Manners Maketh

( a very early memory)

while grown ups busied themselves in the
kitchen with the clatter of china tea cups
competing with their chit chat

she sat in a comfy cushioned armchair
knitting a white wool scarf in stocking
stitch on too large needles

she watched great gran Martha skirt
around the highly polished rosewood
table using finger tips to feel her way

inching around an oval circumference
muttering to herself in her scratchy voice
concern for the whereabouts of hairpins

blue veins prominent on thin blotchy
hand skin and Martha’s tiny bird like frame
with a fresh lace collar sitting at the throat

why her pins were right beneath her nose
thought this obedient child remaining
silent as she had been taught

six year olds were to be seen and not heard
and were totally oblivious to eye sight
failing with old age

but fully aware that insolence and
speaking out of turn was the height of
ill manners in little people

Reviews

[Richard🖌]

A stellar work, Chris 🌸

How vividly and skillfully you set the scene and bring your character to life, animating her with vibrant word-painting … one can almost hear Gran breathing and muttering to herself.
And, boy howdy, does this one ever toll a far away bell when it comes to teaching kids how to act!
By far-and-large, today's youth are taught few of the benefits that lead to listening, learning, respect, courtesy, compassion, congenial communication, and patience. And, so much time is spent texting one another and playing electronic games, there are fewer and fewer developed communication skills, with rather droll, uninterested personalities in result. Not all kids, of course, but farrr too many; and, this trend keeps on keeping on. Kids seem to lack teachable moments anymore, and the interest to ask and listen to adults.
Hah! I don't know how you do it, but you have a certain way of getting me on a soapbox.

An excellently rendered, introspective work that grabbed and held my interest from title to final line.
I really enjoy how your mind works, Chris ⁓ Richard🖌


[PS: check your line breaks] : )

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Richard for such a thorough and encouraging review. So pleased you enjoyed this piece. I appreciate your advice re the line breaks and will take due note. Be careful on that soapbox :))

Chris

[Richard🖌]

Will do, Chris … LOL!

[Soren]

Another time. So it was and not likely to be again. Manners seem out of style now days. Respect is a foreign word. In a world where we treat our children better than we treat ourselves, where every whim and fancy is catered to. Where discipline is seen as cruel and unusual punishment, and every child is seen as a genius, we create expectations in them that can not be met. Expectations of entitlement, and self importance with disregard for others. This poem seems a parable to me. Very nicely done.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Soren. I have to say, I share your thoughts. Discipline is now a dirty word and respect has gone out of the window. Welcome to the entitled generations. They have their flaws because others didn’t stand up to the plate and parent well.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

There is no respect these days brought on by changes to society which have over corrected themselves. Discipline and manners are the restraints to have a safe society.

[Chris Shaw]

I have to agree Andrew. There isn’t a great deal of manners or discipline on display these days. How times have changed. All the best.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

only those of us of a certain age I fear, can recall such scenes my dear Chris. Minding our p's and q's, holding our tongues in check ... not a skillset being instilled in today's youth. The more likely response today is "a giggle when aunty pokes herself with the darn needle"

love the sentiment of the poem

ken

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ken for your visit. Pleased you enjoyed the sentiment in this old memory. Have a great day.

Chris

[Neville]

such days are now long gone I fear .. consigned to memory, yet still valued by some of us and of course, held dear.

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Manners are certainly valued Neville. Pleased though that children aren’t silenced :) Many thank yous for stopping by.

Chris

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I was taught manners, or rather they were beaten into me, at a young age. It is why I'm respectful to others even if I don't agree with them, and why I continue to open a door for women out of respect. Much of my ethics and manners come from my grandmother. I live them because of her and the impact she had and continues to have in my life. That is her legacy. CLE

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Carlos. Sorry to hear that manners were beaten into you. We had discipline from an early age but did not suffer that. We were brought up with strict manners and my school
motto was Manners Maketh Man. I believe in good manners too. Sadly these days, it is another aspect of life which seems to have flown out of the window. If you open doors for women still, you have my admiration. Many thank yous for stopping by today.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

Amazing how the lessons of childhood stay with us and how difficult they are from which to unwind.

Winston

[Chris Shaw]

So true. I can still remember that silent child who missed nothing. Many thanks Winston. Happy Friday.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

There seems to be a genre of literature called cosy these days and finding that out rather scuppered my intentions when reviewing this lovely piece. But it is indeed cosy and itimate and sweetly lovely memories.
You also will understand that I know all about being quiet as a child.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ken. That is two very quiet children then:) Haven’t times changed? Your review is lovely and I thank you for stopping by. Have a good Thursday.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

I remember the day of being polite and quiet. With my old age. I have return to being polite and quiet. I enjoyed the tale in the poetry. hello dear Chris and thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Coyote. We all had to be silent. Don’t speak unless you are spoken to. How things have changed. Thank you my friend for stopping by.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Chris and you are welcome.

[Alla Antsis]

Chris, this piece is soft, velvety, quite and so peaceful! Smelling of my old childhood house... Thank you for the experience!

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Alla. Pleased you enjoyed the memories this piece brought you. Have a good day.

Chris