House

Sometimes I take for granted some simple things

Comes Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring

The roof, the heat, the shelter I live in

The security I got used too, all comforting

Last night I awoke not from the smoke

From a deep sleep, my slumber suddenly broke

The fume, overwhelming, gave me an ache

In my head, that is, I could not take

I was nauseous too, as I went downstairs

I saw my teen spray painting by the furnace

It is winter night so it’s on too

I caught her in time, we could have . . . whew

The house could have blown up, but it did not

We are alive, so I thank God

We have a house, though not a lot

We are all safe and that’s enough

(And just in case you wonder . . . a “fine” scolding, my daughter got)