fudge

Monday 20 June 2011

I Remember

Write On Wednesdays
 
This is an exercise an exercise for Write On Wednesday at Ink Paper Pen. The idea is to:
 
Set a timer for 5 minutes. Use "I remember" as your prompt and write down the first words that come into your head for 5 minutes. Stop when the buzzer rings! Do this exercise over and over if you wish.
 
Well, my plan was to do it over and over and post something on Wednesday (and possibly I will still do this) but, this morning I had 5 minutes to spare and this is a part of my childhood that I remember.
 
 



The dust motes dancing in the shaft of sunlight streaming through the stained glass window. The puddle of green and blue on the stone floor where it ended its journey.

The slight scent of decay in the air from the old timber of the pews and the Lilly’s at the foot of the lectern.
I remember the feel of the soft leather bound hymn book. The embroidery of the prayer cushion etching its pattern of scrolls and text on my bare knees.

The sonorous voice of the vicar delivering his sermon almost by rote. Dipping at the beginning of a sentence and rising at the end, elongating the words so that the message was lost in the pattern of sound he created.
The look in my Grandmother eye as she silently nodded at me, ‘Stop Day Dreaming’, HER message was clear.

23 comments:

lesley said...

beautiful Sarah

and part of that Sunday night series that happens in my head based on your childhood :)

Mer said...

I can feel the leather hymn book as I read.
I used to feel carsick after church every week.

Sarah said...

Thank you Lesley, there are a few more episodes to come yes :)

I was actually sick IN church one Sunday Mer after being force fed cornflakes for breakfast. As I was in the choir it was very public but, on the plus side, I never had to eat cornflakes again!

Sarah said...

*yet, NOT yes :)

Suzi - Under The Windmills said...

Beautiful Sarah! Really put me in the moment :)

Sarah said...

Thank you Suzi, it's one of those memories so vivid that I can close my eyes and be right back there.

Lo said...

I am thrilled that MLS led you to my blog, ecstatic that you chose to stick around and awed at the fact that we both have the same favorite book. (I have been a slave to Gerald Durrell since 1956) I think we will be good friends.

Sarah said...

Thank you for your visit Lo. I'm a little in awe too.

Megan Blandford said...

I was given that look a lot - 'Stop Daydreaming'!!

Sarah said...

I'm still guilty of it Megan but i tend to not get told off for it so much these days.

InkPaperPen said...

Love that description of the vicar's voice and use of words. Dipping and elongating and distracting from his own message. I know exactly what you mean and I have only been to church a handful of times. Thanks for joining in again Sarah. If you do get a chance to do another "I remember" post, link it up to the linky. I would love to read another piece from you. The linky is open till late Friday (in west oz time) Gill xo

Adalita said...

It brought me back to my childhood sitting in uncomfortable pews.

Domesblissity said...

Hi Sarah! What a lovely way with words you have.

The worst part of Sunday morning for me growing up was not being able to sleep in and having to go to church and Sunday School but once I got there, it wasn't so bad. Us Lutherans weren't such a bad lot I guess! LOL

Anne @ Domesblissity

(Oooh, I just noticed you play along with Kate Takes 5. I'll check out your posts.)

Anonymous said...

I like the first image you set up of the dust and the reflection of glass. Nice.

Sarah said...

Thank you Gill. A conversation I had this morning had me remembering again.

Those pews Adalita, the seat too narrow and the backs to high and rigid, I was always sliding off them!

Thank you Anne. I never minded church at all but what I really hated was choir practice. Every Thursday evening for two hours. In the Summer all my friends would be out playing and in the Winter it was FREEZING! (Oh, and I LOVE Kate takes 5)

Thank you RM, the sun always caught the same window and I used to spend far more time watching the dust particles than I ever did listening to the vicar.

Naomi said...

Lovely, I have similar memories of church! I can smell the leather of the hymn book and feel the prayer kneelers! Well done.

Lene said...

This is a great memory. The way you described it made me feel like I was there too. I used to always think that those little particles of dust were fairies.....ahhh childhood!

Sarah said...

Funny isn't it Naomi how smells and textures can take you right back somewhere so many years later.

Faries Lene, I like that very much! I used to imagine that they had a life of their own. They always seemed so busy while I sat there in my own little world.

Kim H said...

I loved the way you wrote that. I felt like I was there, sitting right next to you. Sooo descriptive. Loved it!

belamieandco said...

How one look can get a message across so clearly, no need for words, But I must say your use of words are lovely in this peice. I am glad I came to visit.

Sarah said...

Thank you Kim and Belamieandco, I still visit that church when I can and I can still see that look in my Grandmothers eye.

E. said...

I like the way you described the stained glass and the dust. Very beautiful.

Sarah said...

Thank you E :)