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Tuesday 19 July 2011


For Ernie, an O.A.P. who played dominoes at my local pub


Finally, done with competition,
Drink, dominoes and conversation
Now acquire their always
More important role.

Done with tedious time encroaching tasks
The truth now taken all lunchtime in its telling,
And requires a round or two of bitter beer
To bring the pains and pleasures
Of a poignant past
To the point of purpose.

And as I sit and play,
And pay to learn,
It’s more than debts and dots and dominoes
For which I spend.

I listen to the splendours of past springs,
Which make sense of this, my present summer.

I travel with the tales which traverse time,
And take comfort from the continuity which
Turns around this tavern table.

For the tales and their telling
Makes time terminal,
And all the terrors of a transitory life
Become bequeathed.

Such bequests, remind me what has been,
Enable me to live with that which is,
And nurture me to bear what may become.


© James Rainsford 2011


Note to readers: Posted as my contribution to opening night at the dVersePoets pub. You can comment and join the conversation on the link below. I look forward to a spectacular evening with great poems, great company and a delicious selection of food & drink. Congratulations to all! James.

16 comments:

  1. Yeah sometimes the task like dominoes is just the backdrop and hearing tales is the true value. Wonderfully said!

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  2. tales in the telling make time terminal...nice..yes they do...and our stories live long beyond us...very well done...i think i go for the stories as well...

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  3. love these last lines:

    Such bequests, remind me what has been,
    Enable me to live with that which is,
    And nurture me to bear what may become.

    great to see you at D'verse~

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  4. Thank you, thank you for being one person in the vast Universe who knows how to appreciate and how to lovingly glean from an elderly person. Surely this is the way it was meant to be. One of the great sorrows within me is the indignity with which the elderly are treated and warehoused. Well done James, for your character and for the wonderful write!

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  5. That last stanza is just great..a poignant story told here..enjoyed very much.

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  6. Fabulous, James-- one never knows what direction you'll take, week to week. I appreciate/have appreciated your comments very much...besos-- Jenne'

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  7. I like it! The insights and the sounds. I hear the pub and your sadness as I take in your words.

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  8. past and future spinning right in front of our very eyes. i enjoyed it. thank you.

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  9. ..I pay to learn.... Sounds like you've lost more $ than you've earned. LOL BUT, as you say, the benefits outweigh the "loss". Loved this!

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  10. The alliteration here is masterly, drumming softly on the tabletop as you slide from image to image and thought to thought--(I had to google O.A.P. I was thinking Old Antiquated Poet, but possibly I was over-relating.) Some excellent work in this James. I esp liked "as I sit and play,/ and pay to learn..." and the final stanzas.

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  11. Very insightful and moving.

    A great share for dVerse Poets Pub opening!

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  12. A very insightful write, James.
    Love the ending.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  13. This particular part is perfect to me,

    "For the tales and their telling
    Makes time terminal,
    And all the terrors of a transitory life
    Become bequeathed."

    Absolutely love that!

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  14. That’s very beautifully versed…

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  15. Shootin' the bull, playin' Moon and '42'. Hey, I didn't think you were in TX. I've played 42 since I could sit on a phone book and reach the table. Bridge was more sophisticated and I learned that so my husband could get tenure; but when the family played 42 Katie bar the door. Know you're having fun and maybe those tales will take you around the world.
    Good work here. Gay

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  16. So much learning to be had when you listen to the telling. wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all really sit round and share similar tales? I'm still recovering from the grand opening, and am late to visit, but as always, so very, very happy I did. This piece will be pondered long after the comment gets read!

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If you wish your views and opinions to be published here, please be polite and respectful. I welcome feedback on my work and will try to respond if you take the trouble to post a comment. Thanks for visiting 'The Sanctum of Sanity.' Hope you enjoyed the experience, James.