Searching Through the Spare Room.
by cricketjeff on February 14, 2019. © Jeff Green, All rights reserved
In a box that’s hidden in the farthest corner,
Under piles of what some people think is tat,
A bat that once belonged to Pelham Warner
And other such ephemera as that,
Is a book that I last read when I was twenty
Or maybe twenty two I can’t be sure
I am certain there are other books a-plenty
But those are books that most folk would ignore.
Before I reach the box off in that corner
The one I mentioned just a while ago
(I may be late for Mum I better warn her
Where did I put my phone, Oh yes I know!
I left in by the bed it needed charging –
Where can I put these things down, let me see
Can’t leave them here without much argie-barging
From people who are tidier than me.
Why did I want the book? I can’t remember
The one that’s in the box back over there
It had some notes about a cold November,
OK I’ll leave these treasures on this chair.
Have I got time to run and fill the kettle
Before I get my mother on the phone?
A cup of tea is guaranteed to settle
The mind of any man when stress is shown.
OK. I’m back and ready to get cracking,
Just three more heaps and I’ll be nearly there
I’d like to thump the fool who did the packing
But it was me who left things everywhere.
Do you remember when this snap was taken?
My hair’s no longer quite that thick and black
And now I’ve eaten so much lovely bacon
My front is somewhat further from my back.
Why have we kept these piles of ancient journals?
No-one will ever open them again
A book about heroic British colonels
That doesn’t give much credit to their men.
I’ve found the mould to make a chocolate bunny
The last few Easters haven’t been the same
And here’s a tin that’s full of foreign money
I bet it’s not worth changing, what a shame!
I’ll never need to buy another hammer
Screwdrivers by the dozen in a box
A pile of books that could be labelled “glamour”
And bits of wire some use for picking locks.
What does one do with twenty pairs of glasses?
I’ll put those back and try another stack
The notes from many unremembered classes
A pack of cards that only has one jack.
Monopoly! We always used to play it
The French set’s best I wanna be the hat
Whoops here’s a bill it’s far too late to pay it
What could have been to consequence of that?
And FINALLY the box I know my books in
Undo the lid and dig out what we find …
There’s piles of mess for anyone who looks in
BUT NO DAMNED BOOK I’VE LOST MY BLOODY MIND!
Author notes
Well it misses most of the prompts but “Yer Tis”
Prompts
I like rummaging through desks, drawers, cabinets, bureaus, compartments,
boxes, shelves, containers, etc. I once had a website DustyDrawer dot com for a
couple of years. The “drawers” were numbered 1 – 1000 and poems would be under
a few, javascript programs, photos, drawings, etc. scattered throughout.
Amuse me with an imaginary home, office, room, or antique store and describe
the environment and some of the things that are hidden here and about.
Let’s not get overly profane, and don’t insult your own intelligence with chat-
speak or sticky caps unless you’re absolutely certain that it will somehow add
creative flair to the piece.
I’m not intimidated by length, but if it’s long, there better be some really
interesting stuff tucked away. If it’s short, you’ve already lost 😉
All right: on your mark, get set, amaze me!
English