Ode to Our House (poem) by Julie M. Mataway on AuthorsDen

Ode to Our House
by Julie M. Mataway → (All Poetry by Julie M. Mataway)
Rated "G" by the Author.

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When it was time to sell the house our family had grown up in; that my parents had lived in for 56 years, emotions flowed. How many people could still go home when they were 38? 42? 50? 62? Before the final sale and moving our parents to Arizona in 1998, I wrote this as a tribute to the one unique place on earth I (& my 9 siblings)could call home. Sadly, our parents have both since passed but their legacy lives on.

You're more than four walls a roof and a floor More than your stairs, Your rooms or back door The yard that surrounds you so green, long & wide adds to your beauty perched on your hillside The sum of you is greater than your parts for you have deeply touched each one of our hearts There were bees in your walls and mice down below you housed all our pets and watched our garden grow Your basement, your attic, (roof!?) playgrounds galore! For a place to grow up, why, who could want more? Yes, as each of us grew over these past many years we had you to embrace us and calm all our fears You were there when we laughed you were there when we cried You silently shared our grief when our beloved sisters died We never feared growing up or making homes of our own for you gave us the mold we wished we could clone As one by one we moved on as adults for memories there was no lack You must have hated to see us go 'cause some of us just kept coming back! Ten witnesses can testify just how perfect you fit If our universe had a center you would surely be it What makes you so special? Why do we care? We, who were raised in you found love always there Though time takes us away and sometimes we roam There is much truth in the saying, "There's no place like home" -dedicated to Phillip & Marguerite Rhodes; 4130 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio; April 28, 1998 - in loving memory of Martha Rhodes 1958-1975, and Linda Rhodes Schnell 1951-1988

Reviewed by F William Broome

Reviewed on January 15, 2007

Julie - I found you through Jill Carpenter's page. This is about the best home memory on paper I've ever reead about the old homestead.
I've written about the houses occupied for a while by my family. They are out-takes of a great childhood and teen years, but you, my talented one, have put it all into a memorable piece of writing that should be honored by siblings and everyone who knew the house and you,'when.'
Thank you for a goodun' I enjoyed every word and line. - Bill

Reviewed by Smokey Lonesome (Reader)

Reviewed on December 30, 2006

OK, ya gotta' couple tears outa' me. My family moved around alot, but we did live in the same house while I went through jr high and high school and to me it will always be home. Beautiful poem, warmly received.
You gotta write some more . . .K?
Smokey

Reviewed by Jill Carpenter (Reader)

Reviewed on June 16, 2006

Julie, this is just beautiful, there are tears rolling down my cheeks.
I am so tickled to see you here on Authors Den, and want to be the first to holler a big loud: "WELCOME TO AD, JULIE!"

Looking forward to reading more of your writings! So, don't stop now!
:o) Jillster

Reviewed by Gloria Gay

Some houses do have souls and you expressed this wonderfully. Your house lives on in your poetry and in the minds of your brothers and sisters. This is a fine tribute to a loving house.