New Paint
The workman are tapping on the walls
since 6 a.m.
Instead of sanding 50 years of paint
they chip chip away the old
and ready it to be painted anew.
Ironically,
the new color,
will be the original
envisioned a half century ago
by people not even in my family.
No doubt they compared,
holding up colored plates,
the tricky decision to find
just the right white,
out of almost 60 shades.
Then in its tan days,
soccer players
practiced on the lawn,
Priests came to dinner,
People laughed and acted silly.
No one even saw the paint,
they just felt the warmth
emanating from inside.
In it’s blue days, things fell apart;
The roof cried in every room
when it rained too hard.
Less people visited,
even a pandemic locked the owners inside.
Blue time, surrounded by
peeling Wedgwood walls.
Now the rebirth!
Doubly vaccinated people
want to come over
and feel that house again
with all it’s memories…
Open wide its doors…
“Oh the house looks lovely”
Layers of life, fondly recalled
then chip chipped away.
But all is as it should be;
this reborn white, completes the circle
of a well-lived in house,
of many paintings and peelings,
that begins it’s rebirth,
one more time…. today.
Karima Hoisan
Nov. 16, 2021
Costa Rica
Digital Rabbit Hole 
“Layers of life, fondly recalled
then chip chipped away.
But all is as it should be;
this reborn white, completes the circle
of a well-lived in house”
Beautiful hon.
xoxo
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Thank you dearest Gabriela…for being here and in solidarity with all of us, in this beloved poetic community. Big hugs and I am so grateful to know you!🤗🙏
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What a lovely and touching piece, Karima. The finer details of the process of rebirth are amazing…this reborn white, completes the circle of a well-lived in house. The stark reality. Very well written. A thought provoking piece 👌💐💖
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Thanks so much Kaushal..Yes by choosing white..the house came full circle.. Something about an older house with a new coat of paint..that inspires admiration…obviously it is still very much loved..even in its later years:):) Like taking a beloved grandmother to the beauty salon and giving her a new hairdo that she feels good about:):) Breathes life back into the old:)
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What an example! So convincing! Thank you, Karima. Really enjoyed reading the piece.
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such a story contained in your house paint! beautiful poetry, Karima ❤
-David
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Believe me..there are a few more tales to tell..but better to write a book:):) Thank you David..for commenting:)🙏
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So lovely! Real sentiment, captured in ordinary things. I hope the workmen aren’t noisy too early in the morning! 🙂
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Well..they are hehe…but I got a poem out of it all today…so that;s something. Thanks Dale for your comment!
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That’s such gorgeous prose, Karima. You’ve created such a wondrous tale of time, of living inside of the happy times, the hard times, the present times, leaving us all with a glimpse into the future times. All through the experience of this lovely house you’ve conjured for us. I love this. ❤️🌹🥰
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Oh thank you so much Jeff…sorry just saw your great comment:) Yes The rhythmic tap tapping of the workmen, sent my mind into a nostalgic trip:) and I realized that each layer of paint told a story about an era in the house’s life. I am so happy you enjoyed some quick glimpses of that tale in this poem. Thank you again my friend 🙏🤗❤️🌹
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No worries at all; you’re most welcome, Karima. Always. I love how the inspiration occurred, and the visuals you create in this poem are amazing. I enjoyed it very much. 💖🌷✨🙏
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This is such a lovely poem, Kari! I feel that I know that house, and that place more and more each time I read something you write of there, or tell a story via Kitely, or especially when it’s directly in person. Truly delightful, and I am happy for you and all of your doubly vaccinated family and friends that your home will be reopened soon and renewed soon!
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Hi Miss Luna:) Nice to see you here:) Inshallah we will reopen for the 1st of the year….maybe even boosterized by then:) hehe. This house has seen a lot, as old houses tend to do..and the layers of paint over the years are almost like rings on a tree delineating certain “Ages”] What fun!
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a great comment Luna…Hugss!
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Lovely!I liked the way you began,with workmen chipping away the old and readying it to be painted.
Nicely written! 🙂
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Powerful: “Layers of life”! The whole poem really has that feel to it. And then the layers of paint. Old and new coming together and transferring. Beautiful poetry!
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Yikes Ben..I have been amiss again with you..finding your comments weeks after. I am been a bit spacey and lost in some other projects.. Thank you my friend..your words always encourage me.. So glad you enjoyed the peeling layers being revealed:)
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I’m in awe with this piece of yours…these lines are profound…”No one even saw the paint, they just felt the warmth emanating from inside”…the divine presence…giving it’s love & warmth…without anyone is actually noticing it…but they are surely & very much feeling / sensing…the divine itself…and then the last verse…do I need to write anything when it says it all…”Layers of life”…I love this poem of yours, Karina 💫❤️✨
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Big smiles here on my end:) What a beautiful comment!! I think I like it even better than my poem 😉 Thank you once again, Navin, for peering so deeply into my poetry and in the end, “loving it” I think there is no greater compliment. I am once again honored and happy that you read and loved the many layers of my paint:):)
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You’re very welcome, Karima (my apologies for writing your name wrongly in my previous comment…my “intelligent” keyboard Auto-INcorrected it)…It should be me thanking you to write such beautiful poetry…I truly loved the many layers of your paint…keep expressing, shining & sharing your wisdom 🌟
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Thank you again for your generosity to interact in such a giving way. As you know, that can be very inspiring for a poet, to see that they have connected with their audience. Every poem we write is not for everyone…but when a poem speaks to us personally..ahhh such a delight! It is the same for comments too:)
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This is so beautiful. The house representative of a life and the many layers that make up a person and time. There is no easy fix but one goes on like the color replaced on a house. Beautiful words that share so much my friend. Love you, Joni ❤️🤗🦋🦋🥰
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