"Full House"

by Stardust and Gunsmoke

You see, from outside looking in,
The house is full and free of sin;

The flowers weekly watered bloom,
And pictures hang in every room.

The groceries covered and aligned,
Bedcorners neat, bookcases lined.

A one-room palace fit for kings, 
But oh, my friend, these walls can sing.

You see, there’s music in this house,
That plays for those within, not out,

Sometimes it jumps and jaunts and grooves,
Sometimes it hunts, and haunts, and soothes,

But every night it plays and plays,
No intermissions, and no refrains,

So like the rider’s farewell bull,
I saddle up, this house is full. 

Of empty tins and empty bottles,
Empty words in empty novels,

An empty counter, empty seats,
An empty heart that barely beats. 

But I’ll be damned if it ain’t full,
Of hope and heartache, push and pull.

They told me life will make you suffer,
You’ll get dead or you’ll get tougher,

This home is just an empty shell,
Which I’ll make heaven or make hell,

And in the end, the choice is mine,
To make it so, and in good time. 

Thus, I hold my feelings tightly
Dancing with my demons nightly,

To the music that won’t cease
To tear these empty walls apiece

And oh, I sway and stab and jive,
Content to play the game and thrive,

Because I’d never earn my rest,
Except to know I’ve fought my best,

And so this house is always full
Of life, and strife, and push, and pull. 

And as the neighbors watch aghast,
To see a man fight with his past,

By candleflame upon the shelf,
They see a man dance with himself,

To a tune that no one hears,
Save those who’ve conquered all their fears,

Aye, that tune will sing of sorrows,
But carries hope for bright tomorrows. 

And that’s what makes this full house flush. 
These empty walls will finally hush. 

Alas, one day this singing house won’t stand,
But I’ll know, for this dance, I’m a better man.

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Stardust and Gunsmoke are the pseudonyms of two New England-based former Marines. Follow them here.

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Want the best date night possible this Saturday night? Drinks, dessert, a hilarious live performance, professional actors, an intimate unforgettable space, pay-what-you-can tickets…it simply does not get better than this. So come on out and join us at our Parlor on Quaker Avenue for our staged reading of Steve Martin’s Broadway comedy Meteor Shower.

FYI, we’re sold out for the next three weeks. You’re welcome to show up and hope for a cancellation. But if you really want to see the show, why not book now for our July 2 show and save yourself the uncertainty?