The House Between The Mountains Poem by Daleen Enslinstrydom

The big removal lorry has been packed,
the nine children are on the back of the pickup-truck
and are going with grandpa and grandma to the farm,
the two-wheel track to the gate is overgrown,
beyond branches and trees the old farmhouse is hidden,
the orchard is badly neglected
but still cherries and plums
hang on the branches
and the hungry children
pick some of the juicy sweet peaches
that hangs trees full.

The yard is in disarray,
khaki-weed and couch-grass grows knee-high
and it looks as if the store and shed
is totally overgrown,
the small house is empty and dusty
and this is no place
for decent people.

Grandpa Mac takes grandma Helen’s hand in his
and whispers softly:
“Helen, are you willing to live here? ”

The house and yard is badly ruined
.but to live here is free of charge.
: His words hang heavy:
”There is so much that has got to be done here.”

“John will come and help, ”
she replies without hesitation.
“Old Mac, you know there is nothing
that soap, water and a bit of paint
cannot clean.”

Wordlessly she gives out sickles,
to cut the road open
as here between the Waterberg Mountains
we are going to live
and to turn back is impossible.