Gary Radice | + Follow Poet |
Rhyme | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

House For Sale

the sun that is shining through the window right now
is the same sun that shone way back when
- but although it's the same, it's different somehow

it shone brighter

and longer
 
back then.


the walls of this room that have stood strong for years
are the same walls on which that sun shone
- they witnessed the laughter, the love and the tears

and keep secrets

now people

have gone.


the sun casts a shadow as it's time to depart
through a door and that mass of junk mail
- the death of both parents has ripped out the heart

of a home

now a house
 
that's for sale.

Copyright © Gary Radice | Year Posted 2019

Please Login to post a comment

Sara Kendrick Date: 5/19/2023 3:40:00 AM Sad. We all have to face the fact of losing our parents sometimes twice because of dementia. Thanks for sharing the emotions felt at their passing with us. I hope that healing from their loss is well underway, and the good memories come pouring in filling your heart, mind and soul. Congratulations on this winner. Sara Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 5/20/2023 4:42:00 AM Hi Sara. Thank you for your lovely comments. My parents actually died over 15 years ago. We humans tend never to forget but learn to cope over time don't we? The feelings I had on that day when clearing their house have certainly stayed with me. I'll catch up with my reading tomorrow. Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex Date: 5/19/2023 2:12:00 AM Beautiful chorus. Congratulations! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 5/20/2023 4:37:00 AM Thank you Christuraj. I forgot that I had entered this into Brian's contest to be honest. I felt that using the chorus added more 'melancholy air' to the piece. Cheers - Gary

Brian Strand Date: 9/30/2021 1:24:00 AM A familiar tale Gary,like the 'chorus' form Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 9/30/2021 2:04:00 AM Yes..and a sad tale..I still well up thinking about the sale of my parents' house but such is life. Thanks for your comments Brian and your use of the word 'chorus' in there..it fits so well. Cheers - Gary

Howard Kerr Date: 1/3/2021 5:49:00 AM Congratulations on your contest win with this stunning creation. It’s a credit to you. I appreciate your soupmail regarding my selection and your generous review. howard kerr Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/3/2021 6:10:00 AM Thank you Howard for your wonderful comments - I'm glad you liked the poem. It's all very much appreciated. I loved reading your poem this morning. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

John Gondolf Date: 1/3/2021 4:24:00 AM A very poignant piece, Gary, nicely penned. I was the executor on my grandmother’s estate and had to sell her house which had been in the family for sixty years, that was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my life. Congrats on your win. John Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/3/2021 4:50:00 AM Thanks John. I have to admit I rarely go past my parents' house any more, if at all. It's as if that chapter of my life has finally closed and that's what makes the situation sad for me. I appreciate your comments and can empathise with your situation.

Marilene Evans Date: 10/8/2020 3:59:00 PM So nicely don.... all those memories... Congratulations. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/9/2020 6:38:00 AM Thank you Marilene. Cheers - Gary

Jo Chamberlain Date: 10/8/2020 8:10:00 AM I really enjoyed your poem, congratulations on your win. :-) Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/8/2020 8:20:00 AM Hi Joanna - Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman Date: 10/7/2020 9:39:00 PM So melancholy, Gary. I had the same feelings when we sold our family home of four generations. You captured that feeling beautifully. Congratulations my friend! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/8/2020 12:59:00 AM Thank you Sam. I can only imagine what it was like selling your old family home of four generations. My old house and my childhood was some other world. Cheers - Gary

Eve Roper Date: 10/7/2020 9:17:00 PM Great write , Gary, for Linda's contest. Congratulations on your win. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/8/2020 1:00:00 AM Thank you Eve. This was one of those poems that was easy to write as the memories are still vivid from that day in my mind. Cheers - Gary

John Watt Date: 10/7/2020 8:11:00 PM You carried the tension nicely right to the end, and the sadness by then is palpable. The home is a marvelous metaphor to use for the turning of the tides from life to death. Beautifully rendered, congratulations ~ John Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/8/2020 1:03:00 AM Thank you John. I reckon I could write a poem about the whole street where I used to play. So many memories, so many words and so many lines. Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier Date: 2/22/2020 6:45:00 PM Beautiful penned, Gary. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 2/23/2020 5:01:00 AM Thank you! I actually felt the hurt when writing it. I know my sister and some friends on facebook shed a tear when reading this and its sister poem: 'The Garden Seat' having been in the same situation themselves recently. On that level the poem succeeded. I'm very happy with it.

Barry Stebbings Date: 1/3/2020 9:43:00 AM Very poignant piece, Gary. Such happens when homes become houses. // Barry Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/3/2020 9:52:00 AM Thanks for reading and commenting Barry. I think the last time I set foot in the old family home was truly one of the saddest days of my life. This poem wrote itself. Cheers Gary