Samantha Reynolds, of Bentlily, set out to write a poem a day as an exercise in being present in the moment. When the year was up, her clever and insightful poems just kept coming. She recently launched her site http://bentlily.com/ to showcase her work and inspire others to write their own magic.
I will periodically feature her house/home-related poetry here.
Disclosure: I know Sam because I’ve known her partner, writer and director Pete McCormack, for a kazillion years. Aside from being my friend, he was my high school prom date. Rather amazing and beautiful how we end up connecting with people, isn’t it?
July 24, 2011
HOUSE FOR SALE
house for sale
sold already
pile of old bookshelves
free
in the lane
the previous owner
sorting through the garage
the final nest
of belongings
(a spider’s paradise)
he looks as though
he is always dusty
a man not known
for his oral hygiene
my husband asks a question
that lands us in the house
for an enthusiastic tour
empty
rotting
rooms
a tear-down, he says
not sadly
oddly proud
of the tired sag of the walls
stained ceiling
crusty stove
as though he doesn’t see
an old house
but the wife
he met 40 years ago
gone now
and all he can smell
in the decay
is a memory of
fresh
honey
skin.