House Grouse Poem by Ananta Madhavan

The stairs drag, they
Put an ache in the calves.

The bathroom light is fused;
The ceiling is too high for the step ladder,
And I cannot unscrew the dome.

The plaster on the wall is peeling,
Flakes fall into the cooking pot.

The grills of the windows get jammed;
The plugs don't fit the sockets.

The grass is rough with weeds.
The gate creaks with rust.

A damp has risen to the pale parquet.
The cistern makes water music.

At least we have this house to live in.