Opening Late

[rejectomorph]

Letting the air in once the sun has gone and the heat leaves the outdoors is the best part of evening. The heat is now trapped in the attic. I hear it moving around up there. Or maybe that's just timbers creaking as the house adjusts to the cooler outside air. Whatever it is it gives me a start each time there's a creak. You'd think I'd get used to it, but no.

It's the day's ghost moving around up there, and I'm sure it's up to no good. I'll be lucky if it doesn't invite rats or raccoons to move into the attic with it. They'll have a party and I'll bang on the ceiling yelling at them to shut up. But I've got the windows open and the cool air comes in and is hastening the departure of the attic heat. The day's ghost will be sapped of its energy and the rats and raccoons will get bored and leave and everything will grow quiet. Then I'll have the house to myself again. It will be about time, and I'll say Man, I thought they'd never leave.




Sunday Verse

Private Eye

by Charles Simic


To find clues where there are none,
That's my job now, I said to the
Dictionary on my desk. The world beyond
My window has grown illegible,
And so has the clock on the wall.
I may strike a match to orient myself

In the meantime, there's the heart
Stopping hush as the building
Empties, the elevators stop running,
The grains of dust stay put.
Hours of quiescent sleuthing
Before the Madonna with the mop

Shuffles down the long corridor
Trying doorknobs, turning mine.
That's just little old me sweating
In the customer's chair, I'll say.
Keep your nose out of it.
I'm not closing up till he breaks.

Comments

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

"the day's ghost" is a wonderful image. my house creaks and cracks and makes me think of critters too, but it's just the wood. the poem fits so well.