I used my father’s tape measure
to measure the distance to the point of departure
Counting the inches and the feet
to the place where we found defeat
I saw the ashes
I saw the sun on the burnt-out chimney
49 and a half feet from the curb and 13 feet on the property line
I saw the inches, the feet,
The space in between then and now
The bricks, like memories, all in this place
This is where family gathered for warmth and comfort
A firestorm turned all of that into something else
The fireplace mantel had some mementos;
so I did something stupid to get up and get them
The fireplace bricks said, “You have to learn another lesson.”
And I fell down to sprain my ankle
I fell down to instantly recognize my vulnerability, once again
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