if a house if a house on a hill near trees and lake
if the lake, if trees
if a house on the lake, brown, sullen, the overthrown
river bloated
in boats, treated to feed a water’s need
in creation, if a house
up the slope, stares down to edge
agape
if a house, if the lake
so many mouths to feed
of animal thirst meaning mostly insect, reptile, fish and fowl,
the lowly worm, king
of the beasts (aren’t we, humans)
if fox, if coyote, if fawns chased from the acre
by dogs, if snakes
lacking venom, wiry catfish, whiskers bristled against
nylon mesh, if the great heron
tosses perch up the edge, swallows whole fish
flapping in the throat
if the lake, the wet unclear
if a house, its floor to ceiling glass glinting
down the slope
a choice of manicured green full-fertilized
for green to the brown edge
so many mouths
pull from the lake for you to watch
from small hilltop
from a brick house backed in glass
if a house, if trees, if the lake, yours
(aren’t we human)
then the dream is also yours to begin
Midway Journal, Volume 8 Issue 3
