an abandoned house
On my virtual biking trip along the Sèvre Niortaise in central France, I saw an abandoned house. Its roof had collapsed, its side buildings were reduced to ruined stone walls and its windows and doors were empty eyes …
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It reminded me of a painting of an abandoned house by Liam Rainsford (published as ‘Abandoned’ on his Blog on April 15, 2012). You can see his painting at http://liamrainsford.com/2012/04/14/abandoned-oil-painting/
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I have been writing a series of poems on the theme of abandonment and Liam’s haunting painting inspired this poem:
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abandoned house
– response to the painting ‘Abandoned’ by Liam Rainsford (April 15, 2012)
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stone ruin,
vacant, a shell
disinterested (since they went away)
in the state of the road
or comings and goings
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only the fence posts have opinions
one, a stoic, is the neighbor’s boy,
waits by the gate
one post swoons in disbelief –
roof fallen in, garden weedy,
fields overgrown
what’s a good fence for, but to keep hunger away?
keep people in?
fence wires lead off, toward the east
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walk through the front door, into open air
views unobstructed
tree tops, remote hills, expanses of sky
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ghosts are lonely here,
peering into windows, entering
the lean-to door
with a basket of eggs,
over and over
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
nichepoetryandprose 
Love the poem – I do like your abandonment elements!
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dianajhale
April 19, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Hi Diana. Thanks. It’s a great theme … an element of sadness, too. Jane
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jane tims
April 19, 2013 at 6:33 pm
I love this! Your fence posts especially. They came alive!
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weedimageoftheday
April 11, 2013 at 10:24 pm
Hi. Glad you liked them. I am seeing lots of weeds, but they are too far away to identify!!! Jane
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jane tims
April 12, 2013 at 8:22 am
as always,, your charming drawing never fails to cheer my spirits Jane!
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SingingBones
April 10, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Hi Leigh. Thanks!!! Jane
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jane tims
April 11, 2013 at 9:14 am