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Hand Me Downs MAG

March 26, 2011
By lilmartz PLATINUM, Perrysburg, Ohio
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lilmartz PLATINUM, Perrysburg, Ohio
40 articles 5 photos 163 comments

Favorite Quote:
Live Life Like A Party That Never Ends

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I believe
In the simple quality
Of old-fashioned
Hand-me-downs.

Gently worn,
Previously purchased,
Vintage material
Hanging on the rack

Used and worn through,
No longer wanted.
Grown out of,
No longer needed.

Each piece withholds
In its weathered fabric
Stories to tell with pages to fill
From an unfinished novel.

Passed down through generations
From person to person
Living memories,
Creating lives.

Tear-stained necklines,
Stretched out sleeves
With faded elbows,
Holes strewn along the sides.

Painful memories
From previous owners.
Oblivious and unaware
Are the new possessors.

Happy thoughts and smiles arise
When a new body fits the attire
Thinking, if only they knew
What these clothes contained.

Washed out and lackluster,
These favorite pieces
Have found their way
To the recycle bin.

Perpetually stuck in a vicious circle
That we call the system,
Who will believe in the simplicity
Of hand-me-downs?

© Rebecca Y., Los Angeles, CA

The author's comments:
This is for the thrifty shoppers who carelessly look through secondhand shops for clothes, oblivious to the power these clothes contain. This is for the younger siblings who complain about not being able to purchase their own, new clothing, unaware of the attachment their older siblings have to these pieces of clothing. This is for the people who look down on secondhand clothing, ignorant of how special these clothes are.
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 6 comments.

Supernova7 GOLD said...
on Jan. 16 2012 at 3:00 pm
Supernova7 GOLD, Redford, Texas
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Let me cry my tears let me live in sorrow as long as you promise to be with me tomorrow<br /> By Me:)

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I love this poem! Great job:) Please check out my work:)
Ahmad-Mobeen GOLD said...
on Jan. 15 2012 at 8:28 am
Ahmad-Mobeen GOLD, Rawalpindi, Other
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Really Great! =D
LaceeJade GOLD said...
on Jan. 14 2012 at 7:01 pm
LaceeJade GOLD, Bucyrus, Ohio
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&hearts; I&#039;ve made mistakes in my life. i&#039;ve let people take advantage of me, and i accepted way less than i deserve. But, i&#039;ve learned from my bad choices, and even though there are some things i can never get back and people who will never be sorry. i&#039;ll know better next time and i wont settle for anything less than i deserve. &hearts;

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Wow, I bet you never have writers block. You got all of that out of Hand-Me-Downs. Very Impressive!
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM said...
on Dec. 30 2011 at 3:51 pm
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I love secondhand clothing for many reasons, and in many ways. I'm not so sure this poem needs to be a warning, as it almost seems to be from the author's comment, so much as a shining tribute held so that those who disdain secondhand, recycled clothing may be brought to the light. Thanks for writing this :) I am so very glad it was published in the magazine.
anisanasir_11 PLATINUM said...
on May. 21 2011 at 11:02 pm
anisanasir_11 PLATINUM, Orlando, Other
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I Love This :) ALOT 
SergSG94 BRONZE said...
on May. 1 2011 at 7:08 pm
SergSG94 BRONZE, Colton, California
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I think it's great! This really shows how much meaning a simple piece of clothing can have, i mean you never know how many powerful memories and emotions,whether they be good or bad, the previous owner had with that particular piece of clothing.

I look forward to reading more from you. So keep on writing! :D And thank you for the awesome feedback in the forums!