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Titia Geertman
Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182
Netherlands

0 posted 2001-08-29 04:47 PM


Dear old house


My mother's goodbye when she left her old house


Dear old house with your ancient garden.
I don't know if you're happy
with your new owners.
I often pass by
the 'old' curtains still hanging there
they're closed now
you look closed too
doorknob and handle not cleaned
without a gloss they don't shine
such welcome as they did before.

no flowers in the windowsills
no lovely little hats,
no looking in
no smudges of flattening noses
of curious people who are just enjoying
the beautiful things inside the room
you always welcomed everybody

I did peep over the fence
your crooked path disappeared
the rosehedge has moved
they forced you into a straightjacket of hedges
you look like a French garden
you've lost your mediaevel character.

The appeltree got some air
they chopped the cherrytree
good for he was almost choking
and yet I saw you
still putting up your struggle
with all your strenghts
there was weed again,
we fought this weed for many years
but always lost the battle
then in summer you would show off
with a variety of wild flowers
and people shouted "oh beautiful"
and you would beam ancient garden,
because you did win again
and I beamed with you for your beauty.

Dear old house
we did love you so much
it still touches me when I think of you
in my mind I see my dearest
standing in your garden

You fight on old house
till you feel beautiful again.
Goodbye my dear
I empathize with you all along

Muys Schram de Jong-Meyst, 1994



A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess...
Feel free to use the pictures on my website. http://communities.msn.com/Titiasplace/

[This message has been edited by Titia Geertman (edited 08-29-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 Titia Geertman - All Rights Reserved
Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
1 posted 2001-08-29 05:07 PM


Titia's Mom~

This is wonderfully written~

'I did peep over the fence
your crooked path disappeared
the rosehedge has moved
they forced you into a straightjacket of hedges'


Refreshingly unique~
Thank you so for sharing~
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
                                   noles1@totcon.com            

doreen peri
Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812
Virginia
2 posted 2001-08-29 06:29 PM


Titia-

i really love this! Your mother is a very talented writer.... I wish I could read it in your language but i have a hard enough time with English! lol... the only other language i speak is pig latin with a trace of french sprinkled with some really lousy spanish phrases!

To speak of the house, personified... the gardens, also alive and like family members.... what a beautifully poetic way to address this situation. The house, so clearly not just a house at all, but a treasured Home with many wonderful memories.

Please tell your mother that I applaud her skills in writing and that I enjoyed this tremendously!  

Thank you for posting her work here and for taking the time to translate it for us.

Titia Geertman
Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182
Netherlands
3 posted 2001-08-29 07:44 PM


Thanks for your sweet replies, but silly me forgot all about the rules of posting someone elses poetry (even if it's my mothers  ), so I think this tread should be closed.

Who knows, some day she will post herself here, for now she's not ready for it yet.

Titia

A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess...
Feel free to use the pictures on my website. http://communities.msn.com/Titiasplace/

rwood
Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793
Tennessee
4 posted 2001-08-30 09:52 PM


Lovely, lovely verse Titia. I hope it gets to stay. This will linger in my heart for a long time. As you helped your Mom convey her message. Some things just take two to make it complete! I'm so enjoying your relationship in this forum. It inspires me to spend more time with my Mom.

Sincerely,
Regina

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