In honor of Neil Gaiman’s birthday, we’re pleased to reprint his poem “House,” acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ellen Datlow and originally published on the site in April 2013.
“House”
Sometimes I think it’s like I live in a big giant head on a hilltop
made of papier mache, a big giant head of my own head.
I polish the eyes which would be windows, or
mow the lawn, I mean this is my house we’re talking about here
even if it is a big giant papier mache head that looks just like mine.
And people who go past
in cars or buses or see the house the head on the hill from trains
they think the house is me.
I’ll be sleeping there, or polishing the eyes, or weeding the lawn,
but no-one will see me, no-one would look.
And no-one would ever come. And if I waved no-one even knows it was me waving.
They’d all be looking in the wrong place, at the head on the hill.
I can see your house from here.
“House” copyright © 2013 Neil Gaiman
Art copyright © 2013 Allen Williams
