Mom read x-rays
for a living,
but made a life
kissing

the bones
of a 1932
row home
always under
construction
Dad repairing

with arthritic hands
from the ground up

the skeletal frame
of Our house on Friendship
was fissured past breaking
through nicotine-stained walls

the cracks didn’t close
for twenty-five winters

—–

Laura Brzyski, 26, is a native Philadelphian who currently teaches 10th grade English, choreographs school musicals, and frequents wineries. In 2014, Laura received her Master of Arts in English from Lehigh University, specializing in medieval literature. Her poetry has been published in Weal, and her creative nonfiction in The Stonecoast Review. Her flash poetry can be found at https://instagram.com/daily.musings