Poem: Almost Done

Almost Done

The work is slow
and for a month
you have been at it,
patching, painting,
stripping layer after layer
of ugly truth off the floors,
and then

fresh paint, two coats
of color, not the bland white
of the past, but warm
and glowing gold,
and a gentle stain
for the floors
to bring out the grain
of the ancient cypress.
and then

four coats to protect them,
glossy and bright,
yet strong, capable,
clear shields,
transparent strength
to preserve the hard work
for another 20 years,
and then

you begin to rebuild the room,
laying a rug, rich with color,
but
then you hesitate, knowing that it is now,
that you will finally learn
whether your vision
is real, or false,
and whether the colors so carefully chosen
will bring you the joy you imagined.

============

This is the next to last of the renovation poems I have been writing for the past month. The work is done and over the next few days I will be moving furniture back in. The last pictures will show the rooms finished.

I've enjoyed these, and enjoyed linking the renovation of a pair of rooms to how we work on rebuilding our own lives, one step at a time.

You can click on the picture for a larger version.

Tom