Anatomy of a Poet, or This Ol’ House

Anatomy of a Poet, or This Ol’ House

BY DAVID ESTRINGEL

roof tiles gray and thin
falling away in the sun
like ash ‘round my feet

windows cloud and warp
with the long passing of one
too many hothouse summers

the paint outside cracks
and flakes – bare patch betrayals
ebbing pulse lull

the kitchen screen door
sticks—hinges in need of grease—
in its ever-shrinking frame

floorboards ‘round the stove
creak and sink underfoot, it’ll
need a cleaning soon

pictures on the wall
faded, some slipped from the hook,
crash down in silent thuds

dust storms in dark corners,
settles ‘round pillows and teacups
I write “Wash me, please”

but

the studs are solid,
foundation holding strong. Ghosts
seem to know their place

and

the morning cock still
crows in the yard, pecking at
its lil yellow stones

David Estringel is a Xicanx writer, Professor of English, and EIC with words at The Opiate, Cephalopress, Dreich, Beir Bua Journal, Literary Heist, The Blue Nib, The Milk House, and Poetry NI. David has published seven poetry/hybrid collections, six poetry chapbooks, and one co-authored novel Escaping Emily through Thirty West Publishing House. Connect with David on X @The_Booky_Man and his website www.davidestringel.com.