It was on this very spot
almost a month ago
that my house burned down
the house we built together
all the things we collected
destroyed
but you were long gone
I remember
returning in daylight
to survey the wreckage
the charred frame
as empty as my heart
the foundation laid bare
among the ashes
the long nails you drove into the wood
day after day
twisted and black from the heat
I slipped some of them into my pocket
to keep as a sharp reminder
tonight I sleep alone in a tent
near the place where our bed once lay
and look up at the stars
as we did when we were children
there's the Big Dipper
hand outstretched
finger following a straight line
to point out the North Star
the sky
is full of lights
constellations whose names and forms
I can no longer remember
I will learn them again
on this very spot
almost a month ago
my house burned down
tonight I can see the moon.
FEATURE
