Crumbling Walls Stand Sentinel*

Crumbling stone walls stand sentinel;

 In the yard

Clumps and lumps

Of horse grass are connected by irregular islands of bare earth.

Black lanterns grace both sides of the doorway

Casting no light

On the unhinged door.

Long closed windows

Dust on sills

Disturbed by children and thieves

looking for abandoned treasure.

Once graceful winding stairway

Making tortured journey

To sleeping rooms

where no one sleeps

Love rooms

Where no one loves.

Children grown and gone

Parents, past shrinking

Have disappeared

Out of the light.

Crumbling stone walls still stand sentinel

At their base

An inscription

Scratched with a penknife

“Molly Loves Greg.”