The House on the Avenue Speaks: a poem
The House on the Avenue Speaks
The house gets a facelift
chain link fence
rough wood siding too near
glass doors steel framed
attached to chain link
open to sky.
rests uneasy
old wood beams tense
new glass, steel invades
worker ants bees men:
loud intrusive hard
do not listen, hear
sits alone
cement buildings crowd near
cramp encase block
shiny sleazy fence
smug street yards
offensive cars.
leapfrogs away
hopscotch four blocks
cross Main Street
just four more blocks
avoid freeway dodge cars
to open ocean.
great water is there:
smell the sea
yearn for voyage
waves gently teasing apart
board by board by board;
pieces wash near and far.
to those who listen
the house sounds a bit mexicana,
un poquito indio:
Let me rest.
I do not want this change.
I am ready to retire.
Just shoot me then.
Send my social security
to the grandchildren.
First draft written in Danika Dinsmore’s experimental writing workshop,
3:15 Fiesta 2006, Bell Arts Factory, on the Avenue in Ventura
The house is part of Bell Arts Factory complex and is almost done being renovated. Josh Addison’s office will be on the top floor; he’ll be in by the March 8 Fandango Americana fundraiser for Art City…
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‘yearn for voyage
waves gently teasing apart
board by board by board;
pieces wash near and far.’
I like these lines – it makes me think of a tall ship, and the driftwood my mom collects, as well as the house in your poem. I like the way the poem changes from the suburban cityscape to the sea.
I love it when a poem just feels so well-rounded and well thought-out. To me, there is nothing more irritating (an no offense to the Romantic tradition) than seeing something that is nowhere near finished and disorganized.
You have talent and you seem to take it seriously enough. I am looking forward to reading more of your work.