An Old Home
By American standards our home is old,
created from old growth forests of oak and poplar
on site one hundred and seven years ago,
while the war to end all wars raged on foreign shores.
Its wooden floors slope gently downhill,
spiderweb cracks trace filaments in plaster,
no door or window settles plumb into its casing,
and not a single closet exists.
Nooks, crannies, dormers, and cupboards in eaves abound,
the architectural precursors for closets in homes of later years
exist in all corners, on every level, charming spaces
and reading places are everywhere, but not one closet.
We did not bend it to our will, rather it changed us.
Wardrobes and attics, outbuildings and sheds,
crawl spaces became our norm. Our lives now,
in this sweet old home, are simple, slow, and warm.
just lovely. I read it wistfully, imagining your beautiful home and your family that chooses to live simple, slow and warm. A keeper for sure
Thank you! Some of the prompts really speak to the people we are, and this was one that did for me.
Sounds like an old house we used to live it. It did have a couple of closets though.
The closest thing we have is a pantry and a space under the stairs, both curtained off with floor to ceiling curtains. Wouldn’t have it any other way! 🙂
I can just imagine your warm and loving home! Thank you!
Thanks very much!
Ahhh, lovely imagery of an old home. love the first line of the last stanza about the house changing you. Wonderful piece, Tracy!