AUCTION

For more than forty years
She dutifully served,
Meanwhile
She secretly collected memories.

Ten dollar bid,
Ten dollar bid,
Now twenty dollar bid.

She remembers how much pride
The towns people had
When she first opened her doors.

Twenty dollar bid,
Twenty dollar bid,
Now thirty dollar bid.

She remembers each and every person
Who entered through those doors.

Thirty dollar bid,
Thirty dollar bid,
Now forty dollar bid.

Those who came to heal,
Those who came to be healed,
Those who came to visit,
Those who came to serve.

Forty dollar bid,
Forty dollar bid,
Now fifty dollar bid.

In each and every room,
She remembers,
Who was there, when and why.

Fifty dollar bid,
Fifty dollar bid,
Now sixty dollar bid.

She remembers herself as a place
Where life began,
Where disease and illness were left behind,
And sadly too
Where life came to end.

Sixty dollar bid,
Sixty dollar bid,
Now seventy dollar bid.
She remembers
When old equipment was new,
When her appearance was changed,
When she was added on to,
When new neighbors came,
When old neighbors left.

Seventy dollar bid,
Seventy dollar bid,
Now eighty dollar bid.

Season after season,
Year after year,
She served her purpose well,
And collected memories.

Eighty dollar bid,
Eighty dollar bid,
Now ninety dollar bid.

Now she too has old age illnesses.
Her purpose passed to a new generation.
Her rooms stand empty,
Awaiting some new reason to serve.

Ninety dollar bid, Ninety dollar bid,

Now hundred dollar bid.

But as long as she stands,
She'll add new memories to her old.
And then at some future time,
After she herself is gone,
She will in turn be remembered.

Hundred dollar bid,
Hundred dollar bid,
Hundred dollar bid,

Going, going, gone.


ThoughtSmithing.
© jwhughes 1987