The Talisman
It had sat on her father's desk
For all her years of memory
She would climb into his chair
And feel it's cold smooth surface
When he wasn't there.
She would ask him what it was
When he was
He never gave her the same answer.
Worry beads he said to her once
When she caught him handling it absent mindedly
A paper weight he would answer when clearly distracted
But it had been a part for a nuclear device
One link in a chain crafted by Hercules
A turnbuckle for ropes
An object that dropped from a UFO.
It was there still unnamed on her father's desk
When she went through his things after the funneral
Now it sat on her desk
Next to her calendar
She would hold it at times
Until its cool surface warmed
Then set it back down it its place to watch over her.
J. Binford-Bell
January 2011
tal·is·man (t
l
s-m
n, -z-)n. pl. tal·is·mans
1. An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection.
2. Something that apparently has magic power.
Words of sentimental value, and with an intention of intervention, with measures of whethers, of do's and don'ts!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.
Father kept you guessing! A touching tribute to him.
ReplyDeleteSounds as if he was a bit of a tease...or too inventive for his own good, or rather, yours!
ReplyDeleteLucky girl to have a father with so much imagination .... lovely Magpie.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully creative! I could picture this happening, as a father nurtures his child's imagination.
ReplyDeleteI liked the word 'talisman' with its overtones of good luck, or being kept safe from harm...
ReplyDeleteYet another childhood memory woven into a great magpie!
ReplyDeleteI like your take on the prompt!
ReplyDeleteI have come back to say 'please visit my page to collect your 'stylish blogger award' which I have given to you.
ReplyDeleteI know LadyCat did say 'recently discovered' bloggers but there is no way I could have left you out as you have so much to share!
I have been enjoying many of your past Magpie prompt's results. I like your work and how you think.
ReplyDelete