“House” Is Being Cleared

house is forever—being cleaned—

the children hate to watch it go—

every scrap to them is treasure

loss found the second time—anew

house is forever being—cleared—

to help me decide—who—

i make high heaps of harbored stuff

then watch the rick fall—through—

collide with floor—strike the board—

“less fell” i make into our daily bread—

then again i wait until

i can heap store speak—again

house is—forever being moored

to unmoorish moony things—

like springs from toys—

and spring—

pestilence too—i thought i liked

my poisons in pretty little cups—

but the mouses in my closet

have put me on—the cusp—

house unhoused itself this morn—

the way it does when i like that do sing—

beneath the fingers of a man—

i didn’t quite ask—in

house refused to sail away

it stayed with me—within—

together we used the windows

to count macaws—and sin—

house is settled—mine—

he’s learned to send himself—away—

knock later if you must, you will—persist—now

empty only looks and sounds—to the amateur—amiss—