from the outside, the tumble-down parts glared obvious
and the fixes slid fast from the mouths of anyone who passed by
take down that wall
add a new coat of paint
straighten out the front stairs
new curtains? a skylight?
but through the picture window
i saw a woman curled by the fire.
i didn't recognize the book she was reading
but it held her there
and she looked
safe
even though i thought maybe
she could use a new roof.
*photo credit: ian britton
