you should be home by now

last tuesday the house took my hand & said,
it's more of a hurricane than a fire
since he broke in & burned
my curtains
my floors
my bridges
my self
but sometimes I see her with a lighter
& she finishes what he didn't do

(I think she's afraid
of settling in,
being quiet)

but last tuesday I realized that she kept the lights on
to frighten away the bridges & the people
so no one will come inside
& smash the teacups, steal the pipes