Dream of House Fires

by Kaekanna Gintoli

---

and when you dream of us

we hope you dream of house fires 

---

for we confess 

we have been obsessed 

with them lately 

---

in that they mimic the feeling of 

one part being trapped

while the other takes over 

bursts out through the windows 

up the stairs and over the balcony 

---

envelops the furniture 

eats itself whole 

until nothing remains 

---

the other houses look on in horror 

but sit and do nothing as all is consumed 

---

and the whole time 

the house lies totally silent 

not moving or resisting or even protesting

not speaking or sobbing 

letting itself burn