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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: The Heirloom

by

Welcome to Poetry Friday. This is my first Poetry Friday post for 2016, and I want to share a poem I wrote in response to an unexpected Christmas gift.

The HeirloomKipling Book

I can tell at once the gift is a book

and I wonder

what it is

my parents

(who gave me my love of words)

have thought to gift me now

that my house and life

are filled with books

I often pass on to them.

I unwrap the parcel

hoping I can show delight

to eager watchers.

I needn’t have worried.

An ageing book of poetry

was never likely to disappoint.

A perfect gift made more so

by my grandmother’s name

etched inside the cover

connecting the three generations

of first owner

gifters

and recipient.

My Grandmother's name, which we once shared.

My Grandmother’s name, which we once shared.

Have a great Friday. This week’s roundup is at Keri Recommends.

Comments

  1. I agree that books are the most precious gifts of all – made even more so by this family history that you shared with us. 🙂 Rudyard Kipling’s Verse – I have to see whether we have it in our library too.

  3. What a treasure! I have some books that belonged to my great-grandfather, whom I never knew — Tennyson. Thanks for reminding me!

  5. I love this post, Sally. I found some items from my mother with her handwriting this Christmas and it brought her closer to me. She gave me some old children’s books that she collected in the 40s. I showcase them each Christmas. Your poem is touching – connecting three generations!

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