every night this week
we've had a warm meal and beer
we all sleep under the roof
dogs walking from room to room
curled up on the couch

watching the ceiling,
chatter from my mouth
or the others
worrying about being taken away
going home again, or
back to the cancer cities of southern california

music blares, echoes through empty hallways and rooms
*** often but seldom heard
taking pipes in the backyard
tracking dirt and smoke in the house
paw prints on tile floors