An old stoneware pot
Lays discarded in one corner
A half carved doll
The product of one short
Moment of creativity,
Lays discarded wrapped in a cage of cobwebs.
Old Muddie’s boots, worn and in need of stitching
Serve as a reminder of frugalness.
He survived, one day at a time,
His boots now laying on a floor
Littered with past projects, attempts to be productive
As his faculties succumbed to age.
A one-bedroom shack, corrugated iron roof
No insulation, an open fire the only warmth,
When the icy winds blew, and frost inches thick
Descended upon his meagre abode
He would fold himself in a blanket
His beard with icicles on the coldest mornings.
His Spartan home, a cushion on a wooden seat, luxury
A new blanket, a free meal, the greetings of children
The material and spiritual that sustained him.
We worried about him, aging, becoming frailer
Each winter a challenge, he was hardened
You don’t live 90 years not knowing survival
One July night, a vicious storm, heavy snow,
His old roof, collapsed, his leg trapped
His body exposed one time too many
He lay there alone, sunrise found him, frozen.
We buried him, half a dozen who cared,
Now at rest, his shack, his past, soon gone.
Morpethroad 
Oh this is very good!!!!! I really like. It did make me think of my great-grandparents home in Kentucky. Oh I loved that old home, it was slanted and everything. Was condemned as soon as they died. 😦
Thank you Anja, thank you for your beautiful comment. It is sad what happens to some old homes when the occupant passes away.
What a great picture!
Thank you please call again
This is incredible. You are very talented! Is this based on a personal relationship or experience?
Thanks Brantley a bit of both I would say. Please call again.
Wonderful -sad, but also defiantly hopeful in its own way too!! 🙂 🙂
Thank you Helen. yes there is that sense of defiance.
It’s a great piece of hardships almost forgotten now.. the way one used to live, and how the end would come sooner or later.
Thanks Bjorn I am pleased you connected with this poem. Thank you so much.
I enjoy the vivid images in your writing & how you portray a story!
Thanks RoSy, I appreciate your kind words.
Michael, the photo helped but your words were of beauty, hardship, sadness, determination,loneliness and how some of us would be happy to spend out lives far from the madding crowd at times too. Very well written Michael, I enjoyed this a great deal.
Thanks Jenny, in some old guys there exists more life than we often give them credit for.
*nods*
Wow Michael the imagery is so vivid. Jenny expressed it well the stubbornness, the strength, the loneliness, and ultimate the fragility of all life beautiful
Thank you so much Yves I am very happy that you enjoyed this piece, these characters are often a labour of love for me. I’ve know a few.
What a sad story! Yet we feel the pride of this resilient man as well. Nicely done.
Yes years after this poem was written I did see a similar place where an old lady had lived for many years.Thanks for your comment.