This Old House —Safia Jama
after Bob Vila
Today we convert this puddle
of words into a windowpane.
Outside, the rain.
My brother and I are out in it.
We run and splash and play and—
No ... I’m alone in my room, writing.
In the rain
all the smokers are lovers again
Be sure to have all your materials ready.
Father, methodically killing the rose bush.
Ash, ash goes the green.
In the rain there rises a wall,
formal as Berlin. See how
the walls melt into rot?
Welcome to This Old House.
Today we will build
a kingdom out of a crown.
Dad’s belt,
and Mother’s frown.
David Axelrod
Devon Balwit
Hugh Behm-Steinberg
Erika Brumett
Jennifer Bullis
Lauren Camp
Greg Casale
Laura Da'
Denise Duhamel
Alejandro Escudé
Jeff Ewing
Michael Hettich
Dennis Hinrichsen
Safia Jama
Eleanor Kedney
Kasandra Larsen
Patrick T. Reardon
Matthew Schnirman
Maureen Seaton
Jeffrey Skinner
J.R. Solonche
Carolyn Williams-Noren