Ten Dollar Tour

Photograph: Margaret Bednar


Miss Annabelle Lee
once lived here,
for a ten dollar tour
feet cross hardwood
to stare at what remains.

A painting of her hangs
above the mantle
in the sitting room,
barely noticed among teacup
and furniture descriptions.

Microphoned ears
listen to the history
of a piano sitting
against the wall,
not caring the keys
were once played
to comfort a mother
whose son had been
lost to war.

Annabelle’s poetry
sits on the bookshelf
of a small rosewood desk.
The passion in her verses
relinquished to faded ink
and minds caught up
in flashing digital abbreviations.

Her accomplishments
reached far beyond
a life measured
by possessions
and not breath.

Contemporary eyes
give it a nod, but
appear more awed
by the sunlit sparkle
reflected by polished brass.


©Susie Clevenger 2013

Comments

Maude Lynn said…
I really like your approach to this. The person behind the stuff.
Ella said…
I love all the wondrous details! You brought the room to life! :D
hedgewitch said…
Susie, you did a wonderful job of taking this prompt seriously, and really creating a place from the picture, not to mention filling it with living, breathing characters. Loved every word, and the sense of truth you give with each one.
Wow so very true and moving. There is so much in here. Art and mortality. Focusing in the physical and not the soul. Love.
Margaret said…
Ah, the poetry, the music that filled this room with emotion, memories. I love walking through old historic homes, and yes, they do point out the fancy china, etc... but my eyes always search for the nooks and special places that make a room a home. That's what you did here.. very nice!
Grace said…
I like how you gave color and life to the people who once lived there ~ There are certainly more to know than the sparkle reflected by polished brass ~
Kerry O'Connor said…
You have achieved the perfect tension between the historical person and the present day viewer.
Hannah said…
I can nearly hear the history...rustle of pages, scritch of quill against them the hollow sound of the piano...lovely writing and I like how you bring in the shifting perspectives of then people to now peoples.
Anonymous said…
This is very clever--I think of Poe's subject and I think of tourists and this describes both wonderfully. Thanks. k.
Lolamouse said…
I like how you focused on one particular aspect of the photo and turned it into a story. Nice juxtaposition of past and present!