Vanity and Bonfires

By luigi_pagano

Thu, 05 Oct 2017
  • 1564 reads
2 comments
 
I’d  like to think that I am a collector
but deep down I know I am a hoarder:
railway tickets that the train inspector
has validated and are no longer usable;
love tokens and commemorative coins
that, as they have only a nominal value,
not even a thief would want to purloin;
old letters and Polaroid photographs
of people I don’t know or I’ve forgot ;
an old calendar with game old ladies
undressed, (but not showing the lot).
The press cuttings with theatre reviews
are the ones that I treasure the most
as they are those that mention me.
They are not in the Washington Post
but in my local (and free) broadsheets.
They all praise my debut on the stage
even though I did not speak a word.
The critics said I managed to engage
the audience with my imposing stance.
Now on reflection I know I’ve been vain
and realise that my so-called collection
is only rubbish and the inference is plain:
it is time get rid of that useless clutter.
To make a clean break is what I desire;
I’ll make a pile of redundant keepsakes,
put a match to it and start a bonfire
to say farewell to egotistical vanity.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2017
Certificate U
Poetry Monthly
Mutevoli pensieri

Comments

Submitted by lenchenelf on

...and the clutter pile began again. We are our memories, however we amass and tag them :)

Like very much.

Best regards

Lena x

 

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

To quote an old proverb: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. No matter how determined we are to jettison unwanted junk, we are reluctant to dispose of every little scrap of paper. Just in case, we say.

So pleased to hear from you, Lena. Thanks for stopping by.

Best, Luigi x