THE STORY OF A HOUSE
I pass a lot of houses in the quiet of the morning as I walk the streets alone.
It gives me time to think about how every house has a story all its own.
And though every story of each house is unique and different…
they’re not as different as they seem.
I imagine the story of each house follows a similar, complementary theme.
Let’s say two newlyweds or two partners are looking for a house…
Let’s say they never bought a house before.
I imagine there’s a feeling they get when they step through the front door.
Perhaps they share a look, perhaps tighten the grip on each other’s hand…then sigh….
as so many dreams of the future play out before their eyes.
They see babies crawling, children drawing crayons figures on the walls.
They hear the sound of those same children laughing…running through the halls.
They see Fairy Tales being read as they tuck their children into bed.
They see a family seated around a table sharing stories as they’re fed.
They see many moments of happiness together while the children are still young.
Christmases, holidays, celebrations…Happy Birthday’s being sung.
They see their children growing up, getting driver’s license, their first date.
They see themselves waiting up anxiously for their children…who are late.
They see their young adults heading off to college or a job…
They imagine all the places they might roam…
They see their bedroom waiting patiently should they return back home.
They see grandchildren crawling, drawing crayon figures on the walls
They see those same grandchildren laughing…running through the halls.
They imagine a time way off in the future…they know not when…or why
once this house has fulfilled her duties…it will be time to say goodbye.
And as they sell to newlyweds or partners they will all pause in the doorway for a while
as together, for a moment they share a loving smile.
Each smile has it’s own meaning…each one differently defined…
as one couple imagines a happy future…and the other…
the happy past they leave behind
Copyright © Jim Yerman | Year Posted 2025
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