Conversations (X) — to the houses

9 Replies

When we are asleep, after talk and touch,
And the music of your voice, even in my mind,

Has drifted into the blanketing silence
And there is nothing left but the breathing

Of our separate souls, then the houses
Begin to sing. Across the ways out

And the ways home that only houses know
They sing, houses who’ve never seen

The other’s siding or heard rain pelt
The other’s roof, but have shared

The job of sheltering us. Their song
Builds a new house for us we will never move

Out of, a bed always comfortably unmade,
A dog growing old sleeping in the corner,

A piano by the screen door, waiting.

9 thoughts on “Conversations (X) — to the houses”

zdunno03 December 17, 2016 at 1:17 am

Beautiful, Jeff.

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1. Jeff Schwaner Post authorDecember 17, 2016 at 10:28 am
  
  Thanks, Len!
  
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jessamayann December 17, 2016 at 2:22 pm

I can see this so vividly. The dog. The piano. The screen door. Beautiful.

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1. Jeff Schwaner Post authorDecember 17, 2016 at 2:54 pm
  
  Thank you.
  
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Jason Leslie Rogers December 17, 2016 at 10:44 pm

I enjoyed the personification of the houses. Great job making them the star of the poem. 🙂

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1. Jeff Schwaner Post authorDecember 17, 2016 at 10:47 pm
  
  Thanks, Jason.
  
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Chris December 21, 2016 at 4:40 pm

Excellent, Jeff, with lots of great details.

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1. Jeff Schwaner Post authorDecember 21, 2016 at 11:54 pm
  
  Thanks Chris. Happy Christmas to you and Tanis!
  
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  1. Chris December 22, 2016 at 8:01 pm
    
    Happy Christmas to you and Mary and the kids! Sorry I’ve been out of touch.