Just Imagine

Junk or Treasure?

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,

Thrown away stuff gives me much pleasure,

It’s rusty, and broken, but fascinating too,

To think about what years ago it could do,

An old manual typewriter, rusted and discarded,

In days before electronics were highly regarded,

As best of the best, it once had its day,

And, oh, if it could talk, what would it say?

Did it reside on the desk of a prominent inventor?

Did students type letters of inquiry to their mentor?

Was it used to communicate in times of war?

Was it purchased at the local general store?

So many questions, nobody has noted,

I imagine perfume-laced love letters from a sweetheart to her devoted,

Imagine what you will, no idea is wrong,

Maybe someone typed the lyrics to a new gospel song?

The old typewriter itself had a sound of its own,

Striker arms hitting bar had a distinctive tone,

A typist could not type secretly though without fear,

For anyone nearby could certainly hear,

The clicking sound of the old manual typewriter keys,

Is nostalgic and wonderfully puts me at ease,

 As best of the best, it once had its day,

And, oh, if it could talk, what would it say?

Tammy Harvey

Written:  August 31, 2017