Poetry |Return to Poetry Table of Contents

Margot Jacoby

House of Reconciliation  

It was unanimous: we loved
the backyard bordered
by hollyhocks as tall
as the hybrid apple tree
red and green delicious bringing
deer into our view
the grape arbor draped
in plump globes enticing
birds to rest
in the poplars and pines
an orange splash
of mountain ash shaded
an old rope swing

It was perfect: the neighbor’s
children same ages as ours: there were
kites to fly, balls to pitch
bikes to ride
summer became fall
children herded into school hallways
their laughter echoing as
nails pounding into fresh pine: we build
an addition and try to rebuild
our lives