Good Bones

I remember it well, the house was half timbered
and layered with brick that married the hill
White paint was peeling on the north-western side
and nothing but work would spark much appeal

We were traveling home after a weekend's adventure
without ever knowing we had entered the future 
A sign on the gate had caused us to dawdle,
so we turned up the driveway to buy a few apples

But something had charmed us, like gold in the sun
The place sat up high, on a hilltop alone
with the clouds and the treetops, that filtered the light
leaving shadows on slopes that followed the road

Something had frozen a moment of sun
and gave us a feeling of something undone

The old man who lived there had much more to say
about selling the place, and a move into town
where an apple a day meant a run to the store

Quickly …. our thoughts, were left at his door
to grapple, to sort, to ripen and ponder
A wonder he didn't conclude us insane

Out in the yard, our children were playing
Running through grass that scented the hills
A house with good bones, we could call it a home 

We climbed out on a limb, for a place to seek shelter,
we could make it our own
and that's what we did 

The house of our dreams, is where we still live
Our dream came alive, and without one regret
We turned to buy apples……, we drove through the gate
We've lived here for decades.  It must have been fate


____________________________________________________________
6/26/16
Something Seemingly Insignificant and Unexpected Changed My Life - Poetry Contest
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Scars Avatar
September 2, 2016 at 8:13 PM
Carrie, so beautiful lovely lady! congrats on your placement :)-luloo
Showalter Swift Avatar
September 2, 2016 at 2:37 PM
I do so absolutely LOVE this poem and story! I am truly romanced to the bone by it! I smell the grass...I taste the apples...I feel the grass in between your children's toes and hear their laughter -tremendous! Congrats on the WIN!
Rodrigues Avatar
September 1, 2016 at 8:09 AM
Lovely story! Congratulations!
Kimathi Avatar
September 1, 2016 at 7:27 AM
Congrats Carrie, for your well, deserved top placement in the contest!! ;-)
Neumann Avatar
August 30, 2016 at 3:24 AM
Greta. Congratulations. The apple of change. Well done, Kai
Johnson Avatar
August 29, 2016 at 9:54 PM
Congrats Carrie. Good work.
Smith Avatar
August 29, 2016 at 4:10 PM
Congratulations Carrie...
Chansarkar Avatar
August 29, 2016 at 1:33 PM
A house with good bones! I loved the idea and the masterful writing Carrie!Congratulations on your win.
Simmonds Avatar
August 29, 2016 at 12:59 PM
Great job, Carrie! Congratulations on your win! But I think you are better than phrases like "blood sweat and tears" and "a little bit crazy." Try taking more risks in your word choice; for example, "good bones."
Richards Avatar
August 29, 2016 at 1:38 PM
Thank you Rita.....I agree that I could improve on my cliché phrases.....I will work on that, and really appreciate your advice!
Mark Avatar
June 29, 2016 at 11:15 AM
This flows beautifully, great imagery, and the rhyme structure is delicious, a small moment that feels so much larger, you have a gift Carrie, for making reading seem natural.... Only 24 reads and now two comments is worrying, ...quality like this needs to be appreciated, like a masterclass in-attended...but I like it ...a lot ..Ian
Onclaud Avatar
June 26, 2016 at 11:38 PM
eloquent way of finding something unexpectedly yours like serendipity .. wonderful narration, carrie.. hope to hear the audio version of this one.. huggs
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