The House

That day I felt like a boxcar backing into tomorrow ~
Nothing clanged together properly
or fit into a shadow of itself
There was only me with a false light
of expectations
falling over my shoulder
I pointed out the porch swing, stone walk,
an upstairs apartment secure in itself
that we could offer out for extra money -
but you were tired of it all
and buying from your father stuck
in your throat of old arguments & black straps
It was up to me really
I handled the money, I knew the segments
of resentments you drank away each evening
I loved the house
The way Spring framed it with a giant oak
& flowers springing bright colors from its foundation
The large tin roof ready with a rain song
But I waved your father on -
because of love, because of the way
he made you fold in gratitude
for the smallest thing
And if we were not people of property,
landlords counting out our gold
we were still lovers
made invincible by our laughter
and unspoken understandings.

Reviews

[Shalini Dinesh]

Your poems are so beautiful with minute details illustrated, and with a lovely constant flow till the end.. the house, the love and the poem is blended in a beautiful way!

[Phibby Venable]

thank you so much!

[Phibby Venable]

Donald, Thank you for such a fine review!

[Donald Meikle]

Is it not amazing how we come to decisions balancing love.
Great poem (as usual Phib) love your passing the all seeing glasses so easily.

[Phibby Venable]

thank you, Donald!!

[Creepy Swine Guy]

Interesting ... reads like a love triangle between a woman, the man she loves and the home she loves. I find myself a little unsure of the choice she made.

"It was up to me really
I handled the money, I knew the segments"

had me thinking that the deal was made and the narrator handled it. But then I read ...

"But I waved your father on -
because of love, because of the way
he made you fold in gratitude"

So I am unsure of the final disposition. I think I may just be a little dense. But I digress. You do a wonderful job of making us see and feel the house and feel the tug of the conflict.

[Phibby Venable]

Thank you, the ending was no house, lots of love anyway...xx

[Creepy Swine Guy]

.. and love always trumps "stuff"

[Fabian G. Franklin]

A truly lovely piece of poetry. Love and laughter do tend to make us "invincible". I always enjoy reading your fine work.

[Phibby Venable]

thank you, Fabian! xx