Sounds

The stair boards creak under my father’s weight in the dark of early morning

The hum of the furnace rises from the basement

The radiators clank and ping, and he bleeds air from the ageing pipes,

bringing heat once again to my bedroom over the garage

My bed sags, and the springs squeak,

and muffled TV voices drift from behind the cracked door down the hall,

but they never disturb

Sounds of safety and security echo through this old house.



A thousand miles away,

the stair boards creak under my weight in the dark of early morning...