surroundedevery dayby glow-in-the-dark starsgummed to the ceilingand photoslike a virus engulfing the walls

images of wooden birds and chlorine-rich summerscherry blossoms and children in plastic hatstaped mosaicacross plaster

the houseover a century oldwith closed-off dumbwaitersgrimy stained glasstin ceilings saggingcanned antiquity

house under tree bowerturns pink at duskmourning doves neston the air conditioner crying

night house drowns in dark inkfacade retreating into obscuritywindows glow over the streetwhere light from passing carsswims into dark roomsdisappearing into the walls again