In the house of many rooms
someone sleeps.
Someone can be anyone,
so the sleeper is you.
I'm awake
because I've finally understood
the house of many rooms
is no place to sleep.
Floors creak
even when a cat pads
from room to room.
When the wind blows,
walls shudder,
windows shake against their frames.
The wind whistles over the roof,
and tiny clots of dust fall down the chimney,
down to the fireplace,
into the living room.
Someone could choke on nothing there.
But someone is asleep,
breathing the dirt in and out,
while knives flash in the kitchen,
hammers pound in the workroom,
and all the beds sag
under the weight of ghostly presences.
I'm here to tell you,
stay awake,
in the house of many rooms.
This is brilliant! ~ I love the use of someone here, and pointing out that someone could be anyone and so its us, readers. Most people just say you. So I love this idea of giving new awareness to the word someone. I found the most impacting lines to be Someone could choke on nothing there. But someone is asleep, Pure genius! Also I'm curious about what the house of many rooms is a representation of, though I have a couple of ideas. Sleeping seems to be symbolism for being unaware of ones surroundings. Still, I'm not sure I'd want to be awake there lol.
Your poems are like psychological thrillers. The eyes and ears become wide opened. I especially like this poem because I once had a dream about being chased by a hybrid (half man, half monster) in a big house with many interconnecting rooms.
Such a thrilling poem! i leved in such a house where Floors creak even when a cat pads. It is our common native house - cause earlier all the ancsestors lived like this!
I also wrote a poem on my old house. I decided to post mine after reading yours... They're different!
Your poem made me smile. I live in an old house. I feel the energy and presence of generations long lost; and when it's windy (and sometimes when it's not) the darned chimney smells of stale ash, which permeates the living room...glad you've kept at the writing!
...........after reading this write.... I will never wish to sleep in a house of many rooms ever again....it was a little unnerving with the knives flashing....you know how to put the scare in your poems....where is the love? .....couldn't find it in this write.....still I enjoyed every line and loved reading the poet's notes....
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Reminded me of Casa Loma in Toronto but perhaps I mention it over your head, you may not have been there. Still, it also reminds me of a song of years ago: This Old House. Then again, in my: Sonnet Beyond Love, those rooms were caverns.Again speaking of pronouns, have you read my teaching aid – Nouns - Adeline