Hothouse

Anger flares like the unlit match
held over a bright candle.
The flame singes as it sizzles
into existence.
then the singing becomes shouting.
"Why can't you be more like your sister!?"
and
"Why do you have to cause so much trouble?!"
Rage swells like a heat wave cresting
in a force which sends the porch toppling
to the ground.
Ashes to ashes.
              Ashes fly to the sky half-lit by a half-moon.
Bad intentions spread with rumors and whispers
into the window frames and walls. And
boom             boom              boom.
Glass shines through the night,
                   tears of reflected light.
A section of roof gives way to gravity and fire.
Startled, voices at the end of the street cry out for
help,
as the four wheels of a blue Mustang turn in
                                                      the other direction.

8.5.1995