Time was
Once there was a time
when a house stood on a hill
filled with poems and a deep, warm voice.
The scent of turps and linseed oil
hung heavy and mysterious
amid the comforting smell of baking pastry.
Home was a ship riding a grassy sea
and green hills ran along the rim of the world.
They are gone now, into the shadows
with the home they made to hold our dreams.
But I will keep the memory of those times,
bright as a summer morning
until I too go into the shadows
beyond the rim of green hills.
Jane Dougherty Writes 
Jane, I am in awe of this poem; it sings, yet there is a stillness to it that whispers, rises, and swoops down in a never ending melody.
What a lovely comment, George. I’m glad you found a something lyrical in the words. Sometimes the structure of the phrase, the choice of image is enough to convey a deep-felt sentiment. I’m so pleased it struck a chord with you.
What a beautiful poem. It is a living, breathing thought that transcends time.
Thank you. I like to think that good things, memories and people never die as long as someone remembers them.
I really liked this poem, I found it very evocative. It brought back similar memories of my own childhood. 😀
Glad you liked it. Everybody’s memories of home and parents are different, but there’s a universality to the emotion attached to them. I hope I found it.
You evoke each of my senses and I sense happiness in the walls of ‘home’. Well done.
Thank you Christy. I wanted to try and capture a whole childhood and what it meant in a few words. I’m glad it worked for you.
I love this poem which so beautifully conveys your love for your parents and the comfort of home which they so obviously provided for you then and now in the precious memories that you hold so dear.
Thanks Sherri. Everybody has precious childhood memories. I treasure them all the more because I stopped being able to share memories with my parents so long ago.
These are memories worth keeping.
I love it….Just beautiful!
Thoughts that run deep seem to resonate. It looks as though I hit the right chords for some of you. Thanks for the kind words.
Very lovely and poignant, Jane. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I’m pleased you enjoyed it, Gillian.