"Golden Bird" - graphic art by Donald Harbour
I know that life has loved me.
How many times has it changed
my diaper? Or bandaged a boo-boo?
Someone asked me, “How will you
be remembered?” In contemplation
I know that if remembrance is
not now it will not be after.
Those that one loves are the
the stones of the present.
Each gift of the heart the
blocks that build a man’s
mountain, the monument to
the sacrifice of a journey.
When I pass will you speak
of the stones of this life,
or the many diapers and boo-boos
left along my tread?
Copyright: 2009, Donald Harbour
Donald Harbour Poetry 
I tend to feel a twinge when I think of how people will be remembered. We really don’t know how history will treat us. Lovely poem.
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Many good lines. My favorite image: “Those that ones loves are / the stones of the present”. Also, “In contemplation / I know that if remembrance is / not now it will not be after” almost has shades of something Hamlet would say. Focus on the here-and-now and your legacy will build itself :-).
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You set me thinking. And thats a good thing.
over the ridge and hard planes
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Ah, to think of what we will leave behind…
Wonderfully done! There are some lovely, thought-provoking lines here.
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Hi Donald, you got me thinking and that’s unusual – I think that all we can ask is that people remember us when we’re gone. As long as people are still talking about us we’re still alive in their thoughts.
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nice very interesting….how will we be rembered…or will we? hmmm
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The question actually hit me like a ton of bricks LOL? What a BRILLIANT way to word it and throw it out there. I also like how you were courteous with the question.
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I think I’d prefer the mountains to the diapers and boo-boo. Thought-provoking.
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