Saturday, January 11, 2014

Decktime



image by glenn buttkus


Decktime

“My new house has a deck that wraps around my writing
room, outside my many windows I’ve hung bird-feeders
that stimulate my imagination.”--Julia Cameron.

I sport a baseball-sized scar
above my right knee, where
years ago I had fallen through
some bad boards on my old deck.

We, like many people, enter our home
through the back door, walking over from
the garage and crossing a fabulous new(ish)
deck to do so.

A couple of friends of mine, who
do some construction work in their spare time,
built a new deck for us, triple strength,
way above code, vowing that I would never
fall through it again;

“You could park a 1940 Buick on this bitch,”
they proudly boasted. 

They have business cards that simply state.
TWO FUCKING GUYS CONSTRUCTION:
Never more than 3 do-overs on any project.
We whistle while we work, & gratefully
accept food & hugs.”

During the second summer of the “new” deck,
they returned to build a fabulous roof over it.

It has become another room, an extension
of our house. My wife has decorated it with
a dozen pots of brightly colored perennials. 
I bought her a large & lovely ruby red
watering can, nestled in now between
purple & yellow blossoms.

The deck slider/swing has a carnival-striped
cover that always makes me smile, faintly
hearing a calliope whenever I look at it.

On bright summer mornings I enjoy snapping
photos of the shadow play from the wide beams
& the shapely pickets below the perfect
bannister caps.

Our 3 year old granddaughter has learned
to ride her new pink tricycle safely, & it’s
a joy to watch her whizz back & forth
on the deck, laughing at rain. 

Sometimes I sit out there with my yellow
legal tablet, writing or outlining poetry,
listening to the rustling of the thousand
leaves on the neighbor’s massive maple tree.
In the winter I can see Mt. Rainier peeking
through its barren branches, but after Spring
I have to stroll out to the alley to witness
its serenity. 

Our perfectly manicured & watered lawn
always pleases me as I stare beyond it
to undiscovered worlds, and buzzing word hordes
that hive up behind every rhododendron bush,
every weeping willow or tulip tree ringing
the dark spaded soil of our flower beds.

It is raining hard at the moment,
and the passionate pelting
on our plexiglass roof
serenades & soothes me,
so very safe in my haven. 

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over on dVerse Poets Poetics

Would you like to hear the author read this poem to you?

21 comments:

Brian Miller said...

raining hard here as well...all day...we have a covered deck on the back of the house...love to sit out there...need to work on it a bit...missing one screen high where i had to let a bird out that got trapped, somehow...yikes on the scar...bet that was scary in the moment....

Anonymous said...

A wonderful narrative Glenn. I'm all for it thought I would rather do without having children near--but that's me. >KB

Mary said...

Glenn, this sounds like a wonderful extension of your house. You really brought it to life for us with your words. I can just see you out there composing your poetry. How fortunate you are to be able to SEE Mt. Rainier from your home; and also how fortunate you are to be blessed with rain and not snow. (Smiles)

Claudia said...

the sound of rain has something soothing...and that sounds like a beautiful comfortable room...i love the business card of the guys as well...ha... fun...i would hire them anyday..smiles

alan1704 said...

It is raining hard at the moment,
and the passionate pelting
on our plexiglass roof
serenades & soothes me,
so very safe in my haven.

This is excellent - that safety we experience when the rain is heard outside. Passion and life in the music of nature.

Scarlet said...

I can see you clearly writing & peering for those words behind every plant & bloom ~ Its foggy here today & I envy the rain that is soothing you, safe in your haven ~

Grace

Gabriella said...

I enjoyed the story behind your fabulous new deck and see all that you, and your family, can do there. I'd love to see a photo of your view. It seems wonderful!

Laurie Kolp said...

Sounds like a lovely respite!!

Unknown said...

I adored your reading Glenn! it's been raining a lot here in MI lately... taking most of the snow with it... smiles

kaykuala said...

You had it made Glenn! Such serenity and quiet to whet the imagination on poetry days. Now, we understand your penchant for long wonderful poetry gems, time all for yourself on the deck! Thanks for sharing!

Hank

Anonymous said...

LOL on the contractor's name...

Abhra said...

Perfect and beautiful narrative - of what life is, while looking away. Nice, rich details.

Victoria said...

I think perhaps I saw some of that rain watching the game today. My husband built our deck and I suspect if we get the "big one," it will survive if the house doesn't!

brudberg said...

What a great set of contractors.. Loved that.. A deck or a balcony is such a blessing... And sitting outside writing poetry is great.. (I have wifi coverage on mine)... And to be able for such a view - ahh that's great.

vivinfrance said...

What a delightful narrative poem. I really fancy your two huggable construction workers!

gila_mon said...

What an awesome business card, how could you not hire them. "buzzing word hordes / that hive up behind every rhododendron bush" Brilliantly done.

Ron Shields said...

sounds like you have a wonderful setting where even the rain can't dampen your spirits.

Anonymous said...

love visiting your beautiful and sturdy deck, Glenn. I can picture the hive of words that keep you busy writing! K

Abruvanamedsly said...

"You could park a 1940 Buick on this bitch," they proudly boasted....

...that made me smile when I read it and made me chuckle when I heard it. I thoroughly enjoyed the completeness of this piece...thank you for sharing.

Mystic_Mom said...

Love your contractors - sounds like they are really stand up guys! :-)

And I would love to be enjoying your deck and having a visit. What a great addition to the prompt. Thanks for joining in!

Ginny Brannan said...

"Sometimes I sit out there with my yellow
legal tablet, writing or outlining poetry,
listening to the rustling of the thousand
leaves on the neighbor’s massive maple tree.
In the winter I can see Mt. Rainier peeking
through its barren branches, but after Spring
I have to stroll out to the alley to witness
its serenity."
Life on the deck sounds absolutely lovely! And what a winter view you have. Inspiring!! Your original deck sounds like the one we moved in to when we purchased our home. Think we replaced it the second summer. Amazingly never fell through it, but it surely wasn't up to code!! Had to laugh at your construction crews' name though, unique to be sure! Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with us!