The Sweetest Presence
A gift from her sister, I was
oooohed and aaaahed over
Now I hang on a rusty hook
near the back screen door
Listening to kids running
in, out, in, out, slam, slam
Her husband complains that
I’m in his way, bang
(He is too tall, but
I won’t be the one to say)
I was once a variety
of leftover spoons and forks
Then, refiner’s fire made me
flatware that’s really flat
Now comes a quiet breeze
breathing through me
and the gently moving silverware
makes music to soothe the soul
I may not chime the hour
but I have my own charms
She hears my call and
joins me for a cup of tea
Always remembers her sister
when she listens to me
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
My dear friend Sherry Blue Sky turned me on to this prompt. Hannah Gosslein (known to many of us as “Sweet Hannah” offered a prompt at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, to inhabit the spirit of a forest plant or creature. I made a detour and chose something that is affected by nature, the humble wind chime. A friend had some that were indeed forged and flattened forks and spoons, leftovers from an old family set, and it left a definitely impression on me. Thanks, Hannah! Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
pandamoniumcat
Lovely poem, I love cutlery wind chimes, I used to have a few hanging at my place, and my hubby complained too. I can imagine all the commotion and the quiet times with a cuppa. Nice! 😉
Sharp Little Pencil
Just saw one, completely unlike any one I’ve seen: everything from coated tin cans to cutlery to bells. A whole orchestra… or cacophony, depending on your taste!
vivinfrance
I’ve long wanted a wind chime, and the idea of making one out of re-cycled cutlery is immensely attractive. Your poem is charming.
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, if you decide to set up a forge in your basement to heat the silverware before pounding… Jock can always pick up extra work shoeing horses!! Thanks, hon.
Debbie
Oh Amy, this was so beautiful to me! I’m sending it on to a wind-chime loving friend! 🙂 Thank you!
Kerry O'Connor
This is a very different approach to the RT prompt.. very imaginative to write from the pov of the wind chime.
Sharp Little Pencil
It was more of a departure than I realized, once I got around to reading other folks’ pieces. But hey, I’m a rebel anyway, so no harm done! he he Thanks Kerry!
kateri
This is so lovely–and quite a different take on the prompt. I can hear those chiming sounds as I read your poem.
Hannah Gosselin
Amy!!! I LOVE it!!! I’m so glad you listened to your heart and muse…took this detour…such a cool perspective my friend. I can nearly hear the soothing-sentimental sounds of the chiming charms that you’ve depicted.
SO lovely!! 🙂 Thank you for transforming this Friday, Amy and for your sweet words about me…warms my heart! ♥
Sharp Little Pencil
Hannah, just hearing your name warms MY heart. Thanks again for a wonderful prompt. Hope folks make it over to your blog… my destination right now! A
Hannah Gosselin
Thank you ever so much for your visits, Amy…you have such a kind heart. ♥
Lance
The last line says it all, doesn’t it?
You kicked the prompt’s ass. Lovely.
Sharp Little Pencil
Ha ha, Lance, and I had my workboots on! My toe hurts, but you should see the prompt, right?! So glad to hear from you, and thanks, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
I love this! Especially “she thinks of her sister, when she listens to me.” My sister and I HAVE wind chimes made of forks and spoons. I adore the sound of wind chimes and must always have them. My favorite are the long tubular ones, that sound like beautiful church bells…….sigh. I love that you picked wind chimes for this challenge!!!!!! A girl after my own heart. I so love the wind.
Sharp Little Pencil
I know I took the prompt in a different direction, but I’m glad I followed my heart on this one. It’s so funny, so US that you have them, too. Best recycling of old, unmatched cutlery, especially when it’s a family set… Love, Amy
Caddo Veil
I LOVE this–I’m the friend Deb sent it to! I love my wind chimes–even in my small apartment, they’re a necessity, I always want one more! Great poem, seriously good!
Sharp Little Pencil
C.V., thank you so much for stopping by, and thanks to Debbie for turning you on to this poem. It’s really one of the tame ones; I’m a rather rowdy girl from the Christian Left, an activist. I’m coming over to check out your blog now if I can… Peace and thanks, Amy
hedgewitch
This is a lovely personification, Amy—wind chimes have just exactly the sort of dignity and beauty you give them here as they ‘speak.” Truly transforming.
Sharp Little Pencil
They do have angelic voices, don’t they? Thanks, Hedge! A
Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly)
I love wind chimes and the memories this one brings as it stirs in the wind are so sweet…I love sitting in the backyard land listening to the chimes my father made. He is gone now and when I hear them it just feels for a moment he has come to visit with me.
Sharp Little Pencil
How nice that this poem brought back good memories. Thanks so much for stopping by. I’ll try to find your blog… Amy
PJF Sayers
Amelita, I just saw this link at my blog. I haven’t been spending much time on my blog, how embarrassing that I missed this. Now, about your poem, this is just gorgeous. I love how you gave the wind chimes life. I had a friend in the states who also had wind chimes made of silverware, but I believe she bought them at an art show.
saludos con carino,
Pamelita
PJF Sayers
p.s. that should be an n with a guion.
Sharp Little Pencil
Is that like a tilde?
Renee Espriu
I love the idea of re-purposing things and wind chimes made from silverware…well, that is inspiring.
purplepeninportland
This was charming.