Ode to Old Red Barns

As this story was in paste, I thought I would share it on my blog as well.  Enjoy.

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Ode to Old Red Barns Everywhere

Held together by nails and old caulk

if only its walls could somehow talk.

Now forgotten though no ones fault

for its caretakers are now naught.

What lessons within were taught?

What deep burdens had time wrought?

Today a photographer sought

for his attention it has caught.

Somehow he could not balk

this grand old red stained hulk.

Wearing a weathered weather vane

withstanding cold harsh winds and strain

under pouring morning rain

its roof now leaks and drains

where once it had stored new grain

and cattle had ate than lain.

The photographer hopes to now feign

a new use for the old barn again

though no longer bright red stained;

without paint it looks quite wane.

Weathered by time

and hot sunshine

time hasn't been kind

though sheltered by pines.

In the photographer's mind

the old red barn looks just fine.

The photographer doesn't think anyone will mind

if he takes a few pictures today as he takes time

to capture the beauty found off the beaten road behind

the new housing development built where new ties will bind.

The grand old barn had once held someone's dreams

before forgotten and stared to lean.

Perhaps it held a horse-drawn team

that plowed the fields where oats would gleam.

Perhaps new calves were born there and weaned

while its cold floors were daily swept clean.

Inside it today you can see the sun beams

shine through the seams in the roof and dust mites gleam.

The photographer still sees it as a grand old queen,

this old red barn which leans -

though still beams

in the sunbeams.

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