(Inspired by Gaynor Kane’s Abandoned)
Abandoned
Abandoned–
the building with its
cornices, pilasters, and medallions,
its stained-glass windows
now dirt-begrimed,
its corners where cobwebs drip,
and its dust-blanketed floor, a canvas
for the nut-brown rats to paint
as they skitter-skat across it
after the owl moon rises.
Each night
it seems to tilt a bit more,
sigh harder
as if bearing the weight of the ghosts
who haunt it,
the call of the eternal is a murmur,
soft rat squeaks, chirrs, and thrums,
susurrations carried by motes, adrift in light.
It’s poetry month, and once again, I am participating in Paul Brookes’ April Ekphrastic Challenge. Each day, I will post my poem(s) here. You can see the art and read the other responses by going to Paul’s site here.
The artists are Gaynor Kane, John Phandal Law, and Anjum Wasim Dar.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
nicely done Merril and have fun doing daily challenge. 👏👏
Thank you very much, Cindy!
I love this, so full of imagery.
Thank you so much, Paul! 😊
Very welcome Merril
Beautiful, Merril: you are off to a strong start!
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
That photo is very evocative and you have captured its hauntedness. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe!
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
You’re more than welcome, Merril.
While it would have been nice to see the image here, I could very well picture it with your wonderful descriptions! Beautifully done! (and yes, I did go see it 😉 )
Thank you! I wasn’t sure if the artists would want me to share them, and also it’s a lot of extra art in my WP gallery.
I so hear you! 🙂
😀
I like the contrast between the intricate but dying interior and the natural imagery of the second part. The ghosts, the owls, that rats of course will go on. (love ‘chirrs’ too).
Thank you! That’s such a nice way to phrase it.
I think chirrs is a fun word, too. 😀
There are birds that make that noise. Nightjars I think.
Could be I guess there are a lot of creatures that make similar sounds.
Wow, this poem is phenomenall! I saw in all your images the many abandoned or deconsecrated churches in northern New England.
Thank you, Liz! I’m so pleased you got such vivid images from this.
I don’t know what the actual image is. I was imagining an English town hall.
I couldn’t be sure when I looked at the image. At first I thought it was in a train station, but then I thought a municipal building of some sort.
I thought a municipal building, too. On Instagram, she says it’s “a room in Craigavon House which was built in 1870 for Sir James Craig.” It’s tagged east Belfast.
Interesting. I would never have guessed it was a residence.
Perhaps it was a residence but then turned into something else?
That’s a logical supposition.
I hate it when people tell me they feel or have felt abandoned. You have captured that mood exactly, but with buildings. Merril!
That’s so interesting, Marian. Thank you.
It’s sad though if someone actually has been abandoned.
Nicely evocative
Thank you very much, Derrick.
Nice and well writen, Merril
Thank you!