The Word “home.” Poem by Dónall Dempsey

The winds
of Heaven

like God’s wrath

storm through
the abandoned house

fragile now
in its emptiness

only a shell

doors opened bang shut
in a gruff voice

a rag doll
huddled in a corner

tries to still
smile

a love letter
read in the wind’s sarcastic laughter

wanders through
room after room
like an old ghost

Spiders crawl
down sinks

batten down the hatches

something stinks

all the little
human touches

only look ridiculous

as all hell is let loose
on this stupid habitation

that still clings
to the word

home.