Lost Houses
A shattered ruin
beside the road.
Empty window panes
stare sightless.
Sagging roof,
rotting boards
with flecks of crumbling paint.
An old pump stands out back.
Daffodils askew
along a vanished path.
Rose bushes and
tiger lilies growing wild,
random bleeding heart scattered
along an old stone wall,
persimmon trees and quince.
Ninety acres, a quarter section,
a living once for mom and dad
and four small children.
Carved from the wilderness,
tamed and cultivated with grinding labor,
born of love and hope!
It seems so sad and yet
the meadowlark sings amid the grass.
From these roots came:
doctors, school teachers, preachers
and countless honest, decent folk
who have no memorial,
save in the heart of God.
beside the road.
Empty window panes
stare sightless.
Sagging roof,
rotting boards
with flecks of crumbling paint.
An old pump stands out back.
Daffodils askew
along a vanished path.
Rose bushes and
tiger lilies growing wild,
random bleeding heart scattered
along an old stone wall,
persimmon trees and quince.
Ninety acres, a quarter section,
a living once for mom and dad
and four small children.
Carved from the wilderness,
tamed and cultivated with grinding labor,
born of love and hope!
It seems so sad and yet
the meadowlark sings amid the grass.
From these roots came:
doctors, school teachers, preachers
and countless honest, decent folk
who have no memorial,
save in the heart of God.
Published by Robert O. Adair
Robert has spent over 50 years doing extensive study, writing, teaching and research. Robert s poetry has appeared in several poetry anthologies including Norma s Garden, seven chapbooks, and such journals a... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentYou painted the picture well and I heard the meadowlark sing. Thanks.
Moving piece. We need to reclaim these abandoned homes and put life back into them :) cheers, Robert, well done!
Makes me think about my own community deteriorating and what others will think of it as they drive by...
This brings to my mind something my father would always say whenever we would drive by an abandoned farm. I appreciate it when an old memory is rekindled, especially about someone I dearly loved. My sincere thanks!
This is trememdous! You're right. Our poems share a similar vein. There is both hope and loss in this. I will look into the book you mentioned. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Wow! WOW! (((applause)))
Absolutely masterful!
Hey this is beautiful. And you have an appreciative comment from Tony, quite the writer himself.
You have a gift sir, to capture the secret of the seemingly benign and bring it to life for the world to see.