The Precious Ming
A Poem on Attaching Value
This is for Antoni De’Leon’s $280 000 Challenge
Value is in the eye of the beholder. Michelle Liew
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“Ten thousand?!” they shout, with raised brows,
“But that’s a small estate!”
But the signed vase,a precious crown
Has a history for the lucky to taste.
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“My oh, my, the relatives say,
“The price is a bit too much!”
“Much? Perhaps! But it’s a genuine Ming!
Don’t you feel its powerful touch?”
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“Couldn’t we spend on things of worth?”
A new pair of shoes, a new dress?”
“Don’t you see, its place of birth,
Blesses the name it bears-no less.”
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“But why this vase?” they ask,they plead,
“Why this, and not another?”
The one you see, makes your heart beat
It gleams unlike no other."
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“All right, alright,” they finally say
“But that’s a hefty bill!”
“Yes,” I nod, and quitely pray,
But that’s the point, the will!”
About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Comments (12)
I really enjoyed the conversational poem style! Lovely 🥰
What a wonderful poem… I love the rhythm and rhyme complementing the tale.💖
well done!
Thought provoking poem, always beautifully written!
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Loved your poem!
Excellent entry! Nicely written & thought-provoking! The more that I ponder the challenge question the less inclined that I am to judge the items that a person chooses to spend their money on. As long as it brings them joy and is valuable in their eyes that is all that truly matters. Your poem really highlights this notion. Great job Michelle! 💕
Value, like beauty is in the heart and eye of the beholder. Who knows what a thing means to a person or a people. Very thought provoking and lovely poem/ much to ponder. Thanks so much for adding your reflecting thoughts to the prompt.
Deep thoughts for a poem, well done
Art is priceless! Well done!
I love how you get us thinking deeply with your work! Ive always found value much like the concepts of taste, enjoyment and attraction, even beauty to be those things that we as humans try to contain and fit into boxes or lists because it brings order or a pretense of it! the beautiful thing about all those is that theyare because they are, because someone thought they were! even when heritage nostalgia and history are included its important because people decided they should be! loved your poem, great entry into Antoni's challenge!
Wonderful poem and great challenge entry
It captures the idea that true value isn't always about the price tag! It’s a playful yet thoughtful take on value and worth—one that's felt, not just counted.✨