Life prints

^{by A. Gagliardi}

                        LIFE PRINTS

I. The fresh bud

 

The newness of life beginning.

Fresh painted walls,

newly refinished floors,

sawdust & plaster

fresh from renewal of someone else’s house.

We make this home our own.

We imprint ourselves into the essence

of this space we begin to occupy;

Add our needlework---our own creations.

Add the fragrance we wear, the detergents & food smells

unique to our time and place.

We claim our new possession.

But it, too, claims us.

II. Full Bloom

 

This house is alive!

The sounds of laughter and running feet echo off the walls;

The smell of sweat-socks and fresh-baked bread

mingle with the smell of

crushed Dandelions and ready-to-be changed diapers.

Windows and walls display

small finger smudges and preschool art.

The never-ending dirty clothes pile

lurks beside a machine

that is never still.

Furniture moans,

but bears the burden

of growing, boisterous children.

 

III. The Last Petal Lingers

 

Even now,

After all the children are gone.

Their life prints,

linger still---

Kept alive inside these walls that cradle jelly stains & crayon.

Their life-smell has permeated

the very foundation.

Their laughter and cries whisper from dimmed corners.

Chairs creak with burdens inscribed.

And you’d be wrong

if you thought this house had died.

It’s still ALIVE

with life-prints

remembered.