I I still believe that magical creatures lived there Angels in the stone garden and hanging from the rafters A fairy that placed Chomps on our pillows Who-knows-what in the nooks of Nan’s downstairs studio Father Christmas in the roof above my grandparents’ bed In that bed, with the most delicious linen, Nan read to us The Enormous Crocodile The Rainbow Fish There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly As rain pelted the metal roof, Composing my cosiest feeling in the world to date The Simonstown House: a cosy house, A Holy House, a House of Safety Of Christmases and birthdays and Christenings Of Martin, Regina, Father Bram and Rosie Of Basil and Wendy next door A House of dominos around the table And colourful, loving meals: Jim-made spag bog with weird vegetables Followed by coffee cake, apple crumble or minced pies For breakfast, pawpaw with blueberries and lemon Then cereal then croissants then eggs (then presents) II A House of family Of visitors and piano playing Of Emma and Nell and Maggie-May A House of painting and baking Lectures and "Have you Read the Catechism?" Of rituals and books and rooibos tea A House of xylophone and trumpet, Pillow forts and rugby-watching Of table-setting, candle-lighting and hide 'n seek A House of braais and nail-painting Zerbert-blowing and lego-building Of rhymes, prayers and daily swims in the sea III 200 years old, Nan’s artwork Jim’s history lesson A Famous 5 House, a gaze-at-the-sea House Collecting testaments to life’s adventures A Home that Felt and Breathed IV Recently, Nan told me that she wanders the rooms when she closes her eyes I said I do the same and I reach out my heart’s hands to those who have known – Her and Home - Because after all that has changed and been lost, That place of Safety and Spirit still exists in her, loving Holding, guiding V And with all that still lives and is to come, We can visit in our dreams - It and them – Held and guided, too, Safe in Spirit and Love Home to all manners of Reunion
It is so deeply warming to be able to relate, in a different era, to everything you have written here about special people and a special place - forever shared...
It is so deeply warming to be able to relate, in a different era, to everything you have written here about special people and a special place - forever shared...
Oh my word Crissi.. perfectly captured! 😍😍
This really brought back the touch and feel of it all :)
This is beautiful Crissi