Paper Houses

poem

In paper houses

with paper halls,

shadows glide

across the walls.

You carved your name

between the rooms,

waiting for hope

in a parchment womb.

You stay awake

with bedtime stories,

singing them softly

and hoping for morning.

Wrapped in sheets

of linen lies,

counting out cards

for your tired eyes.

You talked to dead moths,

you played with the spiders,

wishing your limbs

were a little bit lighter. 

The shadows danced

with candlelight,

which staved your fear

and warmed the night.

Until the dreadful sun came down-

like a marionette on strings-

weary birds rose up to fly

on their aching wings.

The sun shone through

the paper rooms

indifferent to

your parchment tomb.

It shone on moths and playing cards.

It shone on ashes, skin, and scars.

Reviews

[alanwgraham]

This is great Alexandra. You have built this wonderful story of the paper houses with all your beautiful images such as 'Wrapped in sheets of linen lies' and 'It shone on ashes, skin, and scars'. I'm not sure what it all means but it is a thing of beauty which I can just wonder at.
Regards,
Alan

[emipoemi]

........I have no words.....my voice is in my awe!! Profound and powerful! Absolutely well done! Much enjoyed!

[Christy the Poetic Hear..]

Beautifully write with good imagery!! Nice writing!!

[Iam-me]

Dark, heart aching, with a sorrow that needs to be reborn and healed. Written with such heartfelt emotions. That rip you inside.

[Charline Rose]

there is a lot of emotion going on but beautifully discribed i love it great job.

[HeartDove]

The imagery! The words! They just fill my mind with such thought, you reviewed my poem a bit ago, I thought I at least could return the favor! Hon, I ain’t got nothing on your poems.

[Alexandra W]

Thank you, that's really encouraging to hear! I was nervous about posting it at first, but I'm glad you liked it!

[HeartDove]

No problem! Tell you the truth I felt the same way about my poem!

[Chris Shaw]

How the mind wanders late at night when we can't sleep. The light of day I have always found to put a lighter perspective on things. Nice work.