A Tiled Hearth Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

The fireplace looked trim enough
quaint tiles all in a row
placed oh so very carefully
each made by hand just so

Years and much time had mellowed it
yet it looked bright and fresh
with tallow candles placed below
as solemn as a creche

The cabinets surrounding it
were made to hold things dear
delighting one and all who gazed
at them throughout the years

But this was just a fleeting thought
I did not make a sound
as gleaners pried off all the tiles
and hardware smoothly ground

For this old cottage was now sold
the land worth many clams
and what had once been home and hearth
not worth a tinker's dam

And now a man knocked on the door
the best that could be found
he'd raze it quick and charge fair price
to tear it to the ground

The fireplace looked trim enough
quaint tiles all in a row
placed oh so very carefully
each made by hand just so.