NEW CHIMNEYS

Alban and Siglund--
they put new chimneys
on the old house this year.
Eaten boards and warped shingles
next to clean new brick, and I wanted
to live up there, with my books
piled on the high side, my bed
slanting down for a good view
of the sky.

The bed was heavy and Alban
wouldn't help.  But I pulled 
blankets up and Jane Eyre
and the whole set of Christabel
and Floyd.  
One time was all.  I broke
too many juniper branches
crashing down in the night.
Siglund got the iodine.
Alban pressed his mouth
into a wrinkle 
like he does.

			Lucille Murphy