Poet’s showcase
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.