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divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

0 posted 2011-08-09 04:26 PM

Outside, it looks like any other,
Sporting a pointed cap of black,
Dressed in slick ivory, gleaming in the sunlight,
Welcoming eyes of glass are open wide to the world,
Settled amidst bright beds of chaotic color where
Jigsaw stones release lazy tendrils of smoke into the blue,
This lovely house that Jack built

Inside, century old log walls and wooden floors
left for dead, reborn by the carpenter
who carried them here, piece by piece
– a lifesize 3D puzzle—
Drank in every tear shed, captured every peal of laughter
Deep within their cores
And are now memory Braille
To fingers and toes that lived here,
In this house that Jack built

Names, ages, inches scratched into doorways
Hold the place of yesterday’s children.
The alarm stair still creaks its warning
That children better be in bed,
It doesn’t know the children are gone.
Window sills gently worn from first star wishing
Wait to embrace a new generation of dreamers
In the arms of this house that Jack built

At the end of the day when all is said and done. I can stand proudly with my hands on my hips and say "I think I have super powers"

Michael

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-13

Posts 7666
California

1 posted 2011-08-09 06:02 PM

My grandmother's house is alive with memories such as this, though it has long since been abandoned. Sad to think it might ache for occupation again, even as I ache for the days it was occupied, and the joy I knew there. Very nostalgic... and very well done.

Michael

divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

2 posted 2011-08-09 06:50 PM

Thanks Michael =) I grew up in the house that Jack built. My mother and sister live there still, but we lost him 2 years ago. His mark is on every inch of that house, it's like being held in his embrace every time I walk in there.

~Sheli

At the end of the day when all is said and done. I can stand proudly with my hands on my hips and say "I think I have super powers"

Dark Stranger
Member Patricius

since 2001-03-19

Posts 13631
West Coast

3 posted 2011-08-10 06:40 AM

the best memories are those we can rub against our skin and recognize from the inside out..enjoyed the ripples of this

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

4 posted 2011-08-10 02:43 PM

Window sills gently worn from first star wishing
Wait to embrace a new generation of dreamers

What a beautiful picture of a house that was built with and nourishes love. It's a wonderful legacy.

ebonygirl
Member Elite

since 2011-07-14

Posts 2000
California U.S.A

5 posted 2011-08-10 05:43 PM

Nicely written, enjoyed.
Ms. E

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

6 posted 2011-08-10 08:33 PM

This poem's words remind me so much of my grandfather's log house he built from the ground up, without one nail in the house. I've never been able to get that old house out of my mind. Lovely poem, divine chaos.

~ If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it. ~

divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

7 posted 2011-08-10 09:48 PM

DS:  Glad you enjoyed =)  I agree completely! I love the memories that just wrap you up in warmth.

suthern:  thank you.  It is a beautiful house, I never cease to be amazed by how much work he put into it for us.

Ebonygirl:  thank you for reading, glad you enjoyed.

JerryPat:  Thank you  This house is so special to us – the church we attended gave us a condemned house that was on the property to tear down for whatever supplies we could get out of it.  My stepfather (Jack) disassembled that house and found the core of it was built out of these monster logs so big an adult could not wrap their arms around them.  Piece by piece they made the 10 mile trip to our farm and he reassembled them like a huge puzzle and then added on more rooms around them, so they are the very center of my mother’s house and visible in the living room --- but there are TONS of nails in that house.  I must have nailed about a bazillion of them myself LOL

~Sheli

At the end of the day when all is said and done. I can stand proudly with my hands on my hips and say "I think I have super powers"

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

8 posted 2011-08-10 11:20 PM

Sheli,

First let me gush how thrilled I was to see that you posted a poem.  I am gushing [got the picture; hear the sweetest of sweet in my voice?  Eh?]  Okay, bask in the moment.  Are you basking?  Take a deep breath ....

I.A.M.D.O.N.E.G.U.S.H.I.N.G.

I have missed you and you better not be gone so long again, Missy! So there!  Okay, I guess that I am supposed to comment on the poem now.

Like all the others before me who have commented, I really like this. It reminds me of a house of my past too.  Can you smell the dust?  I love that smell.  And, the settling at night used to scaree the pj's off me.  So, yep, you brought that all back and more.

You are a talented lady and I love you to pieces!

Ali

divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

9 posted 2011-08-11 12:08 PM

Ali, I figured you'd be here to fuss and gush at me sooner or later lol. Sorry I've been gone so long, besides the fact that I have completely overextended myself with my course load this semester, this is the first thing I've written in 2 years -- and it was an assignment for one of my classes

I have to write 2 more, so you can look forward to at least that :p Maybe I'll get a little kickstart from having to write these.

I'm glad ya like this one. You can't smell any dust in this house -- no little dust particles survive a cleaning by my mother. You can smell the wood, though, and that is my favorite smell. I love you bunches too honey, I've missed you

At the end of the day when all is said and done. I can stand proudly with my hands on my hips and say "I think I have super powers"

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

10 posted 2011-08-11 12:06 PM

Such a warm and wonderful tribute. What a talented poet you are, Divine Chaos.
Ida

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

11 posted 2011-08-11 12:52 PM

I love your poem, divine chaos. I can feel your house's soul in my bones. I am very sad that you miss your Dad. I wish I could miss just one of my parents - I envy you - but I am blessed in many other ways.

Owl

divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

12 posted 2011-08-12 09:20 PM

Ida & Owl: I'm so glad you enjoyed. Thanks for your kind words

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant

since 2006-11-07

Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !

13 posted 2011-08-13 05:19 AM

fine writing !

superb line: "memory Braille"

divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

14 posted 2011-08-13 11:38 AM

secondhand: thanks, doll

glad you enjoyed

~Sheli~

You've never really traveled if you've never been lost.

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

15 posted 2011-08-13 10:58 PM

Pssst... Bruce, Shelli called you "doll". Why do I take such delight in that?

xoxoxo to you both.
Ali

divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

16 posted 2011-08-14 10:25 PM

And just what is wrong with callin' him "doll," might I ask, Miss Ali? :p I call you "doll" too!

~Sheli~

You've never really traveled if you've never been lost.

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