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Long Renovation Poems

Long Renovation Poems. Below are the most popular long Renovation by PoetrySoup Members. You can search for long Renovation poems by poem length and keyword.

The Outside Dunny


In the fifties
it was the suburban icon
that survived the start 
of the renovation phase
and still graced the backyards 
of most houses in the neighborhood,
the ubiquitous Australian 
outside dunny.

Ours was a corrugated iron
oven that cooked you in the summer
and would freeze even the most proud
member down to a modest size 
in winter. Daddy long leg spiders
would watch from the walls and ceiling 
and bounce about in their webs
when the chain on the overhead
cistern was pulled
and water gushed out.

One hot summer's day my Dad
was sitting on the loo 
with the door open and saw
a snake crawl across the lawn.
Up with his trousers he pursued
the snake until it slid into
the shade house, grabbing it 
by the tail as it slipped through
the wire netting fence.

For an hour he called out
hoping someone would hear 
and help him deal with the snake.
Back then there were no
snake catchers you could call,
you either killed it or let it go 
and worried whether 
it would come back.

Finally our neighbor, Jim Ireland,
came running in armed 
with an axe and as Dad slowly
pulled it back out,
dealt the reptile a fatal blow.
When I came home from school
that day, there was this four foot
brown hanging on the clothesline 
almost cut in half.  

It seemed too small to pack
such danger, its jaws sealed shut 
in death over those lethal fangs. 
I couldn't bring myself to touch it 
in fear that it might spring back 
and bite me in a final revenge.
That year, my Dad kept
the dunny door open 
all summer. He never saw
another snake. I should have been 
a better son.


Notes.
Though rather obvious, the term
“dunny” refers to an outside toilet,
a good old Australian colloquialism.

It's rare to find snakes in suburban
backyards these days unless near
open areas and waterways. 
As a matter of interest, the snake
referred to in the poem was
an “Eastern Brown” whose venom
is rated as the second most toxic
in the world, the most toxic being
the Inland Taipan another Australian
species.

childhooddadfearnostalgiasummer

Form: Free verse

Irresistible Charmer

Irresistible charmer,
keep up your wit and humor;
the unchangeble smiles of
kindness and friendship
attract me unawarely,
but so tenderly...

While you started a desire,
so full and uncontrollable,
no,irresistible charmer...
don't step back and tremble;
I don't delude or abuse anyone,
take everything from them and run!

Irresistible charmer,
in the mist of confusion
and unfelt delusion...
you bring a renovation;
oh,it's a consolation
to feel loved with care!

Irresistible charmer,
stop running wildly;
you complicate things 
with your silence,  
fear nothing from this admirer!
Irresistible charmer,
stop doubting me;
I've shown you more
affection than love,
and the least you can do is dare!

devotionlovepassionsong-

Form: Ballad

I'd married at 21 and moved overseas with my husband's work, so it had been many years since I had visited my gran at Rose Cottage. I was taken by surprise when I received a letter from her solicitor informing me of my inheritance. Her cottage had been vacated when she went into a care home, and sadly she passed away a few years later. Gran had been widowed at an early age so I’d never met grandpa. I was her only grandchild and had such fond memories of spending summer holidays with her.

ripe red strawberries
boiling in the copper pan
I label jam jars

When I pulled into the driveway I was shocked to see how dilapidated the cottage was. Green shutters were hanging off their hinges and paint was peeling from the window frames. I recalled the perfectly manicured lawns and cottage garden flowers which were gran’s pride and joy, now a forest of dandelions sprouted from the lawn and brambles snaked their way through the honeysuckle arch way. I picked my way through the vegetation which was covering the moss covered path and turned the key in the lock; the heavy oak door creaked like my arthritic joints. Gran’s cosy cottage had always been spick and span, but now every surface was covered with a layer of thick grey dust and lacy cobwebs hung from the black beams on all the ceilings. As I wandered through the empty rooms my footsteps echoed on the old pine floorboards which were littered with strips of wallpaper falling from the damp walls. My heart sank when I saw how much work was needed to restore and modernise the old stone cottage, but with time and effort and help from my family I’m determined to bring it back to its former glory

neglected cottage
in need of renovation
rambling roses bloom

Fiction poem for Thesaurus - Abandon or Abandoned Poetry Contest

Brain Slip

I feel like my brain is always plotting in secret
As though I don't know
Like, it has a whiteboard up somewhere
 in a vortex like corner, where it knows I can't go. Scheduling meetings without sending me an invitation to respond yes or no
They take place when my brain thinks I'm not paying attention, but I know.
It's planning my demise, solo. It's been doing so, For quite a bit of time.
I recognize this,
 as I map out the blueprints it has created with my mind
It's diabolical the lengths in which I am willing to go 
to help myself find 
more reasons to put myself down
Time after time
To reassure my mind that 
I'm going to fail because I do all the time
At least to me in my mind
It's crazy
How this brain sometimes does not feel like mine
I try and control it
But it goes into auto pilot and 
I am no longer the pilot flying, 
80-90% of the time 
we are falling
Don't worry, I'm always fine
Catch myself playing a role 
That was designed by me but isn't mine
It's a past character I have no use for 
It was useful during a certain time
But these positions my brain continues to assign are no longer roles that suit me in this state of mind
These brains we have
Are weapons 
forged over time
We were not born defenseless 
We have been scheming and plotting since we left the womb and assumed life outside
Our brains have the power to override information that has no space in this current time
But we have to be aware in the moment it is happening in that very time.
How the heck can I catch my brain slip
When I am constantly 5 steps behind 
You can't, and that's what I learned 
You literally have to drop in on meetings and share new words 
Stop raising your hand,
it's time to take your damn turn
Send a memo out to the crew
We have 
Extended the renovation time
An internal renovation,
For you.

identitymental health

Form: Rhyme

This Grand Old Piano

This old grand piano stood weathered and worn,
Remembering her finer days,
When classical music resounded aloud,
As fingers on ivory keys played-

This old grand piano stood weathered and worn,
Wishing for her maestro’s return,
But heartache and sadness grew greater each day,
And at times she felt bitterly spurned-

This old grand piano stood weathered and worn,
Alone and dismayed with despair,
Then hope was instilled one morning in May,
When a tuner came in and repaired-

This old grand piano stood weathered and worn,
As a craftsman walked through the door,
With loving skill he began renovation-
'Til splendor was fully restored-

This grand old piano no longer weathered and worn,
Reminisced about days of old,
The auctioneer’s voice rang out loud and clear,
“This grand old piano now SOLD”

agebeautyemotionsmemorymusic

Form: Quatrain

Long Renovation Poems

WORDPLAY

The Outside Dunny

Fourth Floor of Nowhere

Irresistible Charmer

Resurrection 2

House a Home

June Images

Abandoned

Brain Slip

This Grand Old Piano

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