Saturday, January 5, 2013

THIS OLD HOUSE



This Old House

Is there anything left?

Some pie, some coins, some old shoes -- anything?

House empties -- family leaves. Dogs outside on chains howl, "don't forget us."

Room for all in the old farm truck -- away they go -- crying and laughing and howling.

Toward the end of the rainbow.

~ ~ barbara


24 comments:

  1. My grandfather once bought the contents of an old abandoned house. It was as though the people just got up and walked out the door leaving everything in its place. It was very eerie yet intriguing. The medicines were left in the cabinet, clothes hanging in the closets. I have thought about that for years. Your post brought it right to the surface.

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    1. Raining Iguanas -- Interesting that you have had a real life experience with house abandonment. I too had a similar experience when I was young -- walking the fields surrounding my youthful home my friend and I discovered a run-down two-room abandoned home. And like you I will always remember walking through the home and marveling that so many objects were left. I feel that abandoned homes will always be with you as they are with me. thanks -- barbara

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  2. This just squeezed my heart............

    xo

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    1. Mimi -- Houses have stories both real and unreal. I took the liberty of writing an unreal version of why this house was abandoned. I am aware that when the going gets tough these types of situations do occur. Thanks -- barbara

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  3. Picture and short poem is lump in the throat sad and happy.

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    1. June -- We know that life is full of ups and downs. Your feelings express the tone I was reaching for. Sad that they were giving up their home while happy as everyone got to come aboard for their next adventure.

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  4. I find such beauty in these old, abandoned houses. It also conjures up ideas of its history/who lived there/etc...

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    1. Michelle -- Old abandoned homes on our landscapes sit there begging to be recognized. Great that you give them your warm thoughts along with your puzzling thoughts of its history. thanks -- barbara

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  5. As always, such beautiful photography, Barbara, and a wonderful subject for a novel.

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    1. Carole Anne Carr -- Thanks so much for the nice comment about my post. Yes, such a story would be good for a novel. You have the ear and eye of a writer, always taking in potential stories that surround you. -- barbara

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  6. I sincerely hope that they find some gold at the end of that rainbow.
    A house that telle a history - well done.

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    1. RuneE -- If not gold at least another home to house the family. Abandoned houses are frequently seen in our region -- they spark the imagination. thanks -- barbara

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  7. So many stories in these old places...beautiful post!

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    1. Vicki -- Thanks for the comment -- I make up a story in my head every time I pass some old "grandmother" of an abandoned house. -- barbara

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    1. Joanne -- thanks for stopping by. Memories are what keep us glued together -- barbara

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  9. It is hard in this day and age where everything must be updated and a new version purchased or a new recipe tried that we realize all the wealth of the work, thought, and example that went before us and is part of what we are today. I hope there is some way we do not forget.

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    1. Tabor -- what an introspective thought on what went before us. I always think in connections. Your comment, as I see it, explains the connections of who we are today. Many historical revisions are out that look at why we are who we are and what were the circumstances surrounding this. Truth in history is important and hopefully will help us not to forget it in the long run. Who we are today is what came before us. Great comment. -- barbara

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  10. Wonderful post Barbara! It kind of breaks your heart to think of what circumstance a home was abandoned and all it's contents left behind.

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    1. Mamabug -- I have lived in many states but where I live now is the most I have seen of abandoned homes languishing on country landscapes. thanks -- barbara

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  11. Strange. I guess you see more houses like this where you are, but I see them here too.

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    1. Hattie -- perhaps abandoned homes are part of our culture for different reasons. Here in KY I know some homes are left to return to the earth because they are old family homes. Family members doesn't want to live in them. They don't want non-family to live in them so it just eventually goes to ruin. Another sad trend, as to why we see so many old abandoned homes going to ruin, is that the homes have acreage and are sold to developers of subdivisions. The house sits there until the land is developed which can be years. I saw this especially in Illinois. thanks -- barbara

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  12. I hate seeing a house left to fall down too. I fee like if I go in and stand very still and listen, I will hear the voices of those who were there, telling me stories of their life.

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    1. Granny Sue -- When I am in an old house I always look for wear marks on floors displaying patterns of walking while wear marks on the walls and cupboards etc. are traffic patterns of chairs, hands and other traces of movement. To me this is a language -- for you it would be the voices. thanks -- barbara

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