Home » Poems » Nancy Kaufman » A shell of herself

A shell of herself

The old wood framed home stood stark and abandoned, a shell of herself, where now new homes were standing.. Rotted roped windows wept with the rains and rattled and trembled with each passing train.. The once solid foundation now unmoored by silt causing the aged house to lean, a precarious tilt.. Yet inside her ancient bones still chiseled and grand with her high molded ceilings and oak floor plans. For over a hundred years she was home, haven, shelter, thru cold winter storms and hot summer swelters. Many years had passed and her families moved on. She stands out of place where she once so belonged.

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Suzanne Delaney

Date: 8/31/2024 11:05:00 AM

This is a wonderful description of an old home. I was feeling real sadness for her abandonment. Happy Belated POTD. SuZ

Deb M

Date: 7/7/2024 3:35:00 PM

Congratulations Nancy on POTD!! I love this poem ….if only those walls could speak!! How proud houses and ruins still stand even in dilapidated states….l just love ruins such intrigue just like your poem! Adore the last line Nancy…it sums the appreciation and respect for this old home! Just beautiful…. Debx

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 8/5/2024 3:47:00 AM

Dear Deb, Please accept my sincere apology for not acknowledging this wonderful comment of yours sooner. I have been dealing with some health issues lately and am not on the site as frequently as I had a eye stroke and my vision is not corrected yet. I love older home 2 and their wonderful bones and those that take the time to restore them to their original beauty. Have a blessed day dear..

Valsa George

Date: 7/3/2024 10:42:00 PM

I can so well relate, dear Nancy. My ancestral home also is almost in the same condition, abandoned and rotting as my parents died and all my siblings moved away. The very sight evokes umpteen nostalgic memories and deep pain. Beautiful poem. Congratulations on the well deserved POTD

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 8/5/2024 3:49:00 AM

Dear Valsa, Sorry for this delayed response but have had recent health issues to deal with. I am fortunate that I live a distance from my home and do believe it is not always wise to go back to where we once lived with out great disappointment. Thanks for your comments and I was geatly humbled by the honor.

Maria Williams

Date: 7/3/2024 3:54:00 AM

Such a heartfelt poem Nancy. I felt your words, sorry for the belated congratulations on this little Gem...Hugs

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/3/2024 4:25:00 AM

Thanks Maria. I didn't even discover this recognition until late in the day. I appreciate your kind words. Have a blessed day and thanks for your visit.

Steven Mwakatundu

Date: 7/3/2024 12:16:00 AM

Congratulations on POTD Nancy. "She stands out of place where she once so belonged" this line speaks volumes on many dimensions.

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/3/2024 4:28:00 AM

Hi Steven, Thank you so much for your kind words and the home was originally bought when it was condemned and renovated by me and both of my husbands. Sadly it has again fallen in despair after we sold and moved on. f.y.i. Very insightful of you as I left there under very traumatic circumstances in 2014. Blessings

Ink Empress

Date: 7/2/2024 10:59:00 PM

Back to congratulate you on receiving POTD dear nancy! Well deserved

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/3/2024 4:30:00 AM

Hi Ink, Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I spent more time on that one before posting it as too many of my poems are way too impulsive writes. The poem police probably will ticket me soon. Blessings

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 7/2/2024 7:22:00 PM

Your poem reminded me of one house I spent few years of my life as a child. I have lived many other houses in my adult life since, some of them really grand, but the sweetest memory of that place and its garden, a swing - never go away! I avoid visiting that house being afraid of the changes that have occurred! Congratulations on your beautiful poem - heartfelt and nostalgic! Best wishes ~ Mala

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/3/2024 4:34:00 AM

Dear Malabika, Thank you so much and what you shared is so true about homes. I can still see the fish pond with the red maple tree my husband planted, our horse fence and the high swirl arch ways, gazebo, etc. our time and love. Blessings to you. It was a very nice surprise for me!

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 7/2/2024 4:58:00 PM

Hello Nancy Kaufman, this old houes should be torn down. it has had its days. Hugs. /Darlene/

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 7/4/2024 10:27:00 AM

Wow! Nancy you do have great memories of Maryland. Hugs. // Darlene

Nancy Kaufman

Date: 7/2/2024 4:07:00 PM

OH WOW..What a pleasant surprise and I am greatly honored. Thanks to every one for this unexpected recognition today. I seldom revisit my former home in Maryland as it's a distance now but as it was my home for forty years and where I raised my two adult children, my heart is still there. Blessings to you all!

Brandy Nicole

Date: 7/2/2024 3:17:00 PM

Not so long ago, trees and an open field could be seen not far from where I live. Now, houses are packed in and it looks totally different. I'm missing the way it used to be. Change can be sad at times. Your thoughts caress gently around my heart. Congratulations Nancy, on Poem of the Day. Hugs, Brandy

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:23:00 PM

HI Brandy, Thanks for your thoughtful comments. The whole neighborhood had greatly transitioned when I drove by and it was very disheartening to see the change. Blessings

Paul Bell

Date: 7/2/2024 11:44:00 AM

Greatness has gone, to be replaced with replica houses at exorbitant prices with no character. Congrats on POTD.

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:22:00 PM

HI Paul, This home had a lot of character. Thanks for commenting. Blessings

Jim Slaughter

Date: 7/2/2024 10:36:00 AM

One of the saddest sights...an old, abandoned, derelict house. What stories they could tell, if only they could. Great piece, Nancy, and congrats on POTD.

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:25:00 PM

Hi Jim, Thanks for taking the time to comment. I am greatly appreciative of the recognition.

Constance La France

Date: 7/2/2024 10:12:00 AM

Nancy, I love your poem, excellent writing and congratulations on receiving the POEM OF THE DAY, honor, Constance

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:26:00 PM

Thank you so much Constance. I am very happy for the recognition today.. Blessings

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 7/2/2024 9:12:00 AM

Great imagery, Nancy! Love the first line and beginning of the 2nd, rotted rope windows, ancient bones and the final two lines. Congrats on POTD!

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:27:00 PM

Hi Kim, A wonderful surprise I discovered late in the day. Thank you and thanks to all the wonderfully gifted poets for this honor.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 7/2/2024 8:32:00 AM

Aging gracefully --- ok, not so much... Congrats on POTD, Nancy!

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:17:00 PM

Thanks Gershon, I appreciate the honor which I just discovered much later today. Very humbled. Blessings to you

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 7/2/2024 8:31:00 AM

Congratulations on your POTD win. What a wonderful write/story. It is so true about life. New then old. Have a blessed day writing away....................

Joseph May

Date: 7/2/2024 6:59:00 AM

A house once grand now stands lean, abandoned, Congrats on POTD

Tom Woody

Date: 7/2/2024 5:46:00 AM

Awesome reflections of a house and home once thriving, now in disrepair and uninhabited. I had the privilege of restoring an abandoned home built in 1850 and on the national registry of historic homes. It is in the heart of a quaint little village not far from me. Now the house has a nice couple living there and thrives once more. Hard work but worth it. Great Potd

John Lawless

Date: 7/2/2024 5:18:00 AM

is this a subtle metaphoric lament of aging or is my muse just a little old guy sitting in a squeaking rocker....which he is often accused of being off.....Nice write Nancy.

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:12:00 PM

Hi John, Yes, there were a few metaphors on aging and we actually restored this 1911 home when we lived there. Unfortunately, it wasn't cared for after we sold. The roped windows were long since replaced.

Tania Kitchin

Date: 7/2/2024 5:14:00 AM

Nancy, a great poem, it's a shame when some houses are left to deteriorate and end up getting demolished. Congratulations on POTD.

Regina Elliott

Date: 7/2/2024 3:04:00 AM

A poignant POTD, Nancy. A big Congratulations. Enjoy your special poetry day. :)

Lin Lane

Date: 7/2/2024 2:46:00 AM

I find it terribly sad when grand old homes are left to deteriorate, and it's much worse when it was a home we lived in or loved as a child. The only thing standing of my grandmother's home is the brick fireplace, and it's difficult to see. Congratulations on having written today's POTD, Nancy.

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:13:00 PM

Thanks Lin. I didn't see this recognition until much later today but it is always a very pleasant surprise to see some thing I wrote resonates so well. Blessings to you..

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 7/2/2024 2:19:00 AM

- Sometimes it hurts to come back...a lovely poem, Nancy...congratulations on your p.o.t.d. :) - hugs

Nancy Kaufman
Date: 7/2/2024 4:15:00 PM

Hi Anne-Lise, thank you and yes it is painful to go back. I guess that's why it's said to "seize the day". Blessings

Unseeking Seeker

Date: 7/2/2024 2:16:00 AM

As with the home, so with our organic form … enjoyed your beautifully crafted poem, Nancy, warmest congratulations on POTD

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 7/2/2024 1:06:00 AM

Wonderful Nancy, congratulations on receiving the honour of poem of the day… Beryl