Manners Maketh

( a very early memory)

while grown ups busied themselves in the
kitchen with the clatter of china tea cups
competing with their chit chat

she sat in a comfy cushioned armchair
knitting a white wool scarf in stocking
stitch on too large needles

she watched great gran Martha skirt
around the highly polished rosewood
table using finger tips to feel her way

inching around an oval circumference
muttering to herself in her scratchy voice
concern for the whereabouts of hairpins

blue veins prominent on thin blotchy
hand skin and Martha’s tiny bird like frame
with a fresh lace collar sitting at the throat

why her pins were right beneath her nose
thought this obedient child remaining
silent as she had been taught

six year olds were to be seen and not heard
and were totally oblivious to eye sight
failing with old age

but fully aware that insolence and
speaking out of turn was the height of
ill manners in little people

Reviews

[Richard🖌]

A stellar work, Chris 🌸

How vividly and skillfully you set the scene and bring your character to life, animating her with vibrant word-painting … one can almost hear Gran breathing and muttering to herself.
And, boy howdy, does this one ever toll a far away bell when it comes to teaching kids how to act!
By far-and-large, today's youth are taught few of the benefits that lead to listening, learning, respect, courtesy, compassion, congenial communication, and patience. And, so much time is spent texting one another and playing electronic games, there are fewer and fewer developed communication skills, with rather droll, uninterested personalities in result. Not all kids, of course, but farrr too many; and, this trend keeps on keeping on. Kids seem to lack teachable moments anymore, and the interest to ask and listen to adults.
Hah! I don't know how you do it, but you have a certain way of getting me on a soapbox.

An excellently rendered, introspective work that grabbed and held my interest from title to final line.
I really enjoy how your mind works, Chris ⁓ Richard🖌


[PS: check your line breaks] : )

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Richard for such a thorough and encouraging review. So pleased you enjoyed this piece. I appreciate your advice re the line breaks and will take due note. Be careful on that soapbox :))

Chris

[Richard🖌]

Will do, Chris … LOL!

[red93]

Excellent Chris really good Work. 'Manners Maketh Man' is the Motto of New College Oxford btw ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Tony. Also the motto of Micklem Primary School. I love that New College Oxford shares the same:) Have a good afternoon.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

My. Mothers family had Reunions… and I was fascinated with the older relatives. Now I am comfortable becoming old because I know it is a privilege … like a tree that changes with the Seasons. Amen. Pat

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right Pat. It is a privilege to grow old. Neither my brother of my dad did. Thank you for stopping by today and gracing my page. 🌹

Chris

[carl]

a true smile producer, and reminder of a past edict of etiquette that seems to have gone by the wayside. Perhaps not an issue any longer b/c the kids are all texting on their phones. At first I thought she was feeling for proper placement of utensils. Fun read, thanks for the post.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Carl. Yes times have certainly changed. Pleased you enjoyed the read. All the best.
read moreMany thanks Carl. Yes times have certainly changed. Pleased you enjoyed the read. All the best.

Chris

[Wondering Mind]

Some writing brings smiles to the heart/mind ... with all the emotions within that smile.
This is one of them

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your lovely review. Pleased you could smile at this old memory. Times have certainly changed :)

Chris

[Dave]

Those were the days, or were they? Children are sooooo different today. I tell my wife that I miss being in
the classroom and that I'd like to go back. She stresses NO! No you don't! It's not the same. She's still teaching and I have to take her word for it.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Times certainly have changed Dave. I pity teachers in the classroom these days. Discipline has gone out the window. Teachers are stressed and worn out with the behavior of some young people these days. I think your wife is right. Many thanks for checking in. All the best.

Chris

[AYVID N]

A small child is still so observant and so wise. She was quiet but her eyes missed nothing. She also was mindful and obedient of her elders' opinion. Those were indeed the days when children were brought up differently than now. I loved this beautifully written poem with such lovely and vivid details of your childhood. A wonderful trip down the memory lane, dear Chris. Those days past, that world bygone live is us always. They are still so alive and animated within.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear divya. We might not have spoken out, but we certainly didn’t miss much of what was going on. Times have really changed haven’t they? So pleased you enjoyed this old memory.

Chris

[AYVID N]

You're most welcome Chris.

[Lorry]

... And laughing when someone made fart noises getting off the sofa was frowned upon too, but trying to stop that happening would mean said child would burst and who wants to clean that mess up? 😊
And not a rweet or ping or infuriating update noise to be heard.... Happy days!
I better stop now, before I start reminiscing about ha'penny trays and he most evil of modern day evils to a modern child... Shrinkflation!
I really do wish I had the vision to keep a bunch of uneaten sweets to make all their eyes pop out when they saw how a choc bar of yesteryear would be considered an offensive weapon these days!
And don't get me started on blackjacks and fruit salads! 😊

[Chris Shaw]

Oh Lorry, your mentioned blackjacks and fruit salads and I found myself back in Jenkins sweet shop at the corner of our square, with two pennies. Yes, I had been a good girl and deserved sweets:) Don’t mention farts. That got us trying to hide our sniggers :) We always got found out.

Chris

[Lorry]

Local pound land in town has mega fruit salad bags sometimes fir a quid, but haven't seen bjacks in a whumile now. They probably shrank into non existence 😊

[Chris Shaw]

Poundland eh? Will have to pay a visit. Bjacks weren’t much good for white teeth were they? Or for turning the tongue from pretty pink to the colour of coal. 🙂

[Lorry]

But if your mum made you stick out your tongue to see if you were lying, you could always blame it on them😊

[Fabian G. Franklin]

These days the little people just boss their parents around. Mine tries to get away with that. I enjoyed reading this. It took me way back. I keep telling the baby she has to fall in line because only grandchildren are allowed to boss me around. (laughing)

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Fabian, pleased you enjoyed this old memory and I thank you for your share. All the best. read moreThanks Fabian, pleased you enjoyed this old memory and I thank you for your share. All the best.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

beautiful .. it holds a certain stoic sadness for me .. as well as putting me right back at the dinner table of my parents so many years ago now .. i am happy to say .. i am so grateful for my upbringing .. standards to live up to .. in stark comparison to this day and age where one is shamed into the same form as those imposing ideas that proclaim .. anything goes .. it's only right or wrong if "I" say it is and it applies only to me .. a tragic misstep says i .. and utterly without foundation .. wind town shopping bags barking and snapping in the wind ... really inspired in reading ma'am!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E , pleased this memory brought some happy thoughts back to you. My family, especially my grandparents were sticklers when it came to manners. Good behavior was a must. My primary school motto was “manners maketh man”. I was talking to my own grandchildren about this memory the other day. How times have changed . Many thank yous for stopping by. All the best.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for sharing your wonderful poetry!

[willweb]

That was cute in a way...poor old great grandma...little did she know that rules that weren't broken could be a problem later in life. I liked this Chris. It was like I was peeking in through a window.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks will. How times have changed:) Little people now have plenty to say. I was talking to my own grandchildren about this memory the other day. Really appreciate your thoughts. Hope your Thursday is going well.

Chris