His Book Shelves
I climb the stairs
tip toe down the passage
into the silence of my father's music room.
The black upright Bechstein
stands rigid and dumb
as my eyes scan the titles,
so many,
but one reaches out
and catches my eye.
How strange, alien,
not of this world,
written by a god, no less.
Kon-Tiki.
Artwork & poem by Ashley March 2024
A Different View 
Thank you, Ashley, for the nostalgic and beautiful memories of your father, and his world contained in the music room.
I also like your presentation!
Joanna
Thank you, Joanna, for your lovely comments. The Kon-Tiki Expedition was the first adult book I read, aged eleven or twelve. With luck, I hope to continue this series🤗🙋♂️
Good idea, Ashley, please do!
Joanna
Beautiful post, Ashley!
Thank you, Indira! 🤗🙋♂️
What a wonderful illustration, Ashley, and superb poetry to complement it! This is both delightful and nostalgic, and I hope you’ll continue with this series. Well done, my friend! 😊
Thanks Mike, for your kind & uplifting words. Fingers crossed for me to continue over the year. 🙋♂️
Beautiful artwork and poetry, Fraxinusan! It’s great to go on expeditions with the mind, by reading those kinds of books. What an adventure Thor, et. al. had back then!!
I always appreciate your comments, Edo! Thor’s ideas didn’t prove to be right, but. like you say, what an adventure & reading the book aged 11 or 12, I was enthralled; still am! 🙋♂️
A lovely illustration to go with the warm, nostalgic words Ashleigh.
Thank you, Andrea, for your lovely comments. 🤗🙋♂️
Enjoy seeing this creative side of you 🙂
Dear Rosaliene, I know you’re a reader of books too & my reading journey began with Thor Heyerdahl’s book The Kon-Tiki Expedition when I first read it aged eleven or twelve. I’ve carried that adventure in my mind ever since then & I’m now into my 70s! 🤗🙋♂️
The power of books to transform the young mind!
Lovely poem, Ashley! It’s beautiful to remember your father and for you to keep his memory alive.📚🤍
Thank you, Jennifer. Some memories are extra powerful & reading The Kon-Tiki Expedition which I discovered in my father’s music room, has never left me & it’s over 60 years ago! 🤗🙋♂️
I like the piano keys standing like books – and the goldfish-bowl above.
Hi Graham, besides the piano, my father’s music room was filled with book; I couldn’t not include them here & whilst I didn’t get to learn music, well not successfully, I did learn to read! The story of that expedition from South America to Tahiti has remained with me. I couldn’t leave it out!
A novel way to record your memories, Ashley
This is brilliant Ashley, I recognised the Bechstein even before I read your poem. 🙂
Wonderfully drawn with the beautiful words. Lovely remembering your father like that.
Dear Ute, thank you for your lovely comments. I never learned to play the piano, or any instrument (apart from strumming a pop guitar in the 1960s) but I learned to read & appreciate so many different books. 🤗🙋♂️
Ah, Ashley, what a wonderful and moving poem and drawing.
Your words sing a beautiful song breaking the silence and your drawing breathes to life your father’s bookcase. 🌟🙏👌
Dear Marina, thank you for your wonderful comments. 🤗 I’m hoping to continue with a few more posts like this; occasional poems & drawings. 🤗🙋♂️
That sounds great! I look forward to them! 🌟🔆🙏
Ashley, I love the nostalgic poem about your dad and the artwork to go along with the poem. Well done! ~Nan
Nan, those are lovely comments. Thank you 🤗🙏
You are welcome! I’m just speaking my mind.
Beautiful words and beautiful image! Such a lovely homage to your father👌🌺💕
Dear Sunra, thank you for your lovely comments 🤗💕🙋♂️
Any time! ☺️ 🌸
Such beautiful words, Ashley, and a wonderful ode to your father. I love your artwork – you are very talented. I’ve always wanted to be able to produce art, but unfortunately, I don’t have an artistic bone in my body! I’ve not heard of Kon-Tiki, but I will do some research to learn more about him.
My parents had a mahogany upright piano in our house. My Mum used to play mostly classical music, which I still love, although I rarely get to listen to it. Tragically, at the age of eight, I was sent to have piano lessons at a male piano teacher’s house, but he turned out to be a child abuser. I was there until I was nearly thirteen and learned very little about music but a lot about abuse. For many of my adult years, I couldn’t bear the sound or even sight of a piano, but through my earlier writing on my blog (I have been blogging for ten years) and a lot of counselling, I have come to terms, in some ways with what happened to me, and I can now enjoy and appreciate piano music once again. (Probably too much information here, but I am a very honest and open person (I never used to be) and am no longer ashamed of what happened to me). Hugs X 🤗💕
Dear Ellie, thank you for your comments. I’m shocked to hear about your experiences at piano lessons; I’m not surprised it has taken such a long time to overcome the effects of abuse! Abuse of any kind is abominable & even more so of children. It is good to hear that you have found ways in which to overcome the trauma! 🤗💕xx
Thank you so much for your kind reply, dear Ashley. Unfortunately, abuse is happening all the time, somewhere, to someone, often a child. I agree it’s inhumane and appalling. My writing helped a lot back then, and I have had years of therapy, some good and some bad. Currently, I have a wonderful counsellor. I am still working on coping with the trauma, but I think when you’ve been through something so horrific for such a long time, it can take a lifetime of working through the pain to be able to live a normal, healthy life. I am blessed to have found my current counsellor. She has been pivotal to my healing. Thank you for caring Xx 🤗💕😘
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