My Father’s House…

*

“He has gone, and he will not be back,” said the house.

*

“Well, that’s the television set re-tuned,

he’s even got Eye-Tee-Vee-Three again now, so he’ll be pleased about that.”

*

“He has gone, and he will not be back,” the house re-iterated.

*

“Just the fire to sort, and the floorboards…

I’ve switched the sofas, re-arranged the bedroom drawers,

and cleared the hall to give him room for the walker.

Oh, and I’ve moved the vacuum cleaner from behind the

Dining-Room door for the same reason.”

*

“He has gone, and he will not be back,” said the house, again.

*

As the door pulls to, and the handle is lifted to turn the lock,

the casing gives a little and comes away from the wood.

“…And the door handle will need re-securing.”

*

“He has gone, and he will not be back,” sings the house,

presumably because no one is listening.

*

“Why won’t he come back?” I ask, not expecting an answer.

*

“Because he is going home.”