4. of houses and humans...

by human being

illustration by rhoda penmarq

. the new house is beautiful the new house is bare the new house is waiting for me i should pack my things: i cannot pack the walnut tree outside the window i cannot pack its summer branches  loaded with the screams of parrots and croaks of crows i cannot pack the persimmon tree in front of the balcony  i cannot pack its autumn attire decorated with merry fruits and starlings i cannot pack the sycamore maples and their early morning dialog with the sparrows i cannot pack the sweet voice of the neighbor's child who asks why leaves fall down  or why cats fight i cannot pack my footsteps  hushed on the trimmed garden of the carpets i cannot pack all the wandering words i hunted and the lines i tamed i cannot pack all the songs i sang silently and the tales walls listened patiently  i leave the old house empty-handed the new house is waiting for me the new house is beautiful the new house is bare .