THE IMPORTANCE OF ARCHITECTURE

THAT PLACE HAD ALWAYS SMELLED LIKE GERBILS
NO MATTER WHAT SHE DID
MADE HER FEEL LIKE A LITTLE GIRL
THOUGH SHE WAS GROWN AND HAD HER OWN KID
THAT CHILD TIED HER TO THE WORLD
JUST LIKE A STRING ON A BALLOON
AND SHE WOULD BUMP ALONG THE CEILING
WHILE HE WAS OFF EACH DAY AT SCHOOL

THAT PLACE HAD ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE NIGHTMARES
THOUGH SHE COULD NEVER THINK WHAT FOR
ORDINARY DOORS ON TOP OF THE STAIRS
ORDINARY ROOMS BEHIND THOSE DOORS
THOSE DOORS THEY HID HER FROM THE WORLD
JUST LIKE A CURTAIN ON A STAGE
AND SHE WOULD MELT INTO THE CARPET
ALL THROUGH THOSE ENDLESS WINTER DAYS

AND THAT PLACE HAD ALWAYS FELT LIKE PAPER
LIKE ANY DAY IT WOULD CAVE IN
THE FLOOR WOULD CRUMPLE UP BENEATH HER
THE WALLS WOULD RIP DOWN WITH THE NEXT BIG WIND
THAT WIND WOULD BRING HER TO THE WORLD
JUST LIKE A FACE UPON A SCREEN
AND SHE WOULD FLOAT ABOVE THE ROOFTOPS
LOOKING FOR A PLACE SHE COULD CALL CLEAN

fall 1997 New Orleans
© MYSHKIN 1998