The Cottage

The story of our cottage in the bush.

--Purchased 2004--

In an Estate Agent's Window

A quaint cottage caught my eye,

I felt its call right then I knew

I could not pass it by.

Needing hard work love and care,

A bargain it would seem.

Nestled among the gum trees

A renovator’s Dream.

It seemed that nature had reclaimed

Every inch of garden space,

As though the forest hugged that house

And held it in its place.

To the door up rickety steps

You’d think about your chances,

Holes there in veranda's floor

The handrail made of branches.

The front door creaked as it swung wide

A sweet but musty smell.

It took me back to childhood days

Now under the cottage’s spell.

What treasures on the inside wait?

There was so much to explore,

Just as the owners left it

Some twenty years before.

 From bits and pieces firmly built

Each a second handed prize

Every beam and wooden stilt

Each window a different size.

The doors were from a hospital,

Each one still bore a sign

Beside the knob the bathroom door

Still reads “Six Beds Ward Nine”.

Old gas lamps on every wall

No power was connected

Taken by its beauty and charm

Much more than I expected.

The  kitchen table made of wood

Each dent and scratch a story,

Six unpainted wooden chairs

Far from their former glory.

A whitewashed kitchen cupboard

Colored lead-light in the door,

Full of wondrous old wares.

Such temptation to explore.

Mary’s statue sitting  on top

She’s watching what I do,

Does she know I own it now,

Or would she have a clue?

My anticipation rising as

I carefully pull the handle

Right in front with old matches

Of course I lit the candle.

There sat a row of children's books,

A Mecano set complete,

A fountain pen with two spare nibs,

A baby’s bottle with its teat.

 Cups on hooks and many plates

A set it’s certainly not

Hand beaters and an earthen Jug

An old fry pan and iron pot

Knifes and forks all bent and worn

Clustered in the drawer below.

A brooch, cuff links and old tie pin

For someone dressed to go.

The lino on the floor so thin

Old newsprint showing through.

A brand new Chev Two Fifty quid

Back in nineteen fifty two.

We had so much work to do

Every single treasure packed

All were placed in cardboard boxes

Then to the shed and stacked.

Each weekend for next three years

We worked to modernize.

We polished up that wooden floor

Now on show before your eyes.

The timber beams were sanded back

To reveal their natural grain

Ceiling boards were all replaced

Finished off with timber stain.

So proud we were of what we did

It came up as just a treat.

Now a gorgeous little home

Looking prim and very neat.

With the renovation finished

Using money that was lent

In order to appease the bank

We let it out to rent.

But nature unleashed her fury

A bushfire had its way.

Infamous in our history

The name ‘Black Saturday’

A tragedy like none before

The day Victoria cried.

Two thousand homes were burned that day

One hundred and seventy died.

Heartbroken now our cottage gone

But indeed our loss was small

Great sadness spread across the state

Deep sorrow felt by all.

Proudly sits a replacement house

Worth way more when we sell.

But in my heart I miss that cottage

Much more than I can tell.

--2007 Renovations under way--

--2008 same angle finished--

--2008 finished ready to rent--

--2008 the baltic pine flooring gleaming--

--7th Feb 2009, nothing left--

'Black Saturday'

2000 homes burned, 173 lives lost.

--Saturday 14th September 2013 

We received the keys to the replacement building--

Every tree now gone no longer a bush block,

now a paddock.

-- The Black Saturday Story--

http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/#/stories/mosaic

Author's Note

We spent 3 years renovating it, but then lost it during the February 7 2009 'Black Saturday' bushfires in Victoria. We just received the keys to the new replacement house last week.

See http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/#/stories/mosaic

Reviews

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Normally, a lengthy poem such as this would repel me from reading til the end. But this held me captive and I enjoyed the detailed descriptions and interesting narrations. Every line served its purpose. And grief had me as well when such a lovely cottage was devoured by bush fire. Such a tragedy. And I know it must be heartbreaking since you renovated it for three years and it all ended up in ashes in a blink of an eye. The rhyme scheme is exceptional and the rhythm was great, too. Truly a masterpiece. :x

[Keith]

Thank you so much for that very flattering review. we did indeed have many fond memories and wanted to preserve them in this poem, all of those details are real. That cottage oozed character.

[Dr. Wood ?]

great story my friend...an enthralling ride....and the pictures?

wow

[Keith]

Thanks mate. Working there right now hanging blinds in the new house. I hate hanging blinds! But cheaper than getting someone who knows what they are doing.

[Dr. Wood ?]

cheaper than getting ME and that's for sure.....Bloody travelling expenses and all

[Keith]

Dunno, can you do this s**t? And are the straight, and don,t fall down?.

[Dr. Wood ?]

Yup and yup

[Keith]

man, that harder than writing poems.

[Dr. Wood ?]

I do both at the same time....Nah..just joshing

[Beccy]

A fascinating tale and enchantingly told. Such a shame that you lost the cottage, but at least the good memories remain. The before and after photographs add immensely to the poem.

Beccy.

[A. Matthew Greenia]

Beautifully written Keith. I always enjoy your style, and ability to truly grab my attention and never let go.

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Good description. I feel as though I am standing next to you surveying the scene of the cabin.

The photography is quite nice too.

[Karen]

I've never read a poem in homage to a cottage, but hence this caught my attention and I was drawn to its imagery. I could see what you were describing in my mind and the emotions of your experience. Very nice poem and I look forward to reading more from you.

[TL Boehm]

Oh how sad. It may sound weird but an old building like that - that you pour part of yourself into - its almost like losing something alive. It truly becomes a part of you and this poem speaks so well to that.

[Keith]

Ah yes, that cottage lived and breathed for us. I loved every dent and old nail hole in those 100 year old floorboards and looked up up in awe at saw marks on the beams, evidence that someone had spent hours or days hand cutting them by hand.

However, we have come out with a beautiful new home and just a bad dose of nostalgia. A pale inconvenience compared to the horrific loss of life and those who faced the terror of the fire front that day. Thank you again Tammy, I love your reviews.

[Me]

how very heartbreaking, it looked perfect..your poem is wonderfully done x

[Keith]

Thank you for dropping in Louise, your kind words are much appreciated.

[Melobldnfr]

Wow. I cry for having myself experienced the loss of a home to fire. This is a wonderful commemorative piece.

[Keith]

Thank you Melo, yes only those who have been through it can know. On this occasion it was not the family home yet. However, on one other occasion we did lose the family home. The feeling of owning Nothing. I recall excitement about 3 weeks later when someone gave a cardboard box of old pots pans plates, teaspoons and an alarm clock. Of course on Black Saturday you were lucky to escape with your life. Thank you for your compassion Melo.

[Melobldnfr]

Yes, the most thoughtful gifts were of things such as towels, shampoo, and deodorant. Xo.

[Rosaria_V]

This was so great and the pictures were so cool!

[Keith]

Thank you for calling in and leaving your kind words Rosaria.

[AmandaN]

Wow! Firstly I loved every line of this poem,I can't get enough of great rhyme.Secondly I'm so sorry for the devastating loss due to the fire! It looks great now so well done on the restoration and well done for the great poem that it spawned!

[Keith]

Thank you again Amanda, I am flattered indeed by your kind words.

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

This was a grand tale, the story of the little cottage was compelling. You have so many elements here that you force the reader to continue on. The "Black Saturday" references were gut wrenching, sorry to learn of so many losses. You have immortalized that event in a sincerely amazing way, truly touching piece.

[Keith]

Thank you for that wonderful review PH. Our story was one of just a bad dose of nostalgia compared to the many horror stories that day. Nevertheless, I did want to preserve the memories of the little cottage.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

You preserved the story well.