Monday, February 14, 2011

Magpie #53

Photograph © Tess Kincaid
Posted by Picasa

The image above was offered as a writing prompt by Magpie Tales.
Click on the link to see others' contributions.

* * *
MEMORIES OF A SALT CELLAR

We were a beautiful pair, Pepper and I. 
I still recall the day that Lucy, at her bridal shower,
 tore the wrappings from our box.
How we sparkled when she held us to the sunlight. 
 "Oh! Joe and I will love and care for these forever," she said.

The glass-front china cabinet in the dining room, 
second shelf, up front, under a light, was where she kept us
except on Sundays, or when company came for dinner.
On those occasions, she would  put us on the table
for her guests to admire.

"Are these Waterford? Beautiful.
 I love how they catch the light."

Then the children began to sit at table,
and we learned to dread Sunday dinners.
Knocks and spills became the order of the day.
I can't begin to count the number of times
we left trails on the linen cloth,
or were unceremoniously tossed across the table
to small, impatient, waiting hands.

All Joe said was "Boys will be boys!"
Lucy sighed.

She finally stopped urging them to be careful with us
until one sad day, my partner's shattered remains lay on the floor,
a casualty of an all too hasty "pass the pepper."

I now sit on the top shelf of the china cabinet,
pushed to the back, out of sight.
Alone, and in the dark.

* * *

20 comments:

Jim Swindle said...

I like your little tale.

Unknown said...

That's where mine are. You will see why if you stop by my neck of the woods. Great story.
QMM

Unknown said...

aww...salty's tears :(

Kathe W. said...

oh dreary me....poor pepper and the salt stands alone.

Brian Miller said...

aww...i feel so sad for the abused salt shaker...cute tale...

Tumblewords: said...

Kids. Darn. Poor salt cellar. Well told!

Reader Wil said...

How sad that even salt becomes a widow!
Thanks for your interesting. Comment. Yes without electricity life is a lot more difficult but we can survive!

Lyn said...

Dear Salt..you are a star in your own right and some day you will be featured on Antiques Roadshow..
Loved this take!!

Deborah said...

This was just WONDERFUL! :o)

Nutmeg said...

Another good poem. Nutmeg

Jinksy said...

Definitely, Salt is a star in it's own right! LOL

Tess Kincaid said...

Lonely little salt.

Pauline said...

That just broke my heart! When I was a child, all things had life to them somehow. You just reminded me of that long ago belief!

Helen said...

You brought the pair of shakers to life ... a lovely story.

jabblog said...

Aww, so sad! But there's no point in having lovely things and never using them so that others can appreciate them.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I will miss poor Pepper. ツ

Anonymous said...

Awwww, this was wonderful! Poor pepper though! What a creative and lovely spin to the prompt! :o)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

live and sense making,

sad ending...well done.

Reflections said...

Such a lonely demise, left in the shadows out of reach...:(

Nicely written.

Martin said...

What a sad ending for salt. Nice poem, though.

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