The Address Remembers

The door remembers the layers of bottle green paint the brass-bulled letterbox the glittering granite steps the rhododendron bush the shining number plate The hall remembers the echoes reaching the ceiling the spider webs around the hanging lights the coats stand with Zulu knobkerrie Grandmother's room remembers lily of the valley, lavender peppermints and whiskey prayers and hatpins a velvet choker, an ivory elephant The music room remembers sub zero cold the piano's polished face an unlit fire a frowning metronome The parlour remembers a sheepskin table cover a back scratcher a panting dog an old mahogany sideboard The loft remembers secrets, the roof a seaman's chest torn lino rows and rows of furs an overkill clothing The bedroom remembers windows with frost fairies the stink of Friar's Balsam clammy sheets The garden remembers tom thumbs nodding sparrows twittering thistle and rosebriar waving chives, heather and mint The shed remembers man things- tools and screws a place for everything everything in its place The garden walls remember studs of purple flowers disembodied voices of the neighbours the world kept at bay