Most days are an empty worn
Out house
On 1300 south block
It sees all the wealthy
From Costco
to it's front door -
If, you heed the need.
No one pays attention
Or spends on empty houses
with broken boards for steps
or bed springs to sleep on.
Most walk by
thinking something like,
That house did it to itself.
To get to where it is.
But they would be dead wrong.
It takes years for a house to empty out
Because of neglect
from all sources, for a time,
For misfortune,
no matter all
the life inside.
This was a yellowbird house
proud to be built.
People, a cat or two,
maybe an obedient dog
walked in and out
Someone cared enough to put a roof on
It thought complete.
Some people are like empty houses,
Neglected, cobwebs and sticky.
But, people bleed,
that get torn down
by so many things.
One thing in common though,
houses and people are eventually
demolished
if no one cares.
Someone may crash
into your car of goods
as you exit the fancy box stores
that make you think more is better.
But then your son collapses at home
from an overdose.
You, clueless.
What were you paying attention to?
Just barely 26.
What was, your yellowbird home,
will now be remembered
When the sound you heard
of your son's thump as he hit
the bathroom floor,
as you readied for work.
Split in half.
Someone dies.
You didn't plan on being
an empty house now
today,
did you?
So, what will you do about it?
Abandoned like an empty parking lot
Sorrow the only true begger
Grasping for something,
A currency
To take you back.
So stop flirting with birds
As they come and go.
Time is not for sale.