I believe that not being able to talk about the darkness and having to suppress feelings due to the possibility of upsetting another is hurtful. They only have to "hear" about the events not live them. I think children of today are overprotected and when something of a darker nature happens to them .. they will not have any emotional muscle to hold them together.

This was written because my grown daughters scolded me for sharing some of my own history with them when they were teenagers. My mother shared her scary moments of almost being murdered.. etc.. and how my sister and I needed to be scared of "dirty old men etc.. which she shouldn't have but there were no lasting effects on any of us. The kids of today watch far scarier movies but not allowed to hear any "upsetting" true events even when sugar-coated. Life is "real"

I was very pleased with the feedback on this piece. Even my well-read hubby liked it and he is a poetry snob. :D

Patti

Thanks BT.. While many can "almost" rid themselves of being haunted by the past.. as can afford years and years of counseling .. some cannot. While unaware the past is haunting.. it does invade how we see things and events. Visit our dreams though in weird images at times. For example.. that feeling of being in danger.. fear etc.. the dream may be one of self walking down a road and the sides of the road begin to wall away. Or you may be in a room and the floor is starting to sink in the middle opening up a gaping black abyss.. pulling you towards it. Stuff like that. Seldom do all the dreams stop.. even when there is not reason for the fear anymore. Memory is like an endless tape recording and at times the tapes overlap .. blending one memory into another so to speak. If that makes any sense at all!! :D

The grey Pacific Northwest is as if an umbrella of gloom and why I seem to write in a deeper vein. I use to hate it and while I still do to an extent.. I have realized that I do some of my best writing during this time.

Patti

Ah.. thanks Irene. I had to explain to Robert what the "title" meant as he simply didn't get it.
At first he thought.. perhaps an urn with someone's ashes. :D Which of course it wasn't.
The attic is usually where things are stored away and many things forgotten.. simply gathering dust and entangled in cobwebs.. In time forgotten and many times discarded by others that feels items or of no use of pure junk. Ashes just because that is simply useless residue. Once he understood the analogies he like the poem. Which is a true compliment as is always comparing mine to the works of the masters.. where of course mine sounds like silly child's play. Good thing I write for myself and couldn't give a "d" if published etc. as in the end? All as we know will most likely in time be simply particles of nil importance.

Patti

LOL.. Yes.. I am a defiler of punctuation.. and I seem to have some rather famous company.. in poetry and in literature. :D Though perhaps dear man my reason for defiling is due to lack thereof of high education ... though I find at times higher education has strangled the pure freedom of creating without hurdles or rules which I duly see as mere briers and brambles laying hidden in wait to perhaps halt our joyous tromp of inventive verbiage on a daily basis as if some detailed intended strategy not unlike those of a four-star general with an ego as wide as an ass of largest magnitude and so full of boisterous blusterous gas the whole world is in petrifying danger of imploding.. Does that cover it.. LOL.. :D

TAH DAH!

Patti

I love having you read my work Michael. I think your insight is so valuable as feedback.
I wish more understood that memories are embedded in our sinew and bones. One should feel safe in being able to share and yes, with children of a certain age. AND at times a memory is going to seep out too early but that is only being human. God forbid a parent being just as human as the older child or teen. As it is the child or teen inside that is doing the sharing. You and I know as do others that ashes while lying rather dormant can spark and cause a raging fire. Ashes in an attic can destroy an entire house as with all the headlines point out time after time after time. I write as a release and at time hope my words aid in another being able to perhaps at least loosen their tight grip on the past.

Patti

Thank Janet. This was a very personal write for me. Kinda due to a conversation about perhaps sharing too much with family members about own childhood and teen years. They weren't "little children" though. I felt scolded and hurt as so much was shared with me at a far younger age.. perhaps 4 and 5 years old. Dark stuff. I wasn't horribly "damaged" by any of it. While certain things are best not heard by children.. I think it has swung way to far in one direction. The day has to come when they learned the chicken they friend.. the burger they ate etc.. came by an animal being slaughtered.

Thanks for all the read and feedback.

Patti

Part of my struggle with this piece is trying to get across that what some have had to endure in the lifetime and especially as children.. needs to be talked about. Not hidden as memories can be corrosive. At least being able to share with family members.. they can get to truly know you and perhaps understand some of their behavior and personality traits. While children need to be protected.. I think it has gone too far in overprotecting and the first huge loss they have or disappointment, they will not have any emotional muscle.

As with the bombings today in Brussels. The three children will have to be told what happened and perhaps the oldest a little more than the younger two as no reason to fill in all the horror. But they can't be sheltered from it all. The numbers of the dead and injured are rising. My son is keeping the news off but the kids will want to know why they aren't going to school?

Thanks for all the reads. Sure made my morning and need the bright spot on this very dark morning.

Patti

Thanks for reading this and the feedback rhiannon. As for "metaphor" rhyme pattern, etc.. I'll take a look and see if I can get a better feel for what you are saying. I don't follow "rules" etc as to be perfectly honest? I don't understand the rules!! LOL As for 'meter' 'alliteration' etc.. I can't seem to assimilate any of that. I will sit and argue with myself line by line until I'm ready to scream. Sometimes I get it right and I know it most likely is by accident!!!

Behind on reading as have family here from Iowa. Will be catching up this coming week.

I so wish I had your expertise rhiannon! Would make writing a lot easier for me. :D AND I am going to try AGAIN to study and see if I can finally "grasp" some of what has evaded me my entire life! GRAMMAR! ;D

Patti

This piece has become one of my favorites. I guess because it is so personal. I don't have as much trouble with tall ceilings as I used to. I do prefer lower ceilings though and smaller rooms. :D Only one small room in this house though. Except for bathrooms!

Thanks for another read and I will certainly consider what you pointed out. Might be what it needs.

Patti

Ah... a "thinker" is reading this piece! :D I so love your comments and feedback. I feel as if a "poet's heart" is reading my words and not just reading but also "seeing" what I so struggle to express.

This was a "personal" piece as had just been "scolded" by a grown child of mine ... actually two of them.. for perhaps "sharing" too much with them as children. They weren't really little children when they learned a bit about my darker moments. It stung! And were they right? In some ways yes. Having said that I did feel children of today are far too protected. All is not well in the world. AND some stories can help protect children/teens.

My mother shared extremely dark things to me and my sister and we were only four and five at the time. More at six and seven and into our teens. Some of her sharing was not a good idea but it sure didn't mar us for life.. :D

Again, thank you for reading and love your responses. Poetic in nature!

Will be reading some today as I get behind in spring due to all the "yard" work. When I saw "yard" that is an utter misuse of the word! I think we maintain over an acre of the seven acres of woods we live in. Most of what we call our front yard is straight downhill! All covered in plants/flowering shrubs etc so very difficult on old legs and arms .. LOL BUT someone gotta do it!

Patricia

Ah thanks ... it was an emotional write as had been kinds "scolded" by my two grown daughters for perhaps sharing too much with them etc etc etc.. and had just spoken some "harsh" fact in front of my two grandchildren who of course watch far 'darker' truths on TV.. in the movies and in the games they play on line. PLUS.. no way would I have talked to my mama like that as would have been uh.. most likely slapped across the face. :D

I had posted the poem on FB via another poetry site.. NO comments from either daughter.. hmmmmmm.. LOL..

I think some took "ashes in the attic" as something more than a "metaphor" which was my intention. Though it could have meant "memories" as with scrapbooks.. diaries etc etc.. or an "urn".. ;D I meant if more as hidden or unspoken truths etc..

Taking today and tomorrow off from "outside" work as too sore to move! Will be catching up on reading/reviewing.. I HOPE!

Again.. thank you for reading and the feedback

Patricia