From Siren's Silence (Volume 2 Number 3)

BURNING DOWN

Some people are like houses
burning down. When you
tell them, Uh, excuse me,
but you’re definitely
on fire, they say, No,

that’s not fire— it’s just
bright yellow paint. And
you go on chatting
as if it will be Tuesday

afternoon forever till you
discover your words in
a pile of ashes the wind
catches and blows
right in your face.

© Kenneth Pobo 1998