pendulum swinging
The chimes chiming.
I like the memories it generates
It belongs in this house.
Written for: http://pookypoetry.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/poetry-prompt-46-heirloom/
I wrote a version of this poem some time ago for another prompt but Pooky’s prompt gave me a chance to do a revision.
Morpethroad 
A nostalgic piece Michael, yes it does belong in your home, because as you say it’s your connection to your past.
Thank you so much Jenny. It sits proudly where it does.
I love this – I love to imagine the stories of items and places in the past. Of course you have both as you’re living in your family home aren’t you?
Yes I am lucky it is my place now and I love living here.
I think it must be lovely to be surrounded by memories like that… assuming they are largely happy ones…
In this house yes, it has all my childhood memories it was a very safe place to live.
In which case it sounds like a perfect place to return to after the less happy bits. x
Most definitely.
What a fine memory and sense of personal history. I share your pleasure in the fact the clock doesn’t work. I can’t stand loud ticking myself.
Thank you Suzanne, so am I, more so it also means the thing doesn’t chime….
A nice memento from times gone by, especially since it honors family members. Well done Michael.
Thank you Jackie it is a valuable connection with the past.
What a lovely clock! A nice reminder of “times” passed and your family. Glad it does not work. My grandmother had a clock like that and I was an insomniac then too, so every time it chimed reminded me how late it was getting…grrrr. but it was beautiful as well, my uncle has it now.
I’m glad it doesn’t work either. It’s good to have items from the past that have been part of our lives for so long. Thanks Oliana for reading and your visit is always welcomed.
Niiice!
Thanks RoSy, I am feeling honoured you have come back for a second visit. Maybe I should bake a cake for next time?
This lil piggy says YAY, YAY, YAY!
Let me know when I’ll start baking.