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My grandmother’s house held dreams
Stacks of old papers there I read
Musty, abandoned rooms kept the themes
I would steal away upstairs all agleam
Creaky, narrow steps led me ahead
My grandmother’s house held dreams
There was a wrap-around porch with torn screens
Where once my father laid his summer’s bed
Musty, abandoned rooms kept the themes
Ghosts of secrets left scents upon my daydreams
The palpable puzzles I felt with a dread
My grandmother’s house held dreams
Dark corners kept their thoughts in regime
Multitudes of days long ago did I bade
Musty, abandoned rooms kept the themes
Stories that came forth weren’t widespread
Many lips were held fast with the dead
My grandmother’s house held dreams
Musty, abandoned rooms kept the themes
My first Villanelle
Rajlakshmi
/ January 16, 2011I loved the feel of the poem… my grandmom’s place is filled with nostalgia… the dark rooms and our old photographs fill the place…
it remined me of that :d
beautiful write
Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2011The upstairs of my grandmother’s home was pretty much unused–all these mysterious rooms with things left behind. Thanks for sharing and enjoying this poem, Rajlakshmi. I’m happy you did.
trisha
/ January 16, 2011fabulous poem gayle. it must be great fun to visit her when you were kids. kids love such places where their imaginations will run wild.
Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2011I loved going to her very spacious two-story house when I was a kid. After her death it was torn down to build a shopping center. I still can’t believe it!
trisha
/ January 17, 2011that was really sad. i love old houses and the memories they hold inside them.
Bodhirose
/ January 17, 2011Yeah, it was too bad that none of the family could have somehow saved that beautiful old house.
trisha
/ January 18, 2011Someimes they cant, sometimes they dont and sometimes they pull them down just for greed.
Bodhirose
/ January 18, 2011True.
trisha
/ January 20, 2011If the choice was mine i would have maintained all of them :)
Bodhirose
/ January 20, 2011I would do the same.
trisha
/ January 22, 2011I love new architectures but i think both can be maintained side by side.
Bodhirose
/ January 22, 2011I love the character of old architecture but love some modern as well. I think there’s room for both.
trisha
/ January 24, 2011they both have their charm and they can happily cohabit the world.
Bodhirose
/ January 24, 2011Right.
Pseu
/ January 16, 2011How brave to attempt a villanelle… I have never successfully managed one. Very successful and atmospheric
Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2011Thank you, Pseu. I think it was kind of brave–it was tricky! I’m happy that you enjoyed it. I appreciate your generous comment.
Artswebshow
/ January 16, 2011Great villanelle.
I keep meaning to tackle one of these.
The repetions work really well.
And if i may say so.
The repeated line is golden
Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2011I would love to read yours when you finally tackle one. And that’s a good description–I wrestled and tackled it to get it done! I so appreciate your kind words for me.
gracefulglider
/ January 16, 2011taking me back to my childhood, and how it now always hold so much for me. My dreams are hung in one bedroom and under a huge Avocado tree in the backyard….
Love where your poem has taken me :)
L&L
Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2011Now your memories have taken me back again to mine. Thanks for your sweet comment and sharing yourself.
Gayle xoxo
Jamie Dedes, all rights reserved
/ January 17, 2011So, so lovely. What dear memories. What a charming poem.
My grandmother’s house meant order, but I had an uncle who’s house meant dreams and I had to poem about that too.
Thanks for this! Perfect …
Bodhirose
/ January 18, 2011I do have very special memories of that house. If you have a house like this in your life, you have to poem about it!
So happy to bring you some enjoyment, Jamie.
Sam
/ January 19, 2011You took me back years and years…
Bodhirose
/ January 19, 2011I hope you hold some happy memories from those long ago years.
Thank you for visiting, Sam, and for your comment.
apollorose
/ January 20, 2011So much interesting things from the past: facts, stories, secrets, information, etc.
The combination of dreams and themes, for me, flowed like hopes and disasters. Dreaming with the desire that they come true; stemming from motives (good or bad). There’s a happy sadness to this poem.
Bodhirose
/ January 20, 2011You caught the tone of the magical and somewhat secretive that I was going for here, Apollorose. My grandmother’s house felt happy/sad to me too–especially to me as an adult.
Thanks so much for your insight and wonderful comment.
Marlee-I Mystic
/ January 20, 2011This is beautiful. I love the mystery it has and the adventure.
Bodhirose
/ January 20, 2011Thanks so very much, Marlee. Your visit and comment is very appreciated.