This Throne

This is a poetic tale of the process of finding something beautiful that has been neglected and bringing back to its original glory and the passion creativity brings.

Two hundred years ago I graced your home
I gave you pleasure I was your throne
Virtuosity made chiseled and carved
Limbs turned by hands charade
Left neglected alone in the store
The barn the elements tore at my core

The sun shone that day you came to see
What that old barn would reveal to thee
You pulled my leg from beneath the pile
You recognized I still had style
Loaded up and wrapped in felt
Journey to Avalon aloft a belt

On your workbench dull and lame
I displayed the remains of my broken frame
There I laid before you missing parts
You sat and pondered before making a start
Paper pencils scribes and wood
You worked out exactly where I stood

Days pass chiseling, hammering and cramps
I sit patiently waiting your art to stamp
Your hands scribe inlay and plane
Loving and precisely you whittle my mane
You turn me a leg a craft from the heart
Shellac, bees wax french polish apart

Dexterity defines me a chair of distinction
Regally Majestic in my provenance mention
Priceless not in currency but treasured above
This throne is not for shelf nor sale
This throne is for sentiment and love

Author's Note

Work in progress...

Reviews

[zainul]

Depicted the whole work like an expert of antique furniture.
The details are enough to charm any person interested in furniture.
You have glorified the sentiment and passion of common people by motivating them the reuse the old chair as the throne.You have advocated for the high quality of old things too.(We are making and using fake and non lasting stuff nowadays.)
A king would not use the old furniture.Rather he would order a brand new throne.
I am very glad to read a very lovely piece today.

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thank you for reviewing this piece. I restore antiques as part of what I do for a living which is why I wrote this work. The antiques of yesterday are still strong today and being used because they were made with attention and skill, unlike the molded plastic and metal the shoddily make today which will break soon after buying it to ensure the market continues to grow. I always buy antiques when it comes to furniture and I know they will last my lifetime and several others beyond.

[zainul]

You are most welcome.
I fully enjoyed your poem and comments.

[Laughing-Bear]

My Dear Writing Friend From Across The Pond,
This piece of word art made me smile. A very unique concept along the lines if only these walls could talk. If old furniture could speak oh the tells they could spin. As I head back to Heaven on Earth in the morning I am ready for my old chair. It was built many years before I was born. I have often thought this wooden chair painted an ugly yellow should be striped, and returned to its former glory. I am now motivated by your write to do just that.

Blessings, Laughing-Bear

[TrimarcoRansome]

Do it BillBear!!... It is such a joy to see the piece at the end of the restoration and to use it. I would not buy furniture from a modern store, what is the point when the antiques will last much longer and are far more beautifully made, with love and precise craftsmanship. That which is rarely seen in this mass produced market place.
Helen

[Rocans]

I recognize a good poem when I see one, and this is definitely in that category. I can't say I identify with your subject -however the concept of a long lost item being embellished and restored to its former glory is moot and pertinent-the wording and flow is for the most part masterful, it really was like I was reading one of the greats. Good write Trimarco.

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thank you so much!

[James Hanna-Magill]

Dear TrimarcoRansome

Thank you for your recent review, and as I see you are new, welcome to Writers Café.

I pitched my writing tent here having looked long and hard after the ex-BBC site I belonged to sadly had to close. I find this is a good place to set out your writing stall. Frankly as with all such sites, the message is simple. Review to be reviewed. This is merely a case in point.

I have a habit of reviewing long, though in different ways. But I always give my immediate reaction as one reader to the writer. And I never ever read anyone else's reviews before I write my own. I do not want my personal take to be influenced by that of others.

I shall perhaps give this a structured review, because I stumbled over it hiding as a little gem in your repertoire!

Review.

1) Structure: Four six lines stanzas ending with an envoy of five lines. It has an appealing shape.

2) Rhyme: You rhyme in couplets aabbcc in the first four stanzas except for the last stanza where it is aabcb. I find that attractive.

3) Rhythm: Nothing fixed. But there is a pleasing melodic quality.

4) Punctuation: You do not to punctuate at all, apart from the occasional comma as a sort of breathing space. I prefer consistency personally - either full punctuation or none. You fall into the latter category.

5) Use of English: Subtle yet simple. You enrich the piece with certain words 'Virtuosity' 'Shellac 'Dexterity' as examples.

In form and tone therefore so far, I find the poem well styled.

6) Meaning: The meaning of some poems is deliberately opaque. Yours is transparent, partly through the words themselves and also with your own comments. There is much to be said for both styles. Sometimes it is a relief, like here, not to be Sherlock Holmes or a bloodhound in chase!

7) Personal impact: Lots. I have done more than once what you talk of here.

On one occasion in France (I like antiques) I bought an old broken down and tawdry looking chair which originated in a French Monastery. I saw its heritage and its potential all the same.

I took it home (I lived in Bristol then) and had it restored to its original beauty. Now it figures as a beautiful resident of my home in Wales!

Moreover I also like the way in which it is the chair talking in the first person. It gives the poem an added 'something' to the mix.

8) Favourite lines: I shall quote just three out of many.

First:

Two hundred years ago I graced your home
I gave you pleasure, I was your throne


Your opening rhyming couplet. You get the poem off to a running start. I like the allusion of chair with Throne.

Second:

'The sun shone that day you came to see
What that old barn would reveal to thee
You pulled my leg from beneath the pile
You recognized I still had style'

The moment of discovery, neatly penned.

Third and last:

'Priceless not in currency but treasured above
This throne is not for shelf nor sale
This throne is for sentiment and love'

The final message where you change the rhyming pattern to full effect. Like my monastery chair, I feel that maybe that is what it thinks too!

9) Overview: I found this a well crafted poem which flowed easily and all the more attractive in its simplicity. I find nothing to fault.

Well written!

With my warmest regards


James

[TrimarcoRansome]

Wow! Thank you so much for such a shining review, I restore and deal in antiques for a living so wanted to reflect/tell the story of how it brings me such pleasure.
Helen

[James Hanna-Magill]

Sounds an interesting career! My pleasure Helen, James

[John Phoenix Hutchinson..]

Excellent you have added so really good poems the last few days.....whats been your inspiration all of a sudden??

[TrimarcoRansome]

Time! It's the one commodity I seldom have in abundance! I am learning to make more of the precious time I have and eliminating some things which do not deserve my time!!

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

That sounds a bit final! :)

[TrimarcoRansome]

More confident than final, I am good at giving my time to others, just not as good at saving enough for myself! :-)

[John Phoenix Hutchinson..]

H there is a lot wrong with this poem as it stands, the detail and the passion is there but this reads awkwardly because of the rhyme, then the no rhyme. I would break it up into 3 or 4 verses as well as its a chunky monkey! Especially in that small print.

[TrimarcoRansome]

I published this while still writing it, laptop battery was about to die and didn't realise I hadn't checked the keep unpublished box!! I have taken your comments on board when I carried on though, thank you, John. What do you think now?

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

You sat and pondered with me before making a start (lose the "with me")
Other than that what a difference! Actually its kind of nice to see a poem in the making and you have a cracker here now to add to your excellent growing portfolio.

[TrimarcoRansome]

Yes I agree, less is more sometimes! I have taken it out, I think that verse flows better now, Thank you as always for your help and encouragement x

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

We spur each other on............its the way it should be. :)

[TrimarcoRansome]

I have taken much inspiration from you, I have been reminded how much I love to write

[John Phoenix Hutchinson.]

:) x @ your service