WHAT IT REALLY NEEDS

Story of an old run-down farmhouse....

 

                     It sat back from the road nestled between two large spruce. 

                     The yard was unkempt and unruly with rusty remnants of
                     tenant's worn out tools and bicycle parts lying strewn about
                     in misshapen patterns.

                     The windows had been boarded up but if you peeked inside you
                     could tell they were either broken or absent. Strips of material
                     hung behind the shards of broken glass and if I used my imagination
                     I could see lovely drapes billowing in the gentle winds of spring.

                     The paint on the walls was cracked, chipped and peeling in long
                     narrow rows but I could almost make out a pale blue wisp of color
                     hidden beneath the unattended, unloved and unwanted shell of
                     what used to be someone's home. The roof's shingles lay in uneven
                     rows of faded patchwork resembling a child badly in need of braces
                     and the chimney was missing several bricks beneath the char-burned
                     color of seasons past.

                     The old farmhouse needed so much repair no one even bothered
                     to replace the broken 'For Sale' sign laying sideways on the front
                     porch.  Who would want to buy something in so much disrepair?
                     It needed too much work...and promised so little in return.

                     But I recall a time when this house was filled with a family who
                     loved it and each other. There was a little pigtailed girl and a boy
                     that was the spitting image of his dad, two dogs, one cat and several
                     pigs out back bringing life and laughter to each room of the house
                     and beyond.

                     Who would want to buy a house that needs so much repair to make
                     it acceptable once again? But what this house needs even more than
                     paint and repair is a family to live and love in it and fill it with the joy
                     of life and the gifts of love and laughter.
                               ~~~~~~~


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Reviews

[R Smith]

such a lovely, sad story Sharon, it reminds me of so many homes lost and forgotten just wasting away, where love had bloomed and children played, many as yours a small farmhouse with livestock in the barn, your writing is as always beautiful and the telling so poignant this could be a real tearjerker if I were not a man.......pass the tissues, please!! It is a wonderful writing Sharon, much love to you and yours, Richard :)

[Miss Sharon]

Your reviews always make my day Richard. Thank you so much for being a good friend! ~Sharon

[JMWrites]

This is lovely and I really enjoyed the imagery you were able to invoke with your words. It felt like I was there standing beside you as we both stared at the house. Thank you for sharing!

[Trong Van]

Even in the run-down stage like that I'm sure the place can come to life if we have a happy family in it, that's the core of everything and with the existence of children, pets every house becomes more cheerful. What you have in here is much more than a poem. To me it likes 2 contrast pictures of the past and the present and both of them were well painted. Thanks for sharing your beautiful poem Miss Sharon.

[Miss Sharon]

Thank you for a very nice review! I accidentally hit the wrong category key at first and it said poem. But I've changed it to story because it is a short story and not a poem. Thanks again for your kind words! ~Sharon

[Trong Van]

I found the flow of your writing is so smoothly, so please don’t be surprised when I or other people mistake your Story as the Poem, it’s beautiful in whichever way we look at it. Cheers

[Miss Sharon]

You are much too kind sir...and I thank you!~Sharon