The house
is layered in dimness
still before me rise
lingering ghosts
painful haunts
forming
before my eyes

shapes evolve
of forgotten fears
mothers cough
gasping for breath
I, a child 
suffering 
too afraid this time
she’ll meet her death

screaming
yelling
curses loud
a fist,
a gun or knife
battles brew
within the nest
father stands
apart from wife

I visualize
the pasture grass
clunks of daisy blooms
butterflies,
jet,
leaving train
hold not to sadness
its in the house..
out here its God’s
domain

copyright
Jayne Waggoner