That Which Was Lost

[poliphilo]

Remember how I lost my Roman ring? I'm not sure I wrote about it at the time- too upsetting, but I certainly wrote about buying a couple of replacements on eBay. 

Well, anyway- I was raking in the back yard just now and - chingle, chingle- there it was. 

Thank you, thank you, lares et penates.

And here to celebrate is a poem I wrote back in the day about the Roman city of Isurium Brigantum (Aldborough)

ALDBOROUGH

They've got an image of Mercury
In the village church. Though it's weather-worn,
If the light falls right you can just make out
His horns and his staff. The Roman town
Was a bustling place. It had walls this thick
And a governor's palace. It's only been dug for
Randomly. A man lifting tubers
Hits on a pavement. A coin and a brooch
Are spotted among her alyssum
By a woman weeding. Two fine mosaics
Are shown in situ in two little houses
Built to their measure- which made me think
Of the three little pigs and the big, bad wolf;
He huffed and he puffed and he blew the house down-
Twice, not thrice. In the heritage shop
I bought this torc which I'm wearing now
For the ancestors. It cost me a quid
And the gilt wore off in a couple of days.
It feels like a watch- every once in a while
I'll glance down at it to check the time.

Comments

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

I would seem whatever fairy that took it decided it was time for you to have it back.

This means you have two now, doesn't it? I seem to remember you getting a replacement.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Actually I've got three. I bought myself a replacement and Ailz, unbeknownest to me, bought one too. They're all very different.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm thrilled you found it! I know how distressed I'd be if I lost something like that.

And what a lovely poem.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I was very upset at the time but- apparently- it was in the back yard all along.

I'm glad you like the poem. Have you been to Aldborough? Nice mosaics.

[sovay]

And here to celebrate is a poem I wrote back in the day about the Roman city of Isurium Brigantum (Aldborough)

I love this.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The shed/garage suggests you've got me (by which I mean whatever I represent to you) tucked away in the corner of your mind.

The key suggests there's a door to be unlocked and a discovery to be made.

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

Congrats on relocating your ring!

I had to read your poignant poem twice (sometimes I'm a little slow, especially when it comes to poetry). I'm glad that I did.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked it.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you found it--it's a good thing you didn't move!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of that. Yes, if we'd have gone down south it would have been lost forever. Maybe it's a sign.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I smiled at

A coin and a brooch
Are spotted among her alyssum
By a woman weeding.

How beautifully you wound that line around, a little surprise!

I like your poetry very much.

And I do remember when you lost your first ring. How perfect, that it found its way back (I am thinking of Tolkein's Ring, Which "wants to be found") to you again!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I love alyssum; it smells of heaven.

[fickleasever.livejournal.com]

I like this, I like it a lot.
:)
Nice way you have of contrasting sensory imagery.


btw, spotted your comment to someone else and I'm with you on the scent of alyssum, it's fabulous.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

The smell of allysum takes me straight back to childhood- and the garden of my grandparents' house in Rottingdean