Rented Hope


Dour was stripped
from papered walls
to allow barely getting by
to repaint in yellow.

Love sealed each opening
to keep out impossible
to stay cozy with a
fireplace made of dreams.

Decorated in giggles,
Barbie dolls, and
overdue utilities,
rented hope
became a home.


©Susie Clevenger 2013

Mama Zen at Real Toads 
had us building homes.

Comments

LLM Calling said…
rented hope - yes, I remember that feeling, well done
Brian Miller said…
a fireplace of dreams....very cool that susie...much comfort in sitting by the fire....the rented hope is a cool way to turn a phrase...and glad it became a home...smiles...decorated in gigles, now that is cool too..
Margaret said…
Really, a house isn't a home without love. Rented over owned is preferable if owned doesn't have love
Laurie Kolp said…
What a wonderful opening, Susie... these are the things that make a house a home, but especially the love.
Hannah said…
Susie!! Beautiful and emotive.

I love decorated in giggles and rented hope became a home.

Excellent!
Kerry O'Connor said…
I love these little touches:
to allow barely getting by to repaint..
to keep out impossible..
rented hope became a home..

Such clever use of metaphoric language.
Other Mary said…
This is just wonderful. Shows the struggle and the love. Your last line is just perfect Susie.
hedgewitch said…
This is really neat(in all ways) Susie. A great feel of beginnings.
Marian said…
oh, Susie, i really love this poem. the title is fantastic. and keep out that impossible! overdue bills. this describes how i feel in my home, with my family, with the people who matter the most.
Short Poems said…
Susie, Beautifully composed.
Love it :)
Helen said…
Dour was stripped, love was sealed .. this is my kind of home! (I can't even estimate how many rentals I've lived in!)
Maude Lynn said…
This is really excellent, Susie. I particularly love the first stanza.
?dour? as a noun, is unknown to me.
Only know it as the opposite of cheerful.You poured us a heady linguistic cocktail here. maybe we won't mind helping you with the stripping....
Anonymous said…
This is just a lovely poem, Susie-- original and simple yet terribly vivid and easy to relate to. Much enjoyed, especially the first stanza. K.
lucychili said…
rented hope is a great image, dreamy and cosy sounds nice
Carrie Van Horn said…
Rented hope i love this!!
Heidi said…
Lovely home you've built for us here.
Anonymous said…
really enjoyed this...rented hope, great line.