HOUSE, a poem for two voices

This poem was written as two parallel monologues occupying the same space but spoken 40 years apart by the former and present owner of a house in the Croatian countryside.

HOUSE


It must have been a meter high, at least
The grass, the hedge lost in front of the house
Through which we pushed
To reach the door
And this is home.
On either side the plaster cracked
Exposed a sight not seen
For nearly 50 years of
Bricks and stones stacked one
Upon another with my bare hands, plaster rendered.
Hollows in the field where I pulled out stones
I filled with trees and more trees putting down roots
Wondering if I should see many to maturity.
Trees which have been neglected




Now need pruning or removing
Since their yield has been
Exhausted as I was stacking bricks on stones
Day in, day out to build my house, my home.
Well cut some down and plant others.
Well rebuild walls using his tools




The axe, the shovel, the saw.
I built walls and planted my orchard.
Four years since they fell into disuse
For years since I left the fruit upon the branch
The grapes on the vine simply wither and fall.
Are not to our taste,
But well keep the old apple




Propped up with branches and magical
Under which we pass still fruits, miraculously,
Finding our way through the orchard
Entering another world
Following a well - worn trail




Quietly, through the orchard
Down to the spring.
Down to the waters source.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• house
• home
• zvecaj
• zvečaj
• field
• songs
• earth
• works
• gornje
• bukovlje
• spoken
• word
• poem
• poetry
• poetree
• andrew
• norris
• landscape
• nature

[berlinerdom]

So wonderful!!!!

I hope this is already published!

[andrewnorris1]

@berlinerdom Thank you for this and your other kind comments. This poem is the first in a series of poems for two parallel voices, called Field Songs. Alas not published yet, but there will be other films from this collection in the near future. I hope you will get to see them too.

[squirereset]

Extraordinaire!!

[andrewnorris1]

@squirereset Thanks for such a generous comment. This poem is part of a series from a collection of poems for two voices, called Field Songs. There will be more postings in the future which I hope you will see.

[BrianDornTFP]

Interesting concept ... original and really, really well done.

[andrewnorris1]

@BrianDornTFP Thanks for the comment. It is a house that inspires in all kinds of ways.

[Iddybud]

I love the way you produced this very creative video!

[ourDC888]

Beautiful! Thank you!

[Gladesrocker08]

I am an art school student, attending for Creative writing and our assignment this week was a poem with two vioces. This poem was just so great I can hardly find a word for it. I expect to see it published one day :) And the two voices are just great, condradicting each other but still magnificent.

[pennilesscripple]

wow