Crystal Taylor

Our Historic Home Has Always Been

neglected. Marred
with blemishes like a century-old
life-long smoker.
The fence, once wrought
iron spires, now replaced
by 3D-white incisors

and freshly laid sod.
Ruby Woo lipstick stains
the front door, and eight shades
of beige foundation
conceal the weathered siding.
A faux wood swing bolted

into the contours
of the wrap-around porch’s
shellacked ceiling, lacks the creak
of the old neighbor’s wave.
Cat eyes no longer line the alleyway
where they once chased hissing pests.

They gave up the glamour—
moved somewhere more humane.