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 needed repairs,

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

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

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 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 drawers,

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

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

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

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

rubbed into panel gaps
which absorbed
more hours
staggered

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

were given,
cleaned
wood bees
wax polished

till happy gleaning,
a dirty chimney
in the kitchen
was chimney

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

burning chasing
cold from rooms
heat liberating,

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

panel
are warmly
cozy flickering,

finally
after all else
urgent

was done guttering
on roof on one side
of the house
was repaired,

two storm swept
away drain pipes
were finally replaced,

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

need repairs
is weariness
fading,

smiles are in eyes
finally seed growing,
spreading

to faces
desiring
to smile

appreciate
an empty
neglected

house becoming
a warmer cozier
home


Copyright © Terence George Craddock