Red House Talking*
standing
heat scared twisted tin
metal remains of the shelter of generations
once marking the boundary between security, sky
and seasons' harsh torments of ice and wind
once shielding mother and child and keeping
home hearth’s warmth within
now
sentinel timbers stand charred
remnants of hard taught lessons
essential knowing of words and deed
those shadows of learning that walk with us stand undaunted
proclaiming our way through life's course
holding us to right of way
pane-less windows black and lost
tell of now absent eyes peering outward
watching for familiar faces and tracing memories
in winter’s vapor smudged glass and speaking again
of curtains drawn tightly muffling
the magic giggles of life long love and randy youth
now
the boundaries of roof and wall
yield openly, freeing lives long bound here
as prolific gaps grasp not even nature's transient breeze
but only to have it dance delightfully
through
resting on mind, heart and dream
then leave wafting on
free.
(written following a visit to Levering Orchard, Va.)