An Empty Neglected House Purchased Repaired Poem by Terence George Craddock

the house was run down
and empty for 2 years,
which was why it was cheap
and why it needed repairs,

but the house grew more happy
as flower gardens lawns finally
looked fresh tidied snappy,

as time and care cleaned ugly
green moss off outside walls,
with all inside outside windows
cleaned house proud started

with pride standing tall;
all inside carpets
were shampooed
cleaned in every room,

soon white carpet came up
a wonderful looked new delight,
in front of fire kitchen carpet
black took four separate cleans,

coal dust and dirt ingrained
meant wool pattern hidden
could not delight be seen;

what a surprise
when revealed
our faces beamed,

the kitchen
the first room
to be totally
tided sorted,

all dishes plates
cooking items
were unwrapped
disappeared

into their home cupboards;
bedrooms were next beds
assembled made all clothes
folded into their drawers,

all sheets linen washed
were folded stored
in waiting cupboards
in summer winter piles;

sad wooden skirting boards
bare wooden room doors
all dull pale faded neglected,

were cleaned rubbed
with bees wax
till deep shiny
stained gleamed,

design wooden panels
on a kitchen wall
were hours spent
cleaning shining,

rubbed into panel gaps
which bees wax absorbed
more clean care hours
cleaning cleaning staggered

over effort several days;
then after a few months
a black kitchen table
chairs oak lounge chairs

were friendship gift given
by Nathan Briggs; cleaned
with care chair wood bees
wax several times polished

till happy gleaming;
a neglect dirty chimney
in dining room kitchen
was finally chimney

swept safety soot
swept out vacuumed,
out soot autumn fires
were soon nightly

burning chasing
cold chill from rooms
heat liberating;

lights turned out
to sleep flames
in multi-fuel burner
through glass

front view panel
are nightly warmly
cozy flickering,

finally
after all else
urgent

was done guttering
on roof on one side
of damaged house
was replaced repaired;

two severe storm swept
away gutter drain pipes
were at last replaced,

now stress on family
faces is finally fading,
relief from pressing

need repairs
is weariness
slow fading;

smiles are in eyes
finally seed growing,
relief is spreading

to faces
desiring
to smile

appreciate
an empty
neglected

house becoming
a warmer cozier
happy nice home;


Terence George Craddock (Afterglows Echoes Of Starlight)
Copyright © Terence George Craddock