Second night

   in my sister’s house
   after the auction–
   I woke at two.

   I could not see the house–
   only smoke, far from done
   blacking all things, no blue,

   no green, no white colors for
   it was December and I had to
   turn off the furnace.

   I remember the cold most, for
   I had to endure it through
   March before the furnace

   or
   the smoke damage too
   could be brought about face.

   The ducts, and the cold
   endured until April
   and then rain, rain, again.