The old leather belt

Some things accompany us through life.

Oh what a life the two had shared
the ups, downs, joys and pain,
it'd seen him wed and then divorced
then wed to her again.
It was there when both his boys were born
then attended both their wakes,
witnessing the numbing grief
caused when a futile war life takes.
Every birthday, anniversary,
gatherings of every kind,
the old leather belt around his spreading waist
you'd be always sure to find.
And now as he lay resigned to death
with his twice wed wife nearby,
his constant support for near 60 years
was there to hear her cry.
Twas fitting then that when interred
in his oft used Sunday best,
the old leather belt would accompany him,
together forever both laid to rest.

Author's Note

Hmmm, God only knows where this came from :)

Reviews

[Lisasview]

Hi Gordon,
I went way back into your archive of poems to try and find one I gad not read and came across this little gem.
Such a great poem... your description and here and there rhymes made this poem fabulous.
Clever thinking...or maybe as you say no thing at all...
Lisa, early morning in Spain

[JE Falcon]

Well, wherever this poem came from I must have known a few of those who wore them, rest their souls. --- I can see that belt just as sure as I'm writing this review, the buckle was silver, maybe chrome, and it had some western stuff scrolled into the surface. It was often loosened after family meals, or a beer or two. And sometimes children pulled on it to get the wearers attention. --- Like this poem, it was a good one full of comfortable memories. Thanks. :)

[Gee]

Thank you JEF

[T.S. Ulmus]

Every once in awhile a poem comes to me complete and I feel like that's what happened with you here. It is a complete and beautiful thought put to life in your words. The Muse asked you to create this and the world is better for it.

[Gee]

You are too kind. Thank you

[VelvetPotato]

This is really special and sentimental. How cool how the leather belt got to witness all of the seasons of the subject's life.

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Beccy]

So often, it's the little things that make the lasting impression. A seemingly ordinary possession, a particular photograph, the memory of a special day.

As you say, 'some things accompany us through life.'

Beccy.

[Gee]

When mum died I took only 1 item of her possessions, a Liverpool FC wrist watch which she had worn for 40 years or so. Monetary wise it's worthless but emotionally it's priceless :)
Thank you as always for having a read.
Hope you are both well.

[Gee]

Oops, and her seldom used passport :)

[Beccy]

I have my grandma's collection of books, mostly poetry and older classics, which she would read to me when I was a child. There are notations in the margins of some, and particularly in a beautifully bound edition of Coleridge's early work, (grandma adored his writing.) She wrote the notes in pencil; I shall never, ever erase them.

[Gee]

That's a beautiful memory of both grandma and childhood.
I hope you haven't been trolling anybody Beccy :)

[Beccy]

Perish the thought! Though I have been known to dine on human flesh on occasion; metaphorically speaking of course. :))

[duke]

what a fantastic writing !
Such meaningful emotion you have created from that old leather belt.
a bittersweet triumph.

duke

[Gee]

Cheers Duke, appreciate you taking the time to both read and comment

[Tom]

A sad, poetic refrain, like his old leather belt kept both him & family from falling apart..

[Gee]

Cheers Tom..

[SM Davis]

Very well written. It flows well and the content is provocative. Nicely done.

[Gee]

Thank you kindly ma'am :))

[SM Davis]

NO, thank YOU. I enjoy your work immensely! I'm so glad to have some time to spend perusing. :) :)

[Gee]

I'm blushing :)

[Katrina Mckeown]

We do keep somethings a long time, I have an old watch of my mothers in a keepsake box along with a whole collection of keepsakes from over the years, my box keeps growing bigger soon it will need a room to itself ! I love the way you tell your story in this poem, you took me on a journey with you and the old leather belt” although a sad ending I very much enjoyed your story and agree, you have a way with words!

[Gee]

Thanks Katrina.
Keepsake wise I hav have a couple of bits of my late mothers and all of the father's day cards my daughter has sent over the last 20 years.

[Katrina Mckeown]

Ah that’s lovely though, we are sentimental creatures at heart! ❣