Ode to a White Chair
Family history in an object
You’ve travelled far,
My wooden friend
And you’ve lived long.
*
You began in Cornwall,
You started in Hayle
In a lovely hotel bar is
Where begins this tale.
*
My great-aunt Kathleen owned you,
Along with many others,
Many a bottom sat on you
Men, quenching their thirst.
*
In her hotel bar you stood,
dependably there for a weary traveller
With your lovely firm support,
you always hoped to dazzle her.
*
For many years you served them well
All who came and sat and rested
When great aunt Kathleen deemed to retire
Her sister, Eileen, requested
A chair
So now to Kent you went
A family home, not what you expected.
*
She cleaned you up and rubbed you down,
Her sandpaper a bit abrasive
Before you were a burnished brown
But with paint you were invaded.
*
She carefully coated you once,
Then twice,
So now, in purest white you reigned
Over the bathroom of many a tryst.
*
Plenty of seats were sat
On you, while they had a chat
One in the bath, one on the seat -
Sometimes it was just the mat
You had to talk to
Fancy that!
*
When Eileen passed,
You were removed
Forward to Essex
Ending life? No, just reproved.
*
In a busy kitchen, you
Were a regular seat,
Everyone sat on you
And thought you rather neat.
*
Until the day you were replaced
And then you travelled by car
Hundreds of sunny country miles,
As Scotland is so very far.
*
And now you are piled close to me
In my bedroom, pink and frilly,
And although you are tattered and aged
I will let you live tranquilly.
*
You are as old as me my friend,
Maybe a little older,
And you’ll be here until the end.
Or, could be a little longer.
About the Creator
Ruth Stewart
I'm a grandmother of four amazing grandchildren and a mum of three fabulous children. I write poetry mainly, also prose and the odd story. I live in Scotland, UK. For a secret link to watch me read my favourite poems click right here!
Reader insights
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Compelling and original writing
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Comments (10)
What a great life this chair led. Romance, bar fights, cabaret, traveled more than i did, and still going strong. Lovely ode.
That is a rich history for a chair! Feels like if it ever goes in a museum, this poem can be etched and plaqued next to it. You can feel the life of the chair in this one 😊
What a beautiful ode to a family heirloom!!!!! ❤️❤️
Love the history of this precious heirloom! You told its story so beautifully!!! Bravo, Ruth! 💞💫
Absolutely love this ♥️ Just told such vibrant story .
Oh wow, the chair lived through so many adventures! Loved your beautiful ode!
Great job at capturing the ‘journey’ of the object. I hate saying goodbye to objects/furniture that have been around with us for so long so I enjoyed this!
Ahh, I love the history of objects and your poem successfully brought me up to speed with something as simple as the life of a chair. Glad it's still around. Great entry!
Wow, Ruth, this is truly amazing. Loose, and fun, and flowing and sentimental! Well done!
Wow...I love this even more. I can't really spot where the alterations have been made, but it has a wonderful flow and you covered a lot of life, years and experiences in a relatively short poem. Well done, darling!