there is something different
inside of these naked walls
a life before a life
a breath of what there once was
an inch by an inch, foot by foot
to define a past known nothing of
a family with children
white picket fence
the small jack russel terrier
barking in the front yard sprinkler
a lonely old man and his calico cat
the one with the aching joints
who sits comfortably in its old age
so many memories painted on the ceiling
so many things lost in the cracks of time
in attic full of ancient treasures
the basement littered with what was lost
once upon a time, when the little things
were the only things that really mattered
there is a life before a life
there is a death after every death
and there is always time and comfort 
somewhere in between
a piece of knowledge, of wisdom
and a decent amount of love 
that can turn this house with the picket fence
and the naked cream walls 
and the rooms with bare floor
into a home