Comment from barkingdog

Excellent

The house where we grew up as well as all of the other places we've lived, immediately bring bad all of those old memories--both good and bad.
Your poem is so warm and family oriented. Lovely rhyming quatrains. Smooth easy read.
I felt sorry or the lonely old house, left to deteriorate when it had once been such a big part of a family.

:) e

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2016

Whenever I see houses left in this way, I always wonder what tales those wall could tell. I find it so sad that a once loving home is left like this. Thank you so much. Ellen, for your lovely review. My childhood home was a happy one. :) Sandra xxx

Comment from Ric Myworld

Excellent

Thanks for sharing your take on a story going with the picture. I enjoy reading all the entries and what you all can come up with from just seeing a picture. Great job. :-)

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2016

Thank you, Ric, for another of your lovely reviews. I'm pleased you enjoyed it. :) Sandra xxx

Comment from l.raven

Excellent

HI Sandra, this is one of the best....I often wonder what went on behind those doors...what were the holidays like....and I would love to stay in one over night...I love your story told about going back...going inside...the memories...great rhythm and rhyme sweet angel...and a great picture...very well written you...so love ya...Linda xxoo

how are the rest of the test coming...say hi to Ian for me...always in my prayers...both of you...lovexxxxxxx

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2016

Thank you so much, my dear friend. I've been away this week. I went to my niece's wedding who still lives in the village where I was born. I hadn't been back for years, and it was so nice to see everyone and the village again. I actually took Graham to see the house I was born in, it still looks just as I remembered, nicely kept and I could just see my grandparents there, they had 7 children, and then when it became too much for them, my parents took over and had 4 more. The house is full of wonderful memories, and if it was up for sale, I would love to have bought it. But, it wasn't and I couldn't afford it if it was. :( So, in a sense, I was writing about my childhood home when I wrote this one. Thank you again, my sweet friend. Love you loads. xxx Sandra

I haven't heard from Ian this week, he has been very quiet, knowing him, he is waiting to see me. I'll be seeing him tomorrow. But, if anything was bad had happened, he would have got in touch. I think he goes to see his consultant next week, I know I told him I'd be back for it. I wouldn't let him go on his own. I'll definitely let you know how it goes. Bless your heart, my lovely friend. xxxx :)

reply by l.raven on 14-Oct-2016

I went back once to see where we lived...there were 6 kids...and mom and dad...looking at it I tried to figure out how so many of us lived in there...it just seemed smaller...but it was 4 bedrooms...and two baths...but like you I remembered all the fun times...holidays were awesome...sigh...you are so welcome sweet lady...I am so glad you had a great time...it's good to get away once in awhile...let me know about Ian...god sent him a special angel for me...love you me sweet friend...xxoo love

Comment from alleewin

Excellent

This is a beautiful poem. It rhymes, it has rhythm, the words flow making it easy to read. Most of all it has a lovely story.
I especially like the last stanza. The house has been neglected but it is ready to say goodbye to what was and is now waiting for new memories to be created.
I wish I had a six star left.

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2016

Oh, thank you, Win, your review is more than 6stars to me, it is lovely. Thank you so much, my friend. :) Sandra. xxx

reply by alleewin on 15-Oct-2016

Comment from Phyllis Stewart

Excellent

Beautiful poem, beautiful message. Funny how quickly life seems to pass as you grow old. I was just thinking yesterday that I remember my mother in her twenties, and my daughter, her granddaughter, is now in her thirties. She's ten years older than her grandma was in my memory! Life is FLYING past us. When we're young, we don't notice. In fact, childhood seems to stretch on forever. Our twenties are busy and so filled that we never have "time" for everything we want to do. But at seventy and sickly, I recall those things I loved to do and will never be able to do again. If only there were some way to warn us in youth how old age would be... maybe we wouldn't waste so much of it. ?

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2016

You are so right, Phyllis. I was thinking that too. We came home today from our visit to my niece's wedding and I took Graham to see the house I was born in, it's still there, and the memories came rushing back. It doesn't seem so long ago, that I was playing there as a child! Yet here I am, an old grandmother already, how I got here so fast, heaven knows! Thanks for your lovely review, my friend, and sharing your memories. :) Sandra xx

Comment from Drew Delaney

Excellent

Wonderfully said!

I love the rhythm so much and most of all, there wasn't any forcing to rhyme. Really a superb piece which also touches my heart as I will probably be losing my childhood home soon.

Keep up the lovely writing.

Drew xx

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2016

Thank you so much, Drew. I'm really pleased you liked my take on the picture. The house I was born in, is still there and looking lovely with a young family in it. It was my grandparents house first, they had 7 children there, and then my parents took over and had us four later. Wonderful memories. Thanks again, my friend. :) Sandra xxx

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

Were you inspired by Thomas Hoods poem "I remember, I remember" Yours is laid out in fourline stanzas of iambic heptameters while his is in alternate lines of iambic tetrameter and trimeter. Yours comes out as rhyming couplets, his as abcbdefe. Essentially the rhythms and rhymes are the same.

Just in case you are not familiar with it I reproduce it here.

I Remember, I Remember
BY THOMAS HOOD

I remember, I remember,
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!

I remember, I remember,
The roses, red and white,
The vi'lets, and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,--
The tree is living yet!

I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!

I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from heav'n
Than when I was a boy.

See what I mean? A slightly different story but similar ethos.

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2016

#Thank you so much for downloading this poem, Jim, I have to confess I hadn't heard this one before but I'm going to learn it now. It is lovely. I'm flattered that you thought my poem was similar, and that it brought back the memory of Thomas Hood's poem. I could split mine into stanzas of 8,6,8,6, 8,6,8,6, syllables which would then give it the same rhyme scheme as his. (I think) Thank you, my friend for this lovely review and Thomas's poem. :) Sandra xxx

reply by Pantygynt on 13-Oct-2016

Why bother. You were not influenced by it. They both have the same rhythm however they areally displayed.

Comment from heyjude

Excellent

Sandra, a very nice poem to go with this picture. I like the idea of happy memories and the thought that others can have good memories at that home, too.

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2016

Thank you so much, Judy, for another of your lovely reviews. I like to imagine how nice these forgotten houses were once upon a time. :) Sandra xxx

Comment from Cumbrianlass

Excellent

I can never look at an abandoned house without wondering who lived there, died there, was born there. They have stories to tell, and I find them fascinating. So, of course, this resonated with me, Sandra.

Well done.

Av

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2016

I'm the same, Av, these houses must have had a happy time before it was left in this state. So sad. Thank you so much for reading my take on the picture, I'm glad you liked it. How is it going with your publisher? It must still feel like a dream. :) Sandra xxx

reply by Cumbrianlass on 13-Oct-2016

Thanks, Sandra. It's going! The contract has been signed. Yes, it's very exciting. Can still hardly believe it. xx

Comment from foxangie123

Excellent

I had read this before because I love it so much. It is hard to go back and see that made when we were young become so debilitated. I hope you win.

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2016

Aww, thank you, my dear friend. I do hate to see houses neglected like this one, and always wonder what it's story is. I'm sure they all had happy times to start with. Thank you for this lovely review, my sweet friend. :) Sandra xxx

reply by foxangie123 on 13-Oct-2016

Your poem was magnificent.