Thursday, March 27, 2014

House Homicide

from a photo by james landwehr


House Homicide
by Jim Landwehr

Born in 1907 to a family of others
A generation away
It was nothin’ special to anyone but they
            Who made the beds
            And slept in them

Wood, brick and mortar are all it was
Hulking like a middle class mansion
It was nothin’ special to anyone but those
            Who swept the floors
            And walked on them

Kitchen warmed by electric stove
One bath to serve all seven
It was nothin’ special to anyone but us
            Who painted the walls
            And lived within them

New tenants brought boxes of neglect and blight
Slumming the mansion to size
It was nothin’ special to anyone, especially them
            Who killed the house
            And moved along



~ first published in Heavy Bear