Red Chimney

I wonder who lives in the house

With the bright red chimney, someone must

For on cold winter mornings

Smoke bellows from the stack

And the smell of freshly baked bread

Stops me in the thaw and snap

So, I linger for a moment

And stare at this dreamy abode

Lit by the soft edges of snow clouds

And the sun a pale embroidered gold

‘All is well with the world’ then I say to myself

All is well in the house with the red chimney

I wonder who lives in the house

With roses around the door, someone must

For come late bloom

Peckish birds gather, flock

To taste the plum tree garden

And jam from the pantry pot

So, I wait at the kissing gate

To see who drinks the cooled barley

Who hangs the crisp, cotton sheets

Then comes a girl, to peg the sky, a threadbare carpet beat

‘All is well with the world’ then I say to myself

All is well in the house with roses around the door

I wonder who lives in the house

With the bright red chimney, someone must

For you were built to silence the soulless city

Smash the concrete slab, my daydream cottage  

With honeysuckle borders

And thick soup made from pottage

So, if you glimpse me at the fence

Tap my shoulder, then with muddy boots we’ll tread

The creaky stairs, the homely rooms

And rest our weary bones on a soft feather bed

‘All is well with the world’ then we’ll say to ourselves

All is well in the house with the red chimney’