House of Dreams

Shrouded in mystery you I see
Cloaked below a mighty tree
Floors creaking with decay
My curiosity you stoke

Floors of one to three
A mystery you are to me
Empty rooms that echo still
Plates left food has chilled

Rotting lace the windows drape
Filtering sun to a pallid shadow
Sparkles dust and hollow matter
Through dank rooms I wander

Steps hollow surround
Haunted sounds of yesterday follow
Cloaked by woolen rugs
Reds greens and browns abound

Carefully I trod
Listening for sounds you once knew
Shadows of your youth
Echo all around

Opening doors and looking on
Chairs, outdated fabrics coated with dust
Seem to wait for the return
Of ghosts of yesterdays songs

Sheets of music lie
On silent instruments
I pass by
Hearing invisible fingers stroke and tune

Whispers of the full moon
Rotten timbers creak and groan
Warning me not to go on
With longing I sigh

Open drawers and closets high
Cotton and lace I spy
Styles of days gone by
Silent and dying the house cries

Whispers a longing goodbye
Withdrawing and curling in
Away from today's mad din
With a groan it dies

Into the shadows of the mind
Gently closing doors low and high
Windows shutting blinded eyes
Dark sending me home

Where I open my eyes
To see today's blue skies
Where slowly the sun does rise
Bringing light into the sky

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

I explored such a house once, long ago, and your tour through this one helped me remember what it was like. Some say "if only walls could talk". Well, sometimes they do.

[Norma M Sutton]

Sam I think I've dreamed about this house since childhood lol. I'm not really sure where it is or what it is. Sometimes it has maybe 2 or 3 layers and sometimes a lot more, but I can't remember much of what is on the high floors because once I get up to level 5 or 6 the floor has visible holes in it lol. When I was really young something was always chasing me through it, but the last few times I've dreamed about it I was walking through it more missing what would have been there when it was new. Go figure . . .

[Samuel Dickens]

That's very interesting. By your description, I thought you'd probably gone through an old abandoned house recently. Sign of a good writer.

[Norma M Sutton]

My dad was born in a big Georgian column home in Shelby. It had 2 floors and a attic. As a child I think that house had a lot of influence on my dreams, but I don't know why I was being chased through it. My dad's cousins and an aunt lived there until the late 90's so it was in good shape, on the historical registry too. But there are aspects of that dream that I've never figured out where they come from.

[Samuel Dickens]

Such are dreams.

[Norma M Sutton]

True :)

[Dr. Wood ?]

Sheema said that I should look you up and I am glad she did...How do you DO this?? Such imagery, I believe that I have been in this house of dreams....Shets of music lie on silent instruments; I pass by, hearing invisible fingers stroke and tune...Magical!!

[Norma M Sutton]

Thank you and Sheema. I think many of us must dream of this house :)

[SHEEMA HUQ]

Hi there, cerebral intuition in words with some sharp observations too. I enjoyed, thank you.

[Norma M Sutton]

Thank you.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Wow i get this sense of a ghost stuck in the afterlife and reminiscing in their old house... a wonderfully cryptic and fun poem.

[Norma M Sutton]

Thanks Dale.

[Sami Khalil]

Beautiful poem shrouded in mystery and emotions.

[Norma M Sutton]

Thank you :)

[Sami Khalil]

You are quite welcome.

[Helen Crutchett]

Beautifully written Norma. I love these nostalgic poems. You've done a good job.