House Burning

By Jessie Salsbury

tongue of fire laps at roof

screaming girl finds brothers, sister, mother, father

fire grows stronger next minute

devour dying grasses

prairie burn

fire’s edge delicate smoke curls

deer rabbits scatter, return after thunderstorm

cools

prairie grows stronger next season

garbage burn

beer cans filthy plates rotten mice rats

choke smolder

girl grows stronger next year

– Jessie Salsbury lives in Lawrence.