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Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. Leonard Cohen

Monday, June 20, 2011

$1.99

image courtesy of Magpie Tales
Welcome to the estate sale!
Come on in and look around
See anything you like?
Oh yes, it's all yours, isn't it?
Or rather, it was.
Now it's fodder 
For the Saturday morning junk hunters.

Table and chairs--$100
Floor lamp--$25
Potted plant--$2.50
Like you, it's not alive.

The sofa with its arm covers
Barely even used
The cut glass chandelier
Still casts a harsh glare
Also like you
But it's never felt so warm here
Now that you're cold.

And look! Here's your photo!
In a lovely gilded frame
Million dollar smile?
Yours, $1.99.

submitted for Magpie Tales 70

23 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

Wow! Wicked-mean people. You really painted a vivid picture of unkind people.

Anonymous said...

Interesting right alignment. I like it. Great Magpie, I think I've been to that sale. :)

Christine said...

Well, you can't take it with you, and now the kids get to enjoy the fruits of all your labor.

Brian Miller said...

well, hopefully if i come back a haunting it is well after the sale...my luck i will be attached to an old shoe that will end up in a box for the good will...

you will survive...smiles.

Reflections said...

Wow... tight write, love the chat with the former owner.

hedgewitch said...

Snark at it's finest, my dear. Well said.

Fireblossom said...

oOoooo, ouch! I used to say that, when she died, I wanted just one piece of my mother's precious furniture, so that I could take it out in the back yard and bash the bejesus out of it. I've mellowed since. Now I just don't talk to her.

Isabel Doyle said...

grim - but well written and very clever!

JustRex said...

Even though they are kind of sad, I go to estate sales when I can. I have alot of dead people's stuff in my house. If it wasn't all just junk, my house would be a museum.

libithina said...

leaving more than a crumb for you to hopefully finely dine ~ recalled seeing similar that you depict ~ in a small front garden where the lady had gone into care ~ very sad ~ but her grandchildren said that much could not be bought at any price ~ Lib ~
Many Midsummer wishes ~ @Libithina

Lucy Westenra said...

A somewhat eerie take on the prompt; a voice speaking to someone 'passed over'. Good writing.

libithina said...

all of my comments seem to be dissappearing today ~ for the 2nd time ~ gladly leaving more than a crumb ~ nay I would like to leave a feast ~ (image has not taken) your post reminds of a garden sale for a lady who had gone into a care home ~ v sad ~ but grandchildren said some things could never be sold ~ Lib ~ @Libithina
Midsummer wishes

Brian Miller said...

thank ya sistah mouse fo attendin the prayah meetin...smiles. thanks for the hits on places in Bmore...lived there about 3 years a while back myself...

Margaret said...

You probably wrote this with her dead, her spirit visiting. But it makes me think of all the people that have been evicted from their homes - repossessed by the bank. Very sad.

Beachanny said...

This is a commentary on our times. It wasn't always so. Things you'd grown up loving had extra meaning and those who were left wanted to carry on with those "special" things. The age of electronics seems to have diminished the beauty of craft and years of care. Heartbreaking really. Well written to evoke the loss. Gay

Tumblewords: said...

Strong piece. The 'voice' is terrific.

Anonymous said...

Oh wow you made some cutting points on society, very interesting piece =)

Pat Tillett said...

Some of the belongins and people in our lives, lose value over time. If I charged 1.99 for a photo of a couple of people in my life, I'd be overcharging by about 1.98.

Great writing my friend...

Tess Kincaid said...

That last line is priceless and so fitting. Nice, Mouse.

Steve Isaak said...

Good use of voice and flow in this; spirited work.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Great Mag.

Anna :o]

Mary said...

Liked how you wrote this one .. novel take albeit it a little sad how life ends up in yard sales ..well written.

Anonymous said...

brilliant.
the price on top makes me smile.

join poetry potluck week 41 today.
:)