FOR SALE - AS IS
"For Sale - As
Is," read the realtor's ad,
"Furnishings Included,
Beautiful
Home, Magnificent View,
Private and Secluded!"
With interest, I approached the
house,
Neglected, of course, and run-down,
Cobwebs and
spiders, mouse tracks and mice,
And layers of dust all
around.
The realtor said she was 'sorry,'
She
had not seen this place before,
Her orders had come in the
mail,
"Sell the house - as is" ... nothing more.
Distaste for the place showed on her
face,
But I smiled and said, "I've seen worse,"
"Well, I
haven't," she said, with disgust,
Her voice sarcastic and terse.
Wainscoting and woodwork - yellowed with
age,
Hand-carved banisters - broken and cracked,
Floors -
moaning and groaning under our weight,
Brass fixtures - discolored and
black.
But all around, clues could be found
This once was a house that was prime,
Though it had had no loving care,
For a very long, long time,
A grand staircase swept up from
below,
Elaborate in marble and teak,
Time and grime may have
stolen its shine,
But there it stood ... still proud and
unique.
Then next a great room with huge
windows,
Surely a ballroom meant for a dance,
Its draperies,
musty and dusty,
Yet displaying an old elegance.
A chandelier hung from the ceiling,
Though archaic, it welcomed the light,
It gleamed a bit when the
sunshine hit,
Thus proving it still had a life.
I closed my eyes and saw ladies in
gowns,
And men in full dress, bowing low,
I heard a lively
tune that filled the room,
And caught myself tapping my
toe.
I saw children on the banisters,
I
heard them giggle sliding by,
I saw them racing one another
Up the stairs for one more try.
The pictures in my mind persisted,
This abandoned place was once a home,
Love, warmth, and cheer one time
were here,
Though now it was cold and alone.
"I'll take the house!" I blurted out,
The realtor was struck dumb,
"Yes, I know what I am doing!"
She
stood there, startled and stunned.
The price was right; the deed was
done,
My name went on the dotted line,
We shook hands; she
left in haste,
I guess for fear I'd change my mind.
I looked about and made a vow,
I
swore I would revive this place,
Too much still alive in
here,
Not time to go or be replaced.
I had the needed tools to use,
Soap
and water ... and elbow grease,
But most of all what I
possessed
Was a wondrous dream that would not cease.
From laughing children on a
staircase,
To dancing feet on polished floors,
From opened
curtains at big windows,
To sunshine streaming in
galore.
The poor realtor no way could see
The
same house that I saw,
She only used her eyes to look,
So,
she could not see it all.
Thus, to see things best, I must
suggest
One employ all one's faculties,
Not just one's eyes
to look around,
But use one's heart to fully see.
Virginia (Ginny)
Ellis
Copyright January 2010