Southampton History Museum: What Is Charm? By Faith Duggal

Press release from the Southampton History Museum:

2021-04-07

We had another community member who was inspired by Sam Parrish's 1899 poetry contest, "What is Charm," which prompted her to write a poem of her own exploring this same topic. Faith is 16 years old and is a Junior in High School. We met earlier this year and she expressed great interest in getting involved with the Museum with this being her first contribution. About this project she said, "I love history and writing poetry. The opportunity to combine two of my greatest interests for this project was an engaging and inspiring opportunity that helped me look at our town with new eyes as I gathered my memories of years gone by and truly thought about what made Southampton special to me." Please enjoy! You can also click here to see the art project the Children's School did about the same topic. What is Charm Is it an ideal or thing Is it a way of being Or something that is subjective to the whims of every living thing I find charm in walking with my mom and discovering little things that to our town belong Driving looking out the window a passenger can notice many things The angels on the fences at the old Parish Art Hall Those little corners like the old fence where tenacious ivy crawls Discovering new places like the Main Street path with its secret gardenesque countenance that leads to our Southampton History Museum And just across the street I think one would be lucky to meet the last rays of days light as it gleams through stained glass on the church settled centuries before Laughing with friends and family at community events People of all generations coming together in joy Be it a little league game or our classic Fourth of July parade with its classic cars and children running along What is Charm but community coming together celebrating our history and what came before As maybe a romanticist of yore Though also there is more Charm can be found in the here and now Finding small things each day That put a smile on your face Neighbors being there for one another Small acts of kindness each day Children running around delighted to play This is where I see charm In all its subjectivity Charm can be found in many things Silver linings day by day

This press release was produced by the Southampton History Museum. The views expressed here are the author’s own.