Old Cottage On The Hill Poem by Amar Agarwala

OUR LIVES RESEMBLE OUR HOUSES
I often feel that houses carry a deeper meaning than what is visible with the naked eyes. More so, it says so much about the people it houses, persons and families who stay there. It gets so much easier to know a person and his habits from his/her house - for they bear running testimony about their lives, lifestyles, likes, dislikes, passion and small habits that make them what they are.

This poem by Emily, as always caught my attention from a host of others. For I am so fascinated by old and abandoned houses. I was tempted to copy her as usual, and I did. You need to tell me, if I did a good job out of it. Don't hesitate to criticize, it makes me a better poet.

A HOUSE UPON THE HEIGHT

Emily Dickinson
A House upon the Height—
That Wagon never reached—
No Dead, were ever carried down—
No Peddler's Cart—approached—
Whose Chimney never smoked—
Whose Windows—Night and Morn—
Caught Sunrise first—and Sunset—last—
Then—held an Empty Pane—
Whose fate—Conjecture knew—
No other neighbor—did—
And what it was—we never lisped—
Because He—never told—


As I grow older, I feel, I increasingly resemble an old house. For every ancient house has a mystic past, a haunting present and a future that belies clue. I felt immensely attracted to not just the poem but the picture of the old, abandoned house on the hill-top. It seems to wait for heaven's salvation, much like I do - and I know it will come someday.