Home » Poems » Lindsay Laurie » Abandoned Homestead

Abandoned Homestead

I gave you shelter from the storm,
when it was cold I kept you warm,
from blazing sun I gave you shade,
stopped the wind from blowing you away.

I gave you comfort in the night,
watched over you while you lay sleeping,
through my windows shone the moonlight; 
became the mulga perfumes keeping.

Now I'm not wanted any more
dust builds up around my door
there are no footsteps on my floor
I'm not wanted anymore

I'm not wanted any more
no one can hear me crying
no one comes here anymore
I'm not wanted anymore

Pots and pans hung from my wall,
I loved your paintings in my hall,
departed souls I helped you mourn,
I watched your babies being born,
now there's no children running 'round,
I miss the smell of quandong jam,
please come back I am your home,
it hurts so much to be alone.

Departed souls I helped you mourn,
I watched your babies being born,
please come back I am your home, 
it hurts so much to be alone.

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Phyllis Babcock

Date: 8/25/2015 5:55:00 PM

A lovely song but the story line is so sad. This will make a lovely country song and I hope you have Meghan singing it to a tune. love phyl

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/31/2015 3:50:00 AM

Not sure about Megan singing this Phyllis. I wrote this after seeing the deserted homesteads in outback South Australia; they appeared so forlorn - Lindsay

Emile Pinet

Date: 5/13/2015 9:10:00 AM

You personify a building and it morphs into a home taking up residence in your heart. Emile.

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 5/14/2015 8:59:00 PM

Hello Emile... once again I thank you for reading and leaving a great comment. I do appreciate it - Lindsay

Kp Nunez

Date: 5/12/2015 7:26:00 PM

A work of art, straight from the heart. Yours is a colorful pen, Lindsay. I feel you! Though we share the love for the humorous, we do not shy away from the serious. A 7 for this, my friend. :-) Kim

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 5/14/2015 8:57:00 PM

Hello Kim... as writers Kim, we do tend to focus on issues that others may not, and we feel that need to preserve it with our pens no matter what the topic is - as always, thank you for your support Kim - Lindsay

Diane Lefebvre

Date: 5/12/2015 6:42:00 PM

Hi Lindsay, This piece gives pause for thought! I feel empathy for the sufferings of flora and fauna and now you have me feeling sorry for homeless houses. Lots of what you write is so humerous, but now and again we get a inner peek of your warm heart.

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 5/14/2015 8:53:00 PM

G'day Diane... these deserted homesteads are only deserted by humans. Kangaroos, cattle looking for summer shade and nesting birds provide a hive of activity. It is sad to see history disintegrating though - thank you Diane - Lindsay

Paul Callus

Date: 5/11/2015 8:59:00 AM

Abandoned buildings must miss the activity and warmness that gave them life. Your poem is touching and sad, especially for one like me who can easily become sentimental. All the best. // paul

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 5/14/2015 8:45:00 PM

Hello Paul... I spent some time travelling through South Australia and often passed these deserted sandstone houses on dry dusty plains and I became a bit sentimental thinking of the loneliness and a used by date - Lindsay