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BJF: Why are we drawn to ruins - Their Home

A fitting poem found in the catalog of poet Billy Joe Fudge, submitted as befitting: Comments re photo 62812 Why are we drawn to ruins
Click on headline for complete introduction with poem

By Billy Joe Fudge
I think the answer to your age-old question is explained nicely by "Their Home." I was inspired several years ago to allow "Their Home" to tell his story in that, although he may look like a ruins, in reality he is not.



THEIR HOME
A poem by Billy Joe Fudge
Here I sit in meadows quite, my world for me for life.
Memories rich with youth still whisper on the breeze.
Mark and Mary, my youngest, playing in the yard -
Hide and Seek in the shade beneath the trees.
Liz and Paul, my oldest, dropping beans in the row
That my Daddy plowed straight with Old Kate.
Then there is my Momma washing clothes in the tub,
And the smell of my Grandma's oatmeal cake.

Here I sit in meadows quite, my world for me for life.
Memories rich with youth still whisper on the breeze.
Biscuit, gravy and jam filled their bellies, and
Long handles protected from the freeze -
While we laid Paul to rest, there on the hill.
He said that Old Hitler had better watch out,
But pneumonia in France stopped his advance.
Momma said his lungs were not very stout.

Here I sit in meadows quite, my world for me for life.
Memories rich with youth still whisper on the breeze.
My grandkids come home, too many to name.
They play Hide and Seek beneath the trees,
And ride Old Kate around the field and yard.
Then everyone goes to visit Paul up on the hill.
They cry and laugh, then laugh and cry as
The smiles, hugs and joy warms away the chill.

Here I sit in meadows quite, my world for me for life.
Memories rich with youth still whisper on the breeze.
I can still see, hear, and feel the grandeur
Each time the wind rustles the Old Oak Leaves.
I know as the metal rusts and the wood rots,
It looks like I am left here all alone.
No, for as long as they see, hear and feel the grandeur
I shall now and forever be, "Their Home."
- Billy Joe Fudge, submitted and posted 25 Oct 2015; written several years ago


This story was posted on 2015-10-25 19:27:41
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Why are we drawn to ruins?



2015-10-25 - Photo By Linda Waggener.
This little old house made me slow the car on a recent drive with Mom looking for fall color. It's located on Old Cedar Top School Road near the intersection with Caney Fork Road in the edge of Green County. After we'd appreciated every angle of the little building, the trees and weeds, I asked Mom, "why do you think we are drawn to abandoned, overgrown buildings?" Mom just shook her head and said, “I don’t know… I just don’t know.” We decided we're drawn to them because they make a statement, they speak of people having been there and having to leave their home, their place. Our mystery-loving imaginations go to work with questions -- what happened, who made their home there and what kind of people were they? Did they run out of money needed to keep living there or did the children just grow up, leave for better lives and the old folks died away?

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