Cottage By The Sea Poem by Lindsey Priest

I am looking at a painting
Of a cottage by the sea,
The waves are lapping gently,
And someone ‘s beckoning me
To take a closer look into
That picture on the wall,
For in it lies the answer,
The answer to it all.

'Why do I need an answer
To a question I did not ask?
Is there something in that cottage
And to search will be my task? '

'Look a little more closely
So you can see some more,
There’s someone in the cottage
Standing near the door.
At first you did not notice
Now your eyes can see.'

‘And is that someone calling,
Calling out to me? ’

‘That’s right, it’s you they’re calling,
Calling out your name,
Calling you to join them,
To meet them once again.
Look into that cottage
The answer will be there
As you peer into the window,
Be sure to say a prayer.’

‘What answer am I seeking?
What did I want to know?
Wait a minute, are you meaning,
Where did my loved ones go?
I’m not ready to find out yet,
I want to stay right here,
But if they are in that picture
Then they are very near! ’

I looked into that painting,
Of a cottage by the shore,
I looked so very closely
At the old and battered door.
The sea was lapping gently,
And I could plainly see
That no-one there was beckoning
Or calling out to me.