Thursday, April 21, 2016

Ephemera


image from fubiz.net


Ephemera

“True nostalgia is an ephemeral composition of
disjointed memories.”--Florence King.

Traditional

When my life slows down to a snore,
I think about inhaling old paper
and heading out on a caper;
seeking a familiar book store
with two cats and an oaken door;
there are not only tons of books,
for readers, experts, and some cooks,
but also old magazines for
ephemera nuts seeking lore
to share with friends on Facebook.

Unfettered

Scrapbooking is one of my fun 
pursuits, cutting out images from
old magazines; like movie ads,
classic cars, and other forms of sweet
nostalgia, collecting those great
Coca-Cola ads, plethoras
of celebrity endorsements
for cigarettes, booze, and everything
else under the sun. It’s lovely
to look back, remember, then smile.

No one is, though some really feel
isolated, adrift, without any
moorings, disconnected, so very 
alone; but if they allow some
nostalgia to blossom within
the bleakness of their lives, they
will discover that they are, in fact
an integral link in a chain
of human events, art, science
and historical fellowship.



Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub MTB

14 comments:

brudberg said...

I think nostalgia and all those old adds are fabulous.. for me it's the adds of the 60s and 70s that are the one i remember... maybe it's something to look for.. I do remember car-helmets, those where fun

brudberg said...

http://img.tradera.net/images/590/221155590_9c91a2ce-3b4b-47a2-8223-7e30d3e746f2.jpg

Mary said...

I really enjoyed your reflections, Glenn. I can't imagine your life ever slowing down to a snore. I would never find myself interested in scrapbooking, though I know many people are. And yes, I think you are right...no one is truly isolated, except in their own mind. If they look out just a bit, they will find their connections!

Gayle Walters Rose said...

Wonderful, Glenn. I even have memories of the 40s since that was my parents era and we listened to music of that time when I was a child. Remembering those days can be enjoyable. Life did seem less hectic in many ways. I like your last line that encourages others to realize that they were a part of something too.

AnotherFearlessYear.net said...

I like the traditional poem best, perhaps because it involves a book store, which I love!

lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.com said...

Can't believe you would ever slow down to snore -- or sit in a rocking chair! :)
Inhaling old paper ---- scrapbooking. I recently went through tons of memorabilia from generations past and made Albums for my kids -- traced their genealogy and then included photos from great great grandparents' days, courting of their grandparents, me and my spouse, their births and early days -- right up to when they met their spouse. Last photo in book is of them with their spouse. Includes copies of news articles, marriage certificates from the early 1900s etc. Very fun to "inhale" the paper and create these.
PS: love the "fettered"(by form) and then one in your own inimitable style! :)
Nice!

Beachanny said...

Wow..sort of on the same page today; although you went in depth and wonderfully so -- starting with the decima and then freestyling it further and more specifically. Your use of images and language is terrific. Always a joy to read your work, my friend!

Sanaa Rizvi said...

Love the imagery :D both are such exquisite poems.

Myrna R. said...

You wrote a great decima. And your other poem expands your thought perfectly. I think you'd get along with my husband who loves nostalgia though he doesn't collect.

De Jackson said...

"inhaling old paper"

I do this, too. ;)

Kim M. Russell said...

Oh you can't beat a bit of nostalgia, Glenn. I love 'inhaling paper'!

lynn__ said...

I LIKE it...especially the old cars and Coke memorabilia!!

Unknown said...

When life slows to a snore indeed...unfortunately that Jelena too rarely, so I have to make time to inhales old paper.

Unknown said...

Dang auto correct. ..that HAPPENS FAR too rarely. I have no idea what Jelena means.