A little cottage nestled in the hills,
its roof is thatched
and it windows carry Georgian squares.
In its garden pretty flowers grow;
while in the fields,
seeds of corn are sown.
Snug within its stonewalls
lives a family,
husband, wife and their two sons.
Sadness filled the cottage one day
when the sons were called to war.
Candles were lit; prayers were said
for their safe return.
Years rolled by, paintwork peeled,
but the little cottage was still a home
with its fire warm.
Day after day, year after year
they waited for their sons return.
Then came what they dreaded most,
letters laced with black
to say that their sons had fallen
in fields far away
and would not be coming back.
A wreath of black hangs on the door
for their soldier boys
who will come home no more.
Sorrow again gripped the walls.
As years followed,
the little cottage fell into disrepair.
Within this once happy home
only sadness rang.
The husband and wife
grew old in their years,
but always held the memory
of two young lost lives.
Slowly they too faded away.
Now the little cottage
stands silent for all to see.
Falling down from lack of repair,
but always holding memories
of happiness once there.
I felt as if I am reading modern Wordsworth, the emotion of the poem is close to his MICHAEL.. What a humble theme with all crude emotions, pastoral imagery graced with such smooth flow…the climax is pathetic which shows the ugly face of war….I really loved reading this sensitive poem.
I love the word 'cottage'. It's so much more evocative than house. This is a poignantly delivered tale of joy and sorrow, of birth and death and of a little cottage who watches of it all. A charming, nostalgic poem. love, Allie ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ .
A Sad truth of wars, familys are also lost to war... Andy 10
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
The walls really do tell thier tales.....from a beautiful warm family home...through love and loss and the old cottage now shares in the sorrows too...this does have the feel of the old classics....like I just picked up and old book and blew the dust off....(Not because it isn't read....but because I don't dust: O) to peek inside and find this gem.....well done David