crisp embers burn what remained of her heart

hopeless eyes gaze upon a force that may not be reckoned with.

flames **** all.

all those wonderful memories.

turned to a wisp that flares in her nose.

her  kids. their kids. somebody else's kids too.

careless playing in the basement,

petty quarrels in the kitchen.

the fire took all.

now they call her mad

  mad
as she weeps over what they've forgotten,

and holds tightly to her chest what she can remember.

mad, when she turns them away

because their faces are reminders of the flame.

mad, since she could never imagine losing them,

till now.

her home held her heart.

but for a time she'd never forget,

it was taken away.